To be the best, you’ve got to beat the best, something that Ric Flair mentioned more than a time or two. One thing he didn’t mention, though, is that oftentimes it pays to really examine what the best in the business are doing. This is why wealth advisors should be looking at Canada’s top financial advisor’s websites and taking close notes. 

If you’re a financial advisor in Canada looking to grow your business, you should be looking to see what the best wealth advisors are up to. Lucky for you, we’re a Vancouver web design studio that specializes in financial services websites–which means we know what makes a good advisor site stand out. 

We took a look at the Globe and Mail’s most recent list of Canada’s top wealth advisors, and took notes on what they were doing right (and wrong) in the world of Canadian web design and development. Copy a few of these ideas yourself when it comes time to build a website for your advisory. 

1. David LePoidevin, CG Wealth Management 

Location: Vancouver, BC

Team Assets: $2B
Typical size of household accounts: $200K-5M
Minimum account size for new business: $0
Typical net-wroth of relationships: $300k-15M

Mr. LePoidevin is the Senior Investment Advisor and Senior Portfolio Manager. He has over 35 years of experience in the industry, first beginning as a bond trader in Toronto. Today, he leads a large team at the LePoidevin Group that manages over $2 billion in assets. 

What we think about the website: two thumbs up

The LePoidevin Group’s website is easy to navigate, with only six items in the menu. This is the norm in many industries, however in wealth management sector, we often find that websites can overstuff the menu, which can overwhelm site visitors. Six items is more than enough. 

We also love the use of a software called Calendly on their website. It allows the team to schedule qualified meetings with prospects without any back and forth. That’s a huge advantage for this Vancouver-based wealth management group. 

2. Darren Carmosino, CIBC Wood Gundy

Location: Montréal QC

Team Assets: $2.3B
Typical size of household accounts: $5-50M
Minimum account size for new business: $3M
Typical net-wroth of relationships: $20-100M

Darren Carmosino is the lead advisor at Carmosino Wealth Management, a top-tier investment advisory team at CIBC Wood Gundy managing over $2.7 billion in assets. He provides holistic wealth management solutions for affluent individuals, business owners, professionals, and charitable foundations, with a focus on long-term goals, tax strategies, and estate planning. A CIM® designation holder and Concordia graduate, Darren has advised clients since 1997 and is an active supporter of several health-related charities in Montreal.

What we think about the website: two thumbs down

We don’t like much here! To be honest, these cookie-cutter websites provided by CIBC Private Wealth are pretty bad. While Darren is clearly crushing it from a business perspective, the people at the bottom of the ladder at CIBC Private Wealth certainly aren’t having their websites help move them up the ladder. They don’t look great, they all feel the same (good luck differentiating yourself from the competition), and not even Darren is in control of his web presence. To us, that would be frustrating. 

Even if you’re locked into a company template, consider building yourself a standalone, small professional website. We offer simple microsites for advisors looking to be more in control of their web presence and search results. 

3. Guy Côté

Location: Montréal QC

Team Assets: $2.2B
Typical size of household accounts: $1-2M
Minimum account size for new business: $0
Typical net-wroth of relationships: $2-4.5M

Guy Côté is a Senior Wealth Advisor, Portfolio Manager, and head of the Guy Côté Integrated Wealth Management team at National Bank Financial, managing over $2.2 billion in assets. With more than 25 years of experience, he leads a 14-person team that provides personalized, family office-style service focused on portfolio management, tax planning, estate planning, and intergenerational wealth transfer. A CFA charterholder and longtime community supporter, Guy also chairs the Lise Watier Foundation and enjoys skiing, golfing, and time with his wife and three children.

What we think about the website: one thumb up, one thumb down

The news and updates section on National Bank Financial is robust, we love the topical nature of the articles. There’s certainly been a commitment made to content, which is great for educational purposes. 

That being said, there’s work to be done here. The “discover our approach” button is off-centre, and once again this page is almost exactly the same as other teams at National Bank Financial. I’d also be so bold to say that the team photo where everyone’s stitched together is cheesy. There are certainly better design options to consider to showcase your team. 

4. Ross Ferrier, CIBC Wood Gundy

Location: Markham, ON

Team Assets: $1.6B
Typical size of household accounts: $5-195M
Minimum account size for new business: $2M
Typical net-wroth of relationships: $5-30M

Ross Ferrier is a Branch Manager and Portfolio Manager at CIBC Wood Gundy, serving high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth business owners, professionals, and families. With over 25 years of experience, he helps clients simplify complex financial lives by combining customized portfolios with a disciplined, specialist-driven approach. A former professional baseball player and active philanthropist, Ross holds CIM and FCSI designations and is a proud father of four.

What we think about the website: two thumbs down

I’m always a little surprised when I spot a professional website with grainy photos, but I’m downright perplexed at a website from a team that manages $1.6 billion in assets with grainy photos. And a video the size of a matchbox that, let’s be honest, CIBC Wood Gundy’s target demographic is not going to be able to enjoy. 

You need to design your website for your intended audience; this cookie-cutter approach is a terrible user experience. If you're already investing ad dollars into the top advertising platforms in Canada, it's a no-brainer that your website should be set up for success.

5. Kurt Rosentreter, Manulife Securities

Location: Toronto, ON

Team Assets: $800M
Typical size of household accounts: $750K-3M
Minimum account size for new business: $0
Typical net-wroth of relationships: $2-8M

Kurt Rosentreter is the owner of Upper Canada Capital and a Portfolio Manager with Manulife Securities, leading a Toronto-based team that serves clients across Canada with advanced financial planning and investment counsel. With 30 years of experience and eight professional designations, Kurt built his practice on prairie values—hard work, honesty, and personalized service. A University of Manitoba grad, former CPA, and co-founder of a national wealth management division, he now helps clients navigate everything from retirement and tax planning to real estate, eldercare, and international relocation.

What we think about the website: two thumbs up

Kurt puts his own branding first, which we love. This website has a consistent and unique feel, it’s branded to Kurt and tells us immediately how he can help:

‍“Trusted Personal CFO to Individuals and Families”

Within reading those seven little words, a potential client will know whether or not they’re in the right place. As you can see in the image below, he also offers a lead magnet to site visitors, a great way to grow his marketing list.

The site offers newsworthy information, economic outlooks, and video resources, along with testimonials and social proof to give site visitors confidence. Bottom line, I’d work with Kurt after visiting his site. Two thumbs up from me.

Recapping the best financial advisor websites in Canada

While it’s clear that a couple of the top five wealth advisors in Canada have invested time and money into their online presence, it’s also worth noting that even the best advisors aren’t always in control of their marketing. 

If you have the ability to build yourself a personalized, custom website, we can’t recommend it enough. You’ll rank higher on Google and in search engine results in general, provide your potential clients with a better experience, and be able to showcase yourself (and your team) in the best light possible. 

For more inspiration be sure you take a look at our 12 favourite financial advisor website designs, they’re sure to give you some ideas for the future. And if you’re ready for a website audit to see how your website’s performing, or to explore building a brand new site altogether, we’d love to hear from you. Just tap the contact button below to get started and learn why we're the Vancouver Webflow Agency trusted by Canada's top brands.