[INTERVIEW] Serge Robichaud, Financial Planning Professional

Serge Robichaud is a bilingual (French and English) financial advisor who is currently at Canada Life & Quadrus Investments, where he provides financial planning advice and manages client investments and insurance policies.

Serge recently spoke with Young Upstarts and shared his insights on what it takes to build a successful career as a financial planning expert.

Q: Why did you enter the field of finance as a career?

Serge Robichaud: Finance has always been like a complicated game or puzzle for me. When I was studying at the University of Moncton, I felt that each financial concept was a jigsaw piece waiting to be understood and fitted into place. This passion grew into an ambition to solve not only my personal puzzles, but everyone else’s too. At first, I held various jobs dealing with money in major banks, and each one until now has added a new perspective on how things might work in different markets and conditions. As a wealth manager, I get great satisfaction from creating tailored financial solutions that are as different as my clients themselves.

Q: How do you balance risk and return when helping clients with their investments?

Serge Robichaud: It’s about doing a detailed analysis of all the current relevant factors based on the individual. We then figure out a plan based on the present financial picture and decipher what it takes to get to the individual’s finish line in the future. I need to investigate new investment opportunities, and I also take into account the unique risk appetites of each client. Like playing chess and predicting moves. I must be forward-thinking, so that their financial strategies are directly in line with their ambitions. I hope to reach a balance between risk and return that propels clients toward success.

Q: Do you believe in a holistic investment philosophy?

Serge Robichaud:  A balanced lifestyle defines my own philosophy. I place a big emphasis in my personal life on staying fit through exercise and sports. I try to encourage my clients to pursue the same mind/body balance. I think it’s very important for developing discipline and living an optimal life. I incorporate these philosophies into financial planning by creating a strategy that fits my clients’ whole life goals.

Q: What steps have you taken to advance your skills during your career?

Serge Robichaud: I’ve pursued the Chartered Financial Analyst designation, which has been a great investment in my personal growth as an advisor. I regularly attend financial planning seminars and keep track of current events. I also try to pay attention to all facets of my personal well-being. This helps ensure that I am at my best whenever any clients seek me out.

Q: What do you expect will define the future of financial planning? What trends do you see on the horizon, and how do you anticipate having to adapt?

Serge Robichaud:  I’m not sure if that’s a rabbit hole or a wormhole! The interactions between emerging technologies and people are being deepened by the effective and widespread application of AI.

To keep up with those changes, I have made it a pillar of my long-term business goals to educate myself on this subject. I also think the trend will be towards investment that authentically creates long-term value for society as a whole.

To me, I see this tendency. I am keeping abreast of the new tech and best practices to make sure my clients’ interests are adapted to future developments and that they can profit from them. I’m gradually introducing into their portfolios more advanced, forward-looking kinds of financial practices that lifestyle-conscious people can live with and benefit from.

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