Testimonials E-mail

1. Financial Planner with Exceptional Insight

Derek,

I want to offer once more my thanks for the wonderful things you do for Facelift and, as well, the kindness and wisdom you radiate when we speak. You are a person of exceptional insight and a planner with that rarest of qualities  -  imagination. And you can tell 'em I said so.

Andrew Allentuck,
Globe and Mail Writer


2. Definitions of Success Vary

My first foray into working with a professional financial planner was a disaster.  He leveraged most of my net worth to buy into projects he had designed...which turned out to make more money for him than any of his clients.  The fiasco that ensued almost ended in a group law suit.  I lost a bundle.

When I finally got the courage up (and enough capital back) to search again for help, you can bet I looked long, hard, and very carefully.  I called everyone I knew and even people I didn't know, looking for someone who was squeaky clean ethical and trustworthy, user friendly, and with the creativity and chutzpah to work with a woman with big dreams who is single, self-employed, and still a little bruised.

Derek Moran has all of that.  He knows I am proactive and need to control my finances, and so he wisely chose to take on more of a coaching role in our working relationship. He frames my options within the bigger picture of the economy.  He asks me really smart questions, and ensures that before I take the next step, I know for certain it is safe.

Derek doesn't use all the technical jargon that many professionals get stuck in - you know, the stuff that can really intimidate you.  Goodness knows, there can be enough "internal noise" around your money stuff without having the added problems of someone who talks over your head or talks down at you.  He makes things easy to understand.

He respects that his clients are different than him and that our definition of financial security and success is different, and he works with it...without judgement.

Derek was one of my finds in 2005.

Barbara Densmore
barbara_workingsmarter.ca


3. Life Changing Discussion

Derek,

Thanks for the great information you gave me in our life-changing discussion, and thanks for the mortgage information.

Sincerely,
Janet G.


4. Towards Greater Diversification

Derek:

Its been a rather brutal week in the markets and I cringe to think how badly we would have been hurt had you not steered us towards greater diversification and into a more conservative group of funds. We have been with Bruce for 6 months now and to date are very pleased with the chosen portfolio.

I look forward to a long and profitable relationship with them. I expect we will want to meet with you again in early 2008 to finalize retirement plans, don't see much need until then as we will just be holding the course.

Really enjoying the sports car.  Hope you have a great summer. Thanks for your good advice.

Dave B.


5. Family Referral

"I gave my son Ryan your name and number as well when he asked, after my wife and I expressed our complete satisfaction with  your services."

Regards,
Paul


6. UBC Faculty Pension Plan Approved

Dear Mr. Moran, R.F.P.,

You recently received a letter from AON Consulting advising your firm was placed on the UBC Faculty Pension Plan List of Financial Planners. AON also advised that our office would send a communication package to you in the near future....

Jim Loughlean, Member Services Specialist



7. Andrew Allentuck, Globe and Mail

He is very good at his craft - wise, imaginative, and well informed.  He has done scores of cases for Facelift and is an advisor whose counsel I would not hesitate to take.

Andrew Allentuck
The Globe and Mail



8. Personality and Financial Planning

Derek,

Thanks very much for today's telephone conversation. I know we are not at the 'end' but even this was immensely helpful. I am not sure I like the fact that some of my less than desirable personality traits are so transparent -- you seemed to have picked them up all too easily  - but I guess to be a financial planner you also need a degree in psychology because how we each deal with money is so much part of our personality.

Thanks,
Vicki


9. Patience, Respect, and Memory

Derek,

Many thanks for the patient and respectful manner with which you are coaching us. I know you were repeating many of the points you had already made, but the repetition is helpful. We are dealing with some short term memory issues which can make the decision making a bit cumbersome. Yes, we have been through the mill with this insurance decision. Thank you for helping to guide us away from the annuity and for your thorough investigation of the alternatives. It feels much more comforting to commit to a decision knowing we have had your input.

Julia


10. The Best Money I Ever Spent

Hello Derek,

As I watch the goings-on in the US, I am increasingly more thankful that you gave me the advice that you did and that I followed your advice...and rest assured I tell everyone about you! The options I thought I had at the time and then they sent me you and you made perfect sense and it felt just right, finally....best money I ever spent :))))

Regards,
Grace fom Ottawa

 

11. Great advice

Derek,

I just wanted to let you know that we took your advice and bought and moved to a new house in the same neighborhood (instead of doing the big renovation on the old house).
It has now been 1 year and it is very clear to me that, doing the math, moving was by far the cheaper (not mention less stressful) choice.
I estimate the reno approach would have at least two times more expensive. Thanks again.

Hope all is well with you.

Dr. Rob (Calgary)

12. Common Sense

Derek,

I think talking with you gave K. and I confidence re our plans for the next couple of years...we needed your relaxed yet informed financial and common sense overview to feel comfortable with our immediate future and the decisions we are making.

S & K, Ottawa

13. Crazy Economy

Hi Derek,

I was happy to refer S.M. You helped me a lot and certainly in light of the craziness of the past two months in the economy, I owe you even more thanks! It has given me peace of mind to know that I have done/am doing what I can. By the way, I did meet Andrew Allentuck for coffee in Winnipeg, very enjoyable! Take care, and all the best in the New Year!

Regards, S.W.

14. Good Advice

Heather and I would like to thank you both for the well written article in today's Globe.  I can not stress enough how important it is to get the advise of a good financial planner. We plan on implementing all of the advice Mr.Moran has suggested. The future now appears to be a little rosier.

Sincerely Yours,
The E. Family

15. Making Money

Thanks Derek. It was great having a meeting with you. I felt like you were making money for me as we talked.

Ella K., Kelowna

16. Clarity

I wanted to let you know how much we appreciate the opportunity to have you have a look at our situation and for the good advice you have given us.  It’s been a bit scary as you can appreciate but going through our finances critically and logically with you to develop a plan to deal with our circumstances has given us some peace of mind.  It all seems so clear when you read the piece - the clarity of your writing also helped us understand more fully what we can do.  Again, thanks so much - you have been wonderful to work with.

Karen

17. Fiduciary Responsibility

I thank you for sorting out my money dilemmas and for emphasizing that I need to get to know my money managers and use those who are Chartered Financial Advisors as they are more likely to take their fiduciary responsibility to their clients seriously;  I enjoyed meeting you and the other financial advisor whom you sent me to see.  It is a pity that I did not meet someone like you 30 years ago. Thanks for all your help,

Dr. Tony R, Vancouver B.C.

18. Positive and Informative Advice

If you only could have seen J’s face.  Your work gave some much needed reassurance from QUALIFIED "neutral parties". We will be wearing out the printed version whenever we need a perk. Your original advice we have been reacting on and I am also trying to get better educated on how to handle the money. I personally thank you for your positive and informative advice. If only you could see how uplifting this experience has been to both of us.

E & J, Ontario

19. Useful Consultation

Thank you for a very useful consultation.

J & L, Summerland, B.C.

20. Hit The Nail Right On The Head

Happy New Year, Andrew and Derek.

Thank you, so much, for writing such a wonderful article.  You clearly outlined our present situation, analyzed "where we are at" and gave us a very workable long range plan.

My wife and our children feel that your comments, regarding me, outlined in the report "hit the nail directly on the head"!!  In addition, to me internalizing the comments made in the article, I appreciated the clear analysis of our present and future financial situation.  I will email Derek directly, after we have read his report, to let him know how impressed we are with his work. 

It has been both an honour and pleasure to be part of your column.  As I said, on the phone, when we talked, I have admired your writing/work for a number of years and it was indeed a priviledge to talk to you in person.  I do hope that we will have an opportunity to converse and/or stay in touch so that I can continue to benefit from your knowledge and input.  In the very least, I will look forward to reading your column weekly. 

Again, please accept our best wishes for a happy, healthy new year during which you only know good times.

Best wishes,

T & S, Toronto