AARON UI, CFP, FOUNDER of AU FINANCIAL GROUP Financial Solutions. Professionals & Business Owners
AARON UI
“Financial Advice with Aloha”
The “Aloha” philosophy of life manifests itself in what anthropologist, Leslie Turnball, describes as, “…The genuine interest in others implicit in the Hawaiian tradition of engaging in friendly and personal conversation or ‘talking story’ over every encounter…Aloha literally forces humans to connect with each other. And when you are connected with others, it’s hard to follow the very human instinct to put yourself and your biological family above others.”
The Aloha of Relationships
“I focus on developing relationships, and on adding value, not on selling products. I just love the Aloha philosophy of connecting, with others, in an authentic way. I want to learn your ‘talking story’ because when I know your truth I can deliver customized advice and guidance. Even if we don’t do business together, I always try to add value and to make a positive difference in some way,” Certified Financial Planner, Aaron Ui, says.
The two T’s – Trust and Transparency – are at the heart of all Aloha Relationships. Trust involves doing what you said you were going to do, when you said you were going to do it. Transparency is rooted in disclosure and choice – Aaron offers clients both, including the ability to pick and choose the services and the payment plans that suit them best.
For example, Aaron offers customized Financial Plans on a fixed price basis. Where clients choose to implement the Plan, they can pay for professional services on a straight fee or a commission basis (Please note: Aaron does receive a commission on all insurance policies he writes).
Aaron describes himself as a niche specialist. “I know where I end and someone else begins. I understand my strengths, and I work with a network of like-minded and trusted specialists, including corporate lawyers, accountants, realtors, and others, to back-fill my expertise,” Aaron adds.
Aaron has been working hard since he was 16 years of age, and has been self-employed since he was 20, first in insurance sales, and later as a Certified Financial Planner. “Nothing beats firsthand experience. My dad was my first client. I sold him a small, term insurance policy in my first year. He had a brain aneurysm and unexpectedly passed away less than a year after the policy was issued. My first-hand experience with the benefits of life insurance and financial planning, solidified my “why” in the financial services industry,” Aaron says
Since he rebranded himself as AU Financial Group in 2017, Aaron’s financial planning practice has enjoyed consistent growth. Today, he specializes in strategic tax planning, buy-sell arrangements, life insurance, investments, estate planning, and charitable gift planning for professionals and business owners throughout British Columbia and Ontario.
“I believe in educating clients to ensure they have a good handle on their finances and to make sure they are not being exploited. I work with clients to develop innovative and unique plans that reduce their taxes, build their wealth, and secure their income. I also believe in practicing what I preach and follow my own advice. I am no longer the young man that lived in subsidized housing and had to use food and toy banks,” Aaron says.
Distance is easily navigated with regular Zoom conferencing. “With today’s technology, it is easy to share my computer screen and to have authentic conversations with my clients, without the expense or environmental impact of travelling.”
The Aloha of Education
As a Certified Financial Planner Aaron:
• is passionate about helping entrepreneurs build and protect their future by developing unique, feasible and successful risk management plans,
• uses his knowledge of insurance and investment vehicles to help professionals protect their wealth and well-being, and
• empowers his friends and clients to reach their financial goals.
The Aloha of Education also applies to Aaron’s commitment to his own schooling. “I wholeheartedly support the Aloha of Personal Empowerment Through Education. I believe I am responsible for providing clients with the information they need to understand what’s going on in their financial lives. I am also interested in helping members of the public increase their financial knowledge, and am putting the finishing touches on a four-week financial planning boot camp. I am creating this to reach more consumers on the importance of financial planning and to give them the tools they need to succeed,” Aaron adds. Clients describe him as relationship- and education- focused and are grateful that he, “Spends so much time on both.”
Aaron is a member of Advocis, the oldest and largest voluntary professional membership association of financial advisors and planners in Canada, and is constantly upgrading his skills by attending conferences and seminars.
He is also currently working towards his Certified Life Underwriter (CLU) designation (a chartered life underwriter is a professional designation for individuals who wish to specialize in life insurance and estate planning). He also never misses an opportunity to beef up his tax knowledge because this allows him to help his clients keep more of their hard-earned money.
Up Close & Personal
Aaron loves Hawaii and has visited the island seven times in the last three years alone. He is also a proud member of the Ojibway’s of Onegaming first nation, and hopes to help other bands manage their finances. “I think I may be one of the only certified financial planners who has a first nation status background in Canada.” As a way of giving back, he regularly contributes to the Heart & Stroke Foundation, among other charitable endeavours.
As a final word, Aaron says, “New York Times Bestselling author, and former professional football player, Lewis Howes, once said, “Your job is to create a vision that makes you want to jump out of bed in the morning. If it doesn’t, go back to bed until you have a bigger dream. I find this quote inspirational. Let’s dare to dream big together.”
Suzen Fromstein is the author of Suits and Ladders, Ten Proven Ways to Keep Your Job Safe - with a few jokes thrown in. Suits and Ladders was an Amazon Best Selling Book in the Career Guides Category
Aaron Ui aaron.ui@aufinancialgroup.com Suite 2050 – 1050 West Pender Street,
Vancouver BC V6E 3S7
(604) 726-9276