Andrew L. Lee, CFP, CLU, President, Certified Financial Planner®, Chartered Life Underwriter®, Investment Representative, Aspire Investments & Insurance, Edmonton, AB
ANDREW LEE
“Approachable, reasonable, practical, confident financial advice for Canadians.”
CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® and CHARTERED LIFE UNDERWRITER® Andrew Lee was introduced to financial services by a relative while growing up in rural Alberta. Andrew was born and raised the small town of Barrhead. He now lives in Edmonton, where he is the President of Aspire Investments and Insurance. He has built his career on being approachable and providing financial advice that is customized, reasonable, and practical for his clients.
“I’m originally from small town Alberta, some of my clients relate to that experience, others can relate to the many years that I’ve lived in Edmonton,” says Andrew. “My parents were business owners, so I was interested in commerce from a young age. I studied multiple disciplines while in university, but primarily economics. I graduated during a financial crisis and there were no jobs.”
Andrew opened a construction company briefly during this time. After initial success, Andrew sold his interest in this business, to pursue an attractive opportunity in finance.
Family pointed him in the direction of financial services, and family is very important to Andrew. His wife Jen and their three sons play a lot of sports, soccer is one of their favourites. Andrew has been proud to coach each of his sons in their young soccer careers.
He is the Vice Chairman of the Adeara Recovery Centre, a women’s addiction treatment and recovery organization that provides help that is safe and supportive to the entire family.
Aspiring to Retire Well
Andrew has a strong track record assisting middle-aged and/or retired Canadians who want to transition from employment income to structured retirement income. He also credits his approachability and reasonable advice for his success with clients.
“We like to be very approachable and reasonable,” says Andrew. “We don’t believe in high pressure – we want regular Canadians to come and see us for reasonable advice geared to their best interests. We pride ourselves on being down to earth and relatable – we want people to feel comfortable here. We do help a lot of people transitioning into retirement, we enjoy that kind of work because it’s helping someone plan for the years they’ve been most looking forward to during their working life.”
During the planning process he addresses common fears such as, outliving savings, rising inflation, rising taxes, loss of financial independence, or lack of security, giving his clients peace of mind.
Retirement Income Planning
One of the things that Andrew spends a lot of time assisting his clients with is retirement income planning. He doesn’t approach retirement planning as “just saving for retirement” he sees it as a combination of savings and planning for continued income and cash flow.
“Sometimes saving for retirement is the easy part,” he says. “It involves a little less planning. Often when I’m engaging with a client for the first time, they’ve done a good job of saving up some money or investing here or there. Together we work through the plan and they see that even with all of this money saved up, it might not be enough. The question then becomes – how do we turn our investments into a monthly income?”
And this is where Andrew and his team truly shine. Retirement planning clients receive a comprehensive plan in a leather binder.
“Basically, it says, hey – you’re going to make it and here are some ways that your retirement is going to be really great,” explains Andrew. “We make tax and estate recommendations and develop comprehensive investment portfolios. Our portfolios are very comprehensive. People leave our office feeling positive about the future with this incredible peace of mind.”
The Long-Term Investment Journey – Confidence is Key
Andrew and his team are invested in the long-term investment journey of their clients. Navigating the current economic concerns of Canadians is a priority. Doing so in a comfortable, low-pressure environment, is an assignment that they understand very well.
“Like many investors, we are also feeling cautious in the current environment,” says Andrew. “And we’re actively adjusting our investment strategies to reflect that. It’s important to acknowledge the uncertainty we’re facing, but also to remember that it’s part of a long-term investment journey. We work closely with our clients to ensure their portfolios are positioned to weather short-term volatility, while still staying focused on their long-term financial goals. By making thoughtful, data-driven decisions, we can navigate these challenges together with confidence.”
Navigating Uncertainty with Confidence: Focus on Long-Term Goals
Andrew understands that the current economic conditions present a unique set of challenges for investors. Economic headwinds, geopolitical instability, and the ever-present threat of inflation have created a climate of uncertainty. His plan is to maintain proactive, collaborative, partnerships with clients, working together to make “thoughtful, well-informed decisions, grounded in sound financial principles” – he stresses that this advice must be paired with a thorough understanding of the client’s circumstances and needs.
“In this dynamic environment, our primary goal remains unwavering: to guide our clients through these turbulent waters with confidence and achieve their long-term financial aspirations,” says Andrew. “We understand that navigating uncertainty can be unsettling. Fear and anxiety can easily creep in, leading to impulsive decisions that may derail carefully crafted financial plans. We acknowledge the current market realities. We acknowledge the current market realities and propose reasonable plans to help clients move forward with confidence."
Andrew, like many investors, is exercising caution and actively adjusting investment strategies to reflect the evolving economic landscape.
What to Focus on in 2025 and Beyond
Andrew says that his primary goal in 2025 and beyond is to help his clients “navigate uncertainty with confidence”. His plan is to face economic challenges by collaboratively making thoughtful, well-informed decisions. He says that consistency and rationality are the keys to staying on track with long-term financial goals, regardless of short-term market fluctuations or economic shifts.
“One of the areas you can focus on is diversification. Building diversified portfolios that span across asset classes and geographies to mitigate risk and enhance resilience. Managing risk is also important,” He adds. “We implement robust risk management strategies to protect capital and ensure portfolio stability during periods of market volatility. Maintaining a long-term investment horizon and focusing on achieving sustainable, long-term growth, rather than succumbing to short-term market fluctuations can also be a good area of focus at this time.”
Andrew’s team has recently grown. He says that increasing his capacity to help more people and expanding into other provinces are on the agenda for this year.
“It will be great to help more people than we did in the past,” explains Andrew. “We’ve added a couple of new team members and are getting licensed in more provinces. We are also working on technology and resource to increase efficiencies.”
In addition, Andrew says that embracing a long-term perspective, maintaining a disciplined approach, and fostering open communication is what helps his team navigate these challenges with confidence.
“Proper planning helps avoid common retirement pitfalls such as, running out of money, having to downsize and sell your home, being forced to work longer (or return to work), and financial stress in general. Our commitment to transparency and our unwavering focus on client success remain paramount in this evolving investment landscape.”
If you’d like to secure a little peace of mind for your retirement, Andrew is available for consultations to discuss your needs today.
April Potter is a veteran writer with expertise in financial services including nearly 15 years in debt restructuring. April has written for multiple online publications on a variety of subjects. Also a painter, her background in finance is balanced by her artistic endeavors.
Andrew L. Lee, CFP, CLU
President
Certified Financial Planner®
Chartered Life Underwriter® and Investment Representative
Aspire Investments & Insurance Ltd.
Quadrus Investment Services Ltd.
Suite 1388-5555 Calgary Trail
Edmonton AB T6H 5P9
780 800-5582 Customer Service Centre: 1-888-252-1847