BRAD MCLELLAN, CFP®, Executive Financial Consultant at IG Private Wealth Management, Newmarket, Ontario
- NATALIE NOBLE
- Jul 30
- 7 min read
BRAD MCLELLAN
“We take a hearts-first approach”
When wealth management professionals pour their heart into client work, it’s only natural they wonder at times how the client feels about the experience they’re providing. For Brad McLellan, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional (CFP®), and Executive Financial Consultant with IG Private Wealth Management (IG), clear signs of client gratification came when he transitioned his business over to IG.
“When I made the move in 2024, many clients with the previous firm came over with me,” says Brad. “To avoid conflict, they initiated the contact with me, and that means a lot. It tells me they’re happy with the work I’ve been doing and they’re excited about where we’re going together. There’s a mix of client retention and business attraction happening, and the practice is growing fast. We also have a strong team with the capacity to take on new clients.”
Brad is constantly aware of the important role he plays that goes far beyond financial concerns and permeates every aspect of clients’ lives. He shares the story of a couple, the wife younger, while the husband began facing some health issues. “I was able to show them that they were in the position where she could comfortably retire and take care of him; to tell them, ‘You’re going to be okay,’” he says. “When I moved on, they reached out two months later to tell me things weren’t the same. They said, ‘We miss you; we’ve had some less than great experiences since you left, and we’d love it if we could come work with you again.’”
Brad’s move to IG from his previous firm is a combination of people, timing, and new opportunities. Number one was his connection to Mary Hope, through his wife Clare – whose encouragement sparked Brad’s career journey 15 years ago – and her family. “Mary was looking to retire. She wanted to set someone in place to succeed her and continue to care for clients,” says Brad. “She has been an incredible mentor. The relationships she develops with clients, that’s what I aspire to; it’s extraordinary and impressive to watch.”
The respect is mutual. “After almost three decades working with clients and their families, our relationships are deep and long term. It was important to choose the right successor for my business, and most importantly, for the clients,” says Mary, adding she looked for technical experience; tech savviness to keep up with industry advances; and, high personal integrity that builds and values client family relationships. “Brad’s knowledge and experience, coupled with his ability to connect with clients, make them comfortable and build their trust. Clients and their families – at the centre of good succession planning – are in good hands for generations to come.”
Since they joined forces, Brad and Mary essentially swapped roles. “I stepped into hers as Executive Financial Consultant, and she’s stepped back a little into a part-time role so she can pursue her passions, like travel. We continue to build the client base and our services together,” says Brad.
It’s not just the clients who felt a loyalty to Brad. When he moved, fellow associate Allison Owen eagerly joined. At their previous firm, the two worked in the same office and shared clients. “We hit it off immediately, have similar personalities, core values, and processes,” she says. “I kept thinking about ways I could work directly with him. Although I wasn’t in a support role at that time, I knew it would be a good fit. In every role I’ve ever had, I’ve always put my heart first, and that’s exactly how Brad operates.”
When the IG opportunity came to be that support to Brad as Executive Assistant, Allison describes the move as a “no brainer.” “When we reflect on how many clients came over on this journey, that’s a shining star for us,” she says. “It shows the way Brad builds incredible relationships, not only with clients, but with everyone he interacts with. He goes out into the world and brightens people’s days. Working with someone I respect so much makes me want to work harder, dive in deeper with clients, and pass on to them how much he, as a leader, cares about them.”
Having Allison join his client meetings and work with him strengthens Brad’s client relationships as they share the same philosophy around listening, leading with empathy, making work all about the people, and truly caring about them. The team also added Sarah Richardson from IG’s corporate team in May. “Sarah brings an incredible wealth of knowledge to the team,” says Brad. “It’s exciting to see the practice build and experience this growth.”
The process behind the care
When it comes to their work, Brad and his team place planning as their priority. “I know everyone says they do ‘holistic financial planning,’ but it truly is what we do,” says Brad. “The plan brings everything together into a blueprint that helps people sleep better at night. Whether someone is retiring in five or 30 years, there’s a lot we can do ahead of time to optimize their situation.”
Allison Owen, Mary Hope, Mary Birkett, Brad McLellan, Barbara Dawson, Sarah Richardson, and Willie Adema.
The team handles everything from investment planning to tax, estate, and retirement planning. Brad has vast experience in diverse situations and 60 percent of his clients are incorporated. “It’s a nice mix between those who were employed throughout their career and those who are small business owners or physicians,” he says. “That brings in some differentiation from a planning perspective that keeps variety in the day-to-day.”
The work is proactive by design. “We’re planning out to life expectancy. If that’s age 100, then we use that and work backwards from there, rather than looking from today and going forward,” says Brad. “What do we need to do to get there? What else can we do along the way? What should we change?”
Then, it’s continuous work and connection to stay on top of things as circumstances change. “From an overall net worth perspective, it’s quite substantial for the client to see when we start going through everything,” says Brad. “As we continue to work together and clients recognize we’ve added ‘X’ amount of dollars to their net worth and their estate, and we’ve saved them ‘X’ amount in tax, they appreciate the work behind everything. That’s rewarding.”
Brad works with those who want to understand and work through the process with him, not just hand everything off and receive annual statements. “I take them through start to finish and overview the process at their own speed so they see everything is done properly,” he says. “My ideal client is looking for help and a full-service treatment – the full planning process and everything we have to offer. Because, we have a lot to offer.”
Once the client and Brad deem each other a good fit for the long-term, the gathering process fleshes out all the unique needs and strategies the plan will hold. They’ll evaluate all the financial documents including tax returns, investment statements, and articles of incorporation. Just as importantly, they’re discussing goals, retirement, priorities like travel, education, gifting the next generations, and philanthropic endeavours. “I also need to know their ‘why,’” says Brad. “What keeps them up at night?”
All of that is worked into a preliminary plan that often changes between the first two meetings, such as upping a gifting amount to a son or daughter. “As I gather the information and put everything together, 95 percent of the time the second meeting presentation has changed by the end of the meeting,” says Brad. “We adjust it along the way and create the polished product for them, that of course, we’ll continue to adapt as life happens.”
Next is the portfolio proposal. “That full financial plan is dynamic,” says Brad. Working to this detail is made possible through IG’s flexibility. “We’re able to focus our time with clients,” he says. “We’re not simply open nine-thirty-to-four p.m. and then just go home. I can meet with clients after hours, on weekends, and for as quick or long a time as I need. We have a lot more autonomy here.”
The company’s mandate to put clients’ best interests first at all times matches Brad’s, and he appreciates their lack of quotas or product suggestions. He’s also a fan of the available tools. “Functionality-wise, we’re at the top of the market from a technology perspective,” he says. “We have a discretionary investment management platform that is at the top of the market relative to our peers, from the performance, volatility, and fee standpoints.”
Everything connects
Sometimes there are things from youth that become ingrained in all facets of life. When Brad grew up, the family home had a back split where his mother’s parents lived, while he, his parents, and sister lived in the main house. “My grandparents were amazing people who just cared about people, especially our family,” he says. “My mom passed away when I was 15 and we all picked up the slack for each other and worked together. There was empathy underlying everything, and the value of family and putting others first was cemented. That’s stayed with me.
“I carry that same care, mindfulness, and empathy into my client relationships,” adds Brad. “Life and circumstances can change in an instant. These people are relying on me to prepare them for an unforeseen event and make things easier should the unexpected occur.”
In that empathetic spirit, Brad and Clare are active participants in the ALS community. “Clare’s aunt Deidre was very important to her and had ALS. It’s important to us to donate, fundraise, and walk,” says Brad.
It’s a full life, but Brad comes home from work in Newmarket to the quiet but growing village of Queensville. “It’s a great community to grow up and to raise a child,” he says. Which is a good thing, because Brad and Clare welcomed their first child, Marshall, in April. “He’s the best gift and has changed my perspective on everything.”
When Allison notified clients of the incredible news, messages and gifts once again showed client appreciation for Brad. “They reach out by text to see how the three of us are doing and send gifts to our house,” he says. “I look at them, and I feel so grateful; these are not transactional, simply client relationships. They’ve become friends or family-like. You don’t often know how people feel until times like this. Life is busy, and by giving their time, it shows they are appreciative. I care about their families, and it’s amazing to see they care about mine too.”
Brad McLellan, CFP Executive Financial Consultant,
IG Private Wealth Management
IG Wealth Management Inc.,
Mutual Fund Division
Tel: (905) 952-2016 | Mobile: (905) 371-6092
Natalie Noble’s love of writing stems from her passion for hearing and sharing people’s stories. Over the years, she has written for various business, real estate, and agriculture publications. At the heart of her work is a desire to continuously learn and connect.
This is a general source of information only. It is not intended to provide personalized tax, legal or investment advice, and is not intended as a solicitation to purchase securities. Brad McLellan is solely responsible for its content. Seek advice on your specific circumstances from an IG Advisor.