SCOTT GALLACHER, PFP®, Investment Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, Greater Toronto Area.
- NATALIE NOBLE
- 4 days ago
- 6 min read
SCOTT GALLACHER
“Diving into goals, understanding what truly matters, and helping
families build financial security.”
Building a successful career that’s more than just a job, where the impacts resonate throughout clients’ lives and match personal values takes both strategy and heart. Scott Gallacher, PFP®, Investment Advisor, and Financial Planner at RBC Dominion Securities in Leaside, Ont., has consistently combined the two in his practice that empowers people, simplifies complex scenarios and decisions, and not only builds upon families’ and businesses’ assets, but protects and preserves them. “My work is grounded in values that shape every interaction, every recommendation, and every relationship,” he says. “I believe in a client-first approach and earning my right to be their first choice. Central to that is building trust through transparency and maintaining high standards that are always led with integrity.”
Scott’s career in the world of finance is a true legacy. “I come from three generations in banking. Financial services have always been part of my life,” he says. “My grandfather worked his way up to a leadership position and was one of the first Canadians to complete the Canadian Securities Course. My mom spent over 30 years with RBC, largely in leadership roles. Watching both of them build careers rooted in integrity, service, and expertise has always been a huge influence on me.”
Pivotal steps
Given his legacy, when he earned his Bachelor of Commerce from Toronto Metropolitan University with Honours in 2017, it’s not surprising Scott chose to begin his career journey at RBC, where he continues to advance his service offerings and expertise. “Early in my career, I realized I felt most fulfilled working directly with clients. I loved diving into their goals, understanding what truly mattered to them, and helping them build financial security for themselves and their families,” says Scott. “My career at RBC has been shaped by progressive roles that allowed me to build a deep understanding of the clients, financial planning, and wealth management each step of the way. Each role taught me something essential: how to listen, how to plan, how to manage portfolios, and ultimately, how to deliver a wealth management experience that is both highly personal and deeply strategic.”
Starting out as a Banking Advisor, Scott gained the fundamentals of personal banking, lending, and day-to-day client needs. “This role grounded me in the reality that most people simply want to feel safe, supported, and understood in their financial lives,” he says. Two years later, he moved into the Financial Advisor role. “This was a pivotal step. I began working more closely with investments, retirement planning, and long-term client goals. I developed the ability to go beyond surface-level conversations and uncover what truly matters to clients and their families. Here, I first realized how meaningful it was to help someone build a clear, structured financial path forward.”
Ready to take the next step, Scott completed his Personal Financial Planner (PFP®) designation in 2021 and advanced into the Financial Planner role. “I spent four years specializing in retirement, tax-efficient planning, and holistic wealth management strategies,” he says. “This is the role that truly shaped how I advise today. I learned how to build comprehensive financial plans, model retirement and estate scenarios, and collaborate with clients’ accountants and lawyers. It gave me the confidence and technical foundation to move deeper into wealth management.”
Taking that deeper dive last spring, Scott moved over to RBC Dominion Securities (DS). Working with the full-service investment and wealth management firm, Scott can offer his clients a comprehensive range of resources while still maintaining the close relationships and providing the personal attention he feels are non-negotiables. “Working with DS allows me to combine everything I’ve learned with the scale, tools, and resources of Canada’s leading wealth management firm,” he says. “I now offer clients fully integrated wealth planning, institutional-level investment solutions, and the collaboration of RBC’s Family Office Services, Private Banking, Commercial Banking, and Trust specialists.”
Bringing a holistic mindset to his work, Scott combines his deep financial planning background with his investment advising expertise, tax strategy, and risk management to shape every portfolio recommendation. Should an issue arise requiring deeper specialization, Scott is keen to collaborate with the right professionals —internal specialists at RBC and external partners including legal, tax, and corporate partners.
Protecting legacies
At the center of all this careful career development, is of course, the client. “Building my practice and serving clients with a higher level of depth and precision is something I take great pride in,” says Scott. “I’m working to grow a world-class advisory practice while building multi-generational relationships with these families who entrust me with their wealth.”
That multi-generational focus – a call back to his own family legacy – is important to Scott, a dedicated husband and father of two young children. He finds financial planning and advising for individuals and families, as well as family businesses where intergenerational considerations come into play, especially rewarding. “Building my practice while coming home to my own family helps me relate deeply to clients who are trying to balance careers, family life, saving for education, planning for their kids’ futures, and still finding time to enjoy life,” he says. “It’s critical these people feel confident and secure with their finances, no matter what stage of wealth accumulation, decumulation, or life in general, they’re in.”
In guiding families through decision making that will have deep and generations-long impact, Scott takes the weight of the responsibility beyond providing expertise. “It’s so important clients feel safe, secure, and supported, especially during major life transitions – whether it’s planning for retirement, navigating a business sale, ensuring their kids will be okay, or protecting their legacy,” he says. “The most meaningful moments for me are when clients say, “‘I feel better now.’ That human impact is why I love this work.”
With that lasting impression top of mind, Scott’s client approach is always relationship driven. “It’s important to me that every client feels genuinely cared for in their unique situation,” he says. “Clients often tell me they value the balance of warmth and competence – having someone who genuinely cares, along with the expertise to deliver.”
While planning on his end may be complex, Scott says that should not be the client’s experience. “My job is to simplify the more complex decisions for them and remove any financial anxiety they might be experiencing,” he says. “My approach is simple as well: understand the person first, then build the plan and portfolio around them. Many Advisors lead with either planning or portfolio management. I believe clients deserve both; each executed at the highest level. I take a well-rounded, coordinated approach designed to give clients confidence, clarity, and long-term financial security, with regular follow-ups. I’m creating structure for clients to be guided by and their financial plan is a living document.”
The perfect balance
One essential reason Scott feels strongly RBC DS is home, is that the firm supports both his business priorities for excellence and his personal mission to educate and give back. “Here, I have the perfect balance of entrepreneurship and scale. I have the freedom to build a practice I’m proud of. It feels boutique and deeply personal, while also giving clients access to the broadest range of investment capabilities in Canada,” he says. “Education and connection are also incredibly important to me. I want people to feel that I’m approachable, real, and committed to sharing value. RBC has given me the structure and compliance framework to be creative while still operating responsibly. I aim to show both my expertise and my human side in everything I do. A big part of that is giving back, which has always been a core part of who I am. It’s something I weave into both my personal life and my role at RBC,” says Scott, who is especially passionate about economic empowerment, mental health and crisis intervention, elderly care, and recreational sports.
It's a lot to build into a day’s work. But Scott says family and community bring it all together. “Working in Leaside, I get to serve families and business owners in a neighbourhood I truly care about. It’s a great place to build relationships and raise a family. It’s my family and my personal life that keep me grounded and remind me of the “why” behind all the work I do for my clients.”
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.
Scott Gallacher, PFP®
Investment Advisor
RBC Wealth Management | RBC Dominion Securities
45 Wicksteed Ave, Suite #210,
Toronto, ON M4G 4H9
C: 416-904-1985 | Tel: 416-695-6430