LOUSIE JACOBS, PFP, FMA, Senior Wealth Consultant, IG Wealth Management, Edmonton, Alberta
LOUSIE JACOBS
“Prioritizing transparency and client needs. I believe that “integrity”
is more than a buzz word – it’s the cornerstone of this profession.”
SENIOR WEALTH CONSULTANT Louise Jacobs began her journey in finance more than three decades ago. Her career began at Scotiabank, where she honed her skills as a Private Banker. Prior to embarking on her career in finance, Louise aspired to work in veterinary care. After moving to Canada from England, she took a job as a bank teller where her vocational path began to unfold.
“I started as a teller after moving here from England, I still needed to figure out what I wanted to be when I grew up,” explains Louise. “I worked in pretty much every area of the bank until I found my niche. After that, my career really took off.”
Louise acknowledges the bank environment’s role in developing a deep appreciation for teamwork. She says that the private banking culture harmonizes sales and service to work together as a team to meet client needs. For this experience, she appreciates her time working in an environment that values working together to achieve common goals.
“Coming from the service side – it’s obvious the sales side couldn’t exist without the service side - and vice versa, it’s a great way to develop an appreciation for teamwork,” she says. “Looking at the big picture, working out the small details as a unit – my roots were formed in a collaborative effort and it’s a big part of why I prefer a thorough strategy for managing wealth that brings in others with specialties who can help create a robust plan.”
A Comprehensive Approach to Wealth Management
Experience and knowledge are essential to creative problem solving. For this reason, Louise focuses on more than just investments in her practice. Her proactive and comprehensive financial guidance comes from a deep-rooted understanding of individual client needs, creative problem solving, and knowing how to build enduring relationships.
“I dig deep to understand the situation and use creative problem solving to craft proactive solutions,” explains Louise. “I spot missed opportunities and prioritize client needs. Transparency is very important to me. I believe that “integrity” is more than just a buzz word – it’s the cornerstone of this profession.”
Earning and maintaining the trust of clients by acting in their best interest is something that Louise is very passionate about. In recent years she found herself called to take control of her own practice and ethical footprint by branching out on her own with the assistance and support of IG Wealth Management. Working with IG has helped Louise align her practice with her primary goal of delivering client-centric financial solutions.
“I understand the value of hard work,” says Louise. “I want my clients to benefit from the hard work they put in today by building solid financial plans to help those earnings grow. I am dedicated to helping clients and their families achieve their financial goals by providing a comprehensive approach to wealth management.”
Choosing IG Wealth Management
Louise worked with Scotia Bank for 30 years. She was a Private Banker for 20 years and a Lead Advisor with many high-net-worth relationships. She was one of five women to be selected as a founder for the Alberta North “Scotiabank Women in Leadership Initiative” providing mentorship and guidance to help her peers advance their careers. The appointment afforded her an exciting opportunity to provide others with tailored development advice and career-advancing networking opportunities. Despite her many successes in the Private Banking world, after three decades Louise knew she was ready for a change.
“The last three years I spent with Scotia in more of a support role, not really advising or planning with clients that I had built up a relationship with, and I really missed that part of the work,” explains Louise. “The support I was providing was only in the investment space versus holistic wealth planning advice. I wanted to get back to owning the proactive advice I was giving to clients. Customized planning married to investment strategy – my roots – were calling to me.”
Louse adds that joining IG was also appealing because it meant joining an experienced team of professionals with distinct areas of subject matter expertise.
“I don’t do this alone; I have a strong team working beside me,” says Lousie. “I have access to world-class planning resources and bring a greater depth to my advice to clients. I’m not just investment planning, I’m wealth planning and creating essential “road maps” to help clients realize their goals. It’s the big picture view of a client’s long-term financial plan. Beyond investing, managing any client’s wealth likely involves banking, wealth transition, estate/insurance planning, and business succession planning. It requires a 20,000-foot view of what a client really needs today and in the future.”
Balancing Career and Life
Louise is no stranger experiencing the world at 20,000 feet. Her husband is a pilot and she herself is working towards a pilot’s license in her own time. She has been up in the air with a birds-eye view of the world many times.
“My husband has passed on the flying bug to me, it’s peaceful and quiet up in the clouds,” she says. “But it also reminds me of what I love about what I do for a living. From the cockpit I can take stock of the world as I fly over it just as I do when I’m wealth planning for a client.”
In addition to a passion for flying, Louise is also interested in photography where she uses her lens (and her love of animals) as a volunteer pet photographer for a local animal rescue.
She believes in a strong work-life balance, engaging in activities that promote relaxation, enjoyment, and family unity. She hikes with her two English Mastiffs Bear and Linc, and stays active as a marathon runner. She has completed an impressive four 22K obstacle course runs designed by the British Special Forces, dubbed “The Tough Mudder” race. Her husband coaches her stepdaughter’s soccer team and Louise volunteers as Bench Parent.
“My 12-year-old stepdaughter wants to be the next Alex Morgan,” says Louise with pride. “On Saturday evenings we are at various soccer fields throughout Edmonton. Her dedication is paying off and she is becoming an exceptional goalie. We are very much a soccer family. My husband used to play in England and he’s a huge Liverpool Football Club fan. Soccer is life right now; it’s keeping us busy and interacting as a family.”
Louise is also an Ambassador for Challenger Sports Community Soccer program in Spruce Grove.
Family Advice, Family Advisor
Louise’s life on the soccer field mirrors her professional approach as an Advisor. Her method of approaching money management is comprehensive, as is her unwavering support for her stepchild’s goals/aspirations on the field. She brings the same level of commitment and enthusiasm to both aspects of her life.
“I’ve never been a huge soccer fan myself,” says Louise. “But what my family loves, it’s what we’re doing – and I’m going to jump in feet first and help in any way that I can. I suppose this is how I approach doing business with my clients too. At IG, I have the freedom and support to offer a truly holistic approach to wealth planning. I really can jump in and help in any way that I can. I believe that financial well-being extends beyond investments, encompassing estate planning, insurance, wealth transition strategies, and more. My focus is on creating a "roadmap" for each client's financial future – a comprehensive plan that addresses their unique goals and concerns, providing both clarity and direction.”
Louise understands that true financial peace of mind comes from a deep understanding of a client’s unique, individual circumstances. In a way, over time, many of her clients do start to feel just like family.
“I take the time to listen, to ask insightful questions, and to uncover opportunities clients may have overlooked. This client-centric approach, coupled with my extensive experience and access to a wealth of resources at IG, allows me to provide the highest level of personalized guidance,” she explains. “I’m committed to helping others secure financial wellness with the necessary transparency and integrity that everyone deserves – this will always be my goal, it’s who I am.”
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.
Louise Jacobs, PFP, FMA
Senior Wealth Consultant
IG Wealth Management
Edmonton Gateway Region
6103 Currents Drive NW, Suite 302,
Edmonton, AB T6W 2Z4
Tel: 780-395-6278 Mobile: 780-292-2651