MATT MCCLURE, CFP®, Senior Financial Consultant, IG Wealth Management, Orangeville, Ontario
MATT MCCLURE
Elevating Client Service:
A Balance of Big Picture Planning and Intricate Technical Expertise
Matt McClure, CFP® and Senior Financial Consultant with IG Wealth Management in Orangeville, Ont., believes in constantly elevating client service through a balance of big picture planning and intricate technical investment expertise. “Bringing my practice to IG Wealth has been a great opportunity to further build on my business with a strong team around me. Our clients deserve the highest level of service and it is very important for me to be able to offer that,” says Matt. “My focus in financial planning and investment solutions is to provide the strongest foundation based on the latest technical and educational platforms.”
Born and raised in Orangeville, Ont., Matt says youth athletics strongly impacted his values and his career path. “Sports puts young people in contact with people who share a different perspective, exhibit excellent work ethic, and show a commitment to those around them,” says Matt. In particular, he credits Sam Young, owner, and golf professional at the Shelburne Golf & Country Club, for his mentorship. “I was introduced to golf at eleven years old. Sam spent a substantial amount of his time with a group of us to help develop our golf game, our work ethic, and our demeanor on the golf course. A number of us earned golf scholarships as a result, and that opened my opportunity to attend Central Connecticut State University and achieve my Bachelor of Science degree in finance.”
Today, Matt continues that tradition. Because the Big Brothers & Big Sisters of Dufferin profoundly impacted his youth, Matt supports the organization and serves as their treasurer. He also is a volunteer firefighter with the Grand Valley and District Fire Department. “Coming back and working here in Orangeville, it’s always been important to me to be involved and to give back to community that’s given so much to me,” he says.
That spirit of hard work, commitment, constant improvement, and a natural interest in finances and investing are big drivers for Matt. Straight out of university, he went to work as a Financial Advisor with Scotiabank, where he had also interned while earning his degree. “This was a great foundational role to take on early in my career,” says Matt. “I gained knowledge and experience within a good cross section of the financial services offerings, including the mortgage and transactional businesses, with one of Canada’s ‘big five’ institutions.”
Next, Matt transitioned into the role of Investment Specialist and Financial Planner with Scotiabank’s Investment Specialists division. “I spent those seven years completely focused on financial planning, investment management, and client relationship management,” says Matt. “I’ve kept a big focus on the more pertinent designations in our industry. I hold the Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) designation for the big picture planning piece of client-focused service. On the more technical investing side, I’m working on the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA®) designation. This training and experience are an important balance for me. My educational background brings together the best kinds of advisement solutions, top-quality service, and structure for clients.”
With all this expertise, Matt felt ready to make the leap into his own practice at IG Wealth Management (IG). “The opportunity here exceeds the highest industry standards,” says Matt. “It supports me to provide comprehensive financial planning, view our clients’ situations at the higher-level financial picture, and provide that excellent level of advice and service.”
Working with IG, Matt has access to a fully inclusive toolbox of all the technology, support, and specialized advisement through the IG team to give the elevated service he demands of himself. “I have a passion for advising clients and helping them through the pivotal moments in their life whether it’s retirement, education planning, or legacy planning,” says Matt. “We use the IG Living Plan, a proprietary platform and planning tool that is essentially a living breathing document. It’s an incredibly effective way to present our financial plans and increase client engagement and interactivity. We’re constantly reviewing and updating this document as life changes come up. It also helps us better anticipate and test out potential scenarios, what-ifs, and opportunities for each client.”
These types of IG offerings complement Matt’s work values and his practice. While his services are geared to serving those preparing for retirement, professionals, business owners, and entrepreneurs, Matt especially connects with people in more complex financial scenarios that need in-depth planning. “We look for mutually beneficial relationships where I can really add value regardless of their professional background,” says Matt. “We can really step in to help improve people’s businesses and their lives. By providing them the confidence to focus on their chosen careers and know that they’re in good financial hands, we’re working together to reach their long-term goals within their plan.”
Along the way, Matt has developed long standing relationships with many clients as they’ve followed him through his career. “I’m big on contact, supportive management, and remaining proactive in their planning,” says Matt. “They’re always welcome to pick up the phone when things come up, but I ensure frequent and regular contact from my end as well.”
As pandemic challenges continue, Matt sees these types of turbulent personal and financial times as an opportunity to showcase the value in good financial advisement and the peace of mind it brings. “We can be here for our clients through uncertainty and give them the reassurance that we’re handling that aspect of their lives,” says Matt. “It’s our job to pull them through with the best results using all the experience, creative planning, and investment strategies to suit their individual needs.”
It’s achieving those financial and positive emotional results that gets Matt excited to get to the office each day. “I thrive on those interactions and seeing the optimism when we present these comprehensive living plans or see someone through retirement. The client meetings, seeing plans through, and achieving great results for our clients while boosting their confidence, these are the things that ignite passion in me.”
Matt also finds working through challenging estate transitions particularly rewarding. “This planning and process can be very emotional for people, often confusing, and there’s a lot for the executor to understand within all the implications,” says Matt. “We bring together the different advisors they may have in their lives to facilitate that transition. When I’ve guided people through this complex process, it’s so important to be that person they count on to lead them through the step-by-step process, but also to help manage emotions through a difficult time. We’re ultimately working to integrate the legacy assets into their own plan and help envision the implications it has on their future life. Going through that process and being there for our clients really strengthens and reinforces the relationship.”
In embracing the more intensive scenarios within financial and investment advising, Matt says working with IG elevates his game. “We have a strong bench of very talented players we can pull from when our client requires it,” says Matt. “We can provide that comprehensive financial planning while accessing insurance specialists, estate and will specialists, or other experts. I also work closely with the peripheral professionals clients may have in their lives such as lawyers, accountants, these types of advisors, to ensure we’re making and providing these services seamlessly and efficiently for them.”
While thoroughly enjoying the work he’s doing today, Matt looks optimistically to the future. “We haven’t been able to have as many face-to-face meetings or all the client appreciation events we love to host, whether it be on the golf course or at seminars and events,” he says. “I’m looking forward to getting together with everyone soon.”
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. Matt McClure is solely responsible for its content. For more information on this topic or any other financial matter, please contact Matt.
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.
Matt McClure, CFP
Senior Financial Consultant, Investors Group Financial Services Inc.
210 Broadway, Suite 202, Orangeville, ON L9W 5G4
226.558.3471 matt.mcclure@ig.ca