THUY CHOU, CFP®, CIM®, FCSI®, Senior Financial Consultant, MD Management Limited, Portfolio Manager, MD Private Investment Counsel, Calgary, Alberta
THUY CHOU
“It’s not about what you know, or what you do;
it’s how you make your clients feel”
Thuy (Twee) Chou (CFP® , CIM® , FCSI® ), Senior Financial Consultant, MD Management Limited Portfolio Manager, MD Private Investment Counsel combines over two decades of experience with a passion for holistic financial planning. Guided by a commitment to empowering clients, Thuy specializes in serving medical professionals and their families, integrating a personalized approach that balances technical skill with meaningful, practical advice.
“I graduated from the University of Calgary with the intention of going to law school, but life took me in a different direction,” she says. Following a stint working in stock transfers, Thuy got married and had two kids. Despite a shift in her career path, she mentions “I now believe in fate and that the universe has its own plans.”
Having gained experience in the industry working in the legal field at Royal Trust, and eventually receiving training in estate and trust, Thuy found her calling to help people with estate planning and financial matters.
“Eventually, I decided to broaden my impact by transitioning to Financial Planning, hoping to assist the next generation and beyond,” she says. “I pursued my Certified Financial Planner (CFP® ) and Chartered Investment Manager (CIM® ) and Fellowship designations thereafter.”
“I spent another six years in this field before taking a year off due to family health issues. During that time, I was deeply impressed by the care my son received at the Alberta Children’s Hospital. This experience inspired me to return to work with a renewed purpose, leading me to join MD Financial Management, where I have been for nearly 10 years.”
In 2022, Thuy joined MD Signature Private Wealth Management (MD Signature), where she later had the opportunity to work with the physician who had previously cared for her son. Thuy noted, “To thank them for their care, I offered my own in return.”
Balancing Wealth and Purpose
At MD Financial Management, Thuy specializes in serving medical doctors and their families, which allows her to work with a broad and multi-generational network. “Our services extend to anyone related to physicians by blood or marriage, resulting in a wide scope of clients.”
The MD Signature team is capable of providing in-depth planning focusing on one or more areas, including financial management, asset management, risk management, tax management, retirement planning, and estate planning.
A significant concern within this niche is tax and estate planning. She adds, “Given their substantial wealth and complex situations, I frequently collaborate with lawyers and accountants–anyone who could work with me to make my client’s financial plan a reality–to address these intricate challenges to provide more effective and tailored solutions.”
This scenario aligns with Thuy’s overarching practice philosophy. “I engage with my clients using a holistic approach, integrating financial planning with investment management and other facets such as risk management and financial oversight,” she says. “This method creates a personalized plan that extends beyond the one-size-fits-all approach, which clients are often accustomed to.”
She goes on to say, “While clients may initially find this approach different, it leads to more meaningful, purposeful conversations and better alignment with their financial needs and goals.”
Given her background in estate and trust, Thuy recognizes that planning is never linear. “Rather, it is about navigating different paths and addressing both extremes of spending and saving. I encourage clients who tend to save excessively to embrace spending within their limits and live purposely and intentionally. My reminder to them is that life is finite, and it is essential to make the most of it!”
At the end of the day, Thuy mentions “I define my success by clients telling me that they feel great about what I am doing and are happy with the services I am capable of providing.”
Curiosity-Driven Planning
“At the heart of my work at MD Financial Management is educating, guiding, and supporting clients to achieve their financial goals.” Guided by one of her favourite quotes by Maya Angelou ‘It’s not about what you know or what you do, but how you make your clients feel’, Thuy says “I believe in the importance of relationship building and giving back.”
In her role, Thuy’s approach diverges from the traditional method of aligning a client’s life with a financial plan. She says, “ Instead, I start by understanding their life plan and aligning their financial plan to that, not the other way around.” Thuy highlights the common case of clients transitioning into retirement. “This new phase of life can be daunting, as people often struggle with their identity and purpose after a career defines them.”
Thuy mentions, “Curiosity is a key strength in my approach. Rather than relying on assumptions or biases, I focus on asking numerous questions to understand my client's goals and desires deeply. This curiosity helps uncover their underlying aspirations, as initial answers might only reflect immediate needs like taking a summer holiday rather than long-term retirement plans.”
“Retirement planning is more complex than simply addressing short-term desires. It’s crucial to consider what remains for the years ahead if everything is fulfilled in the first year,” she says.
Thuy excels in exploring these aspects through detailed and inquisitive dialogue. By gaining a comprehensive understanding of clients' broader life plans, she can more effectively align their financial strategies with their long-term objectives, leading to more personalized and impactful financial planning.
Empowering Women in Financial Planning
Thuy looks back to a particularly meaningful experience in her career that has transformed her vision. “In my work assisting with investment planning, I got to know many couples, especially the men who managed the family’s finances. I learned a lot from one couple, in which the male client was diagnosed with cancer. After two years of working with him and his wife, I visited him in hospice. He expressed relief, knowing that his wife would be well taken care of after his passing.”
Since then, Thuy has had a newfound focus on empowering more women with their finances. “Since the burden on women has increased, as they balance busy careers and financial responsibilities, I aim to help women adopt a proactive approach to their finances.”
In Thuy’s experience, she says, “Women often bring a different perspective and patience to financial planning, which can be more impactful when mirrored in the advisory industry. Balancing technical details with meaningful, practical advice is essential, as some clients find technical information overwhelming and prefer a more relatable approach.”
From Career to Quality Time
Outside of work, Thuy is dedicated to her family, including her two sons, aged 26 and 19, whom she is guiding toward independence. “Since my older son has moved out and is doing well, I have had more time to spend quality time with my husband. We recently celebrated our 28th wedding anniversary.”
After a bustling career over the past two decades, her husband’s retirement around nine years ago has allowed them to spend more time together, which Thuy now considers one of her main hobbies. “Despite being known as a workaholic, I find joy in travelling and spending time with my family, balancing my love for work while making intentional time to enjoy life’s adventures.”
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Thuy Chou, CFP® , CIM® , FCSI®
Senior Financial Consultant
MD Management Limited
Portfolio Manager
MD Private Investment Counsel
MD Signature Private Wealth Management
310 - 611 Meredith Road NE,
Calgary, AB T2E 2W5
O: 403 244-8000 ext 3830
Trade Centre: 1 800 267-2332
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