Moving on up

By Nadine Armstrong

The Hants Journal/NovaNewsNow.com

When a business moves into bigger and better digs it’s a sure a sign that things are looking up. And for IPC Investment Planning Counsel (IPC) after 13 successful years in the field, it goes to show that in business change can be a good thing.

The local corporation recently welcomed it's first partner, certified financial planner Valerie Newman, and has relocated to a gracious new space on Water Street. Senior associate Frank Moore says with the addition of Newman they had simply out grown their past accommodations and it was time to move forward.

With the increase demand for investment services, Moore said, the timing for expansion was right on the money and Newman’s was a merger that fit the situation perfectly. “IPC has grown to be one of the largest independent financial institutions in Canada,” Moore said. “For us it was time to expand and offer more options for our clients. This is a good partnership. It's a combination of knowledge and ideas.”

Newman, who hails from the IPC Kentville branch, has brought her own clients to the collective table, but also years of experience to the partnership. “This is very exciting,” said Newman, who lives locally and for whom moving her office to Windsor was a nice transition.

In her estimation, two is always better than one when it comes to customer satisfaction. “We both work independently, but the partnership has allowed us to service our clients much better. It means there is always someone available.”

Baby-boomer needs

Times have changed from the days of hoarding rainy day savings under the mattress.

Moore noted that the needs of the baby-boomer generation have expanded to include not only retirement savings, but estate planning and investments, as well. Doing financial business locally is what clients depend upon, Moore said. “Our pace here is a little slower,” he acknowledged. “This isn't a high pressure outfit. Some of my best clients started out with a $100 investment.”

At IPC, he said, everyone is a potential client. “One thing I know is that word of mouth is better than any advertisement.” About 90 per cent of referrals to IPC come from other satisfied customers.

Moore has been in the financial business since the age of 19 and has developed a level of confidence locally he trusts will apply equally to Newman. “If you don't do a good job in this community, people will know about it. And clients are more likely to trust someone whose been around,” he said. “I've known Valerie for a long time; we've had a good friendship and working relationship.”

Newman projects to have the same level of success locally as she has throughout the Maritimes. Being licensed in Prince Edward Island, Ontario and Alberta means a lot to clients such as military personnel who move frequently, she said. “This allows us to maintain service for clients who move to other areas and build a client base in other provinces.”

With the settling in complete and a recent open house celebration behind them, the future looks bright for the Windsor business. “We feel very successful in that we are able to grow and continue provide the services we've been able to provide through the years,” Moore said.