Toronto’s Independent
Investment Advisor.

In Canada, “investment advisor” is a colloquial term used broadly to describe anyone who gives investment guidance. A registered Portfolio Manager (PM) is a specific, higher regulatory designation granted by provincial securities commissions like the OSC. Portfolio Managers operate under a fiduciary duty — they must act in the client’s best interest — and are licensed to manage portfolios on a discretionary basis. Frontwater Capital is a registered Portfolio Manager and Investment Counsel with the Ontario Securities Commission, which means we hold ourselves to the highest legal standard in the industry.

Fee-only investment advisors in Toronto typically charge an annual management fee expressed as a percentage of assets under management (AUM), usually ranging from 0.50% to 1.50% depending on portfolio size and services included. Unlike commission-based advisors or mutual fund dealers who earn trailer fees embedded in product costs, fee-only advisors like Frontwater Capital charge only the transparent management fee — no hidden charges, no product commissions, no referral arrangements. This structure aligns our incentive directly with growing your portfolio.

Most independent Portfolio Managers in Toronto set minimums between $250,000 and $1,000,000 in investable assets. Minimums exist because discretionary portfolio management requires meaningful time to build, monitor, and adjust a truly customized portfolio — it is not scalable the way a robo-advisor is. At Frontwater Capital we work with clients across a range of account sizes; please contact us directly to discuss your situation and we’ll tell you honestly whether we’re a good fit.

Yes. Client assets are held at an independent, regulated custodian — not at Frontwater Capital itself. This means Frontwater never takes physical possession of your funds. Your accounts are held in your name, protected by CIPF (Canadian Investor Protection Fund) coverage up to $1 million per account category, and fully visible to you at all times through the custodian’s reporting portal. This structure is a core reason to choose a registered Portfolio Manager over less-regulated alternatives.

Bank investment advisors in Toronto operate under a suitability standard and are generally limited to products their institution offers — proprietary mutual funds, GICs, and wrapped products that carry embedded trailer fees. Frontwater Capital has no parent institution, no product shelf, and no incentive to recommend one investment over another except that it is the right choice for you. We are registered with the OSC as an independent Portfolio Manager and operate under a fiduciary standard — a fundamentally higher legal obligation than the suitability standard most bank advisors are held to.

Yes. Frontwater Capital manages virtually all registered and non-registered account types, including RRSP, TFSA, FHSA (First Home Savings Account), RRIF, LIRA, RESP, corporate accounts, joint accounts, and family trusts. Registered account types have different contribution limits, withdrawal rules, and tax treatment — part of what we do is coordinate your accounts holistically so the right assets are in the most tax-efficient accounts.