1. What does “fee-only financial planning” mean?

It means you pay only for advice, not products.

A fee-only financial planner is compensated solely by the clients they serve. They do not receive commissions, referral fees, or incentives to recommend specific products or strategies. This structure removes sales pressure and ensures that the advice you receive is transparent, unbiased, and focused entirely on your best interest.

You get thoughtful guidance that’s grounded in what’s right for you, not what’s profitable for someone else.

2. How is a fee-only planner different from a bank advisor or investment salesperson?

Many advisors are paid through commissions or incentives to sell financial products. That can create pressure to recommend strategies that don’t fully align with your needs.

Marlene is different. As a fee-only financial planner, she is compensated solely for her expertise and time, not for selling investments or insurance. There are no commissions, no product quotas, and no hidden agendas.

This means the advice you receive is truly objective, conflict-free, and shaped entirely by what’s best for you, not by what someone else wants to sell.

3. What is retirement income planning?

Retirement income planning is about more than just turning savings into paycheck's. It’s about helping you feel steady, secure, and confident in the next phase of life.

It involves creating a reliable, tax-efficient income stream from all your sources; RRSPs, TFSAs, pensions, government benefits, corporate assets, and even properties or accounts held outside of Canada. Each financial decision is connected to others, which is why the planning process takes your entire picture into account.

Depending on your situation, we may explore:

• When to draw CPP and OAS

• Managing OAS clawback

• Pension options like commuted values, survivor benefits, or buybacks

• RRSP/RRIF and LIRA/LIF withdrawal strategies

• TFSA contribution and withdrawal planning

• Stock options, RSUs, DSUs, DCPPs, annuities

• Tax efficiency across your lifetime

• Drawing income from a private corporation

• Timing decisions around downsizing or selling properties

• Planning for healthcare and longevity

• Organizing your estate so it’s easier for your loved ones later on

• Making sure your estate is set up to happen the way you wish

• Coordinating foreign assets within your retirement strategy

• How to plan for special needs child’s future

• Gifting to children or charities
  

Each decision is made in context, so your plan reflects your real life, not just your numbers.

4. Who is Buxton Financial For Retirement best suited for?

We work with individuals and couples who are finishing up their working years and want to feel more confident about what comes next. Many are thinking about how to turn what they’ve built (savings, pensions, real estate, corporate assets), into income that supports the life they want in retirement.

Some have financial considerations, such as private corporations, multiple properties, foreign assets, or managing an inheritance. Others are navigating transitions like divorce, or simply approaching retirement with questions they have never had to answer before. Many want help making sense of it all, with less stress and more clarity.

Our clients typically:

• Are up to 10 years from planned retirement, or over age 50

• Want a plan that’s tailored to their life, not a product pitch

• Value independence, clarity, and personal connection

• Prefer expert guidance without judgment or pressure

If you are asking, “Am I doing this right?”, you are in the right place.

5. What can I expect during the planning process?

The process is thoughtful, personal, and designed to help you feel comfortable, not overwhelmed. You won’t be expected to know everything or prepare perfectly before we begin. We’ll walk through it together, step by step.

Here’s what it typically looks like:

1. Initial Consultation
   This is a relaxed, no-obligation meeting (In person or over Zoom) where you will talk with Marlene about your situation, learn how the process works, and ask any questions. You will also find out what the fee would be based on your situation. After the meeting, Marlene will send you additional information by email, or provide a printed copy if you are meeting in person. You will have everything you need to reflect, before deciding whether to move forward. If it’s not the right fit, she will let you know with care and honesty.

2. Planning Meetings
   Over three focused meetings (plus a follow-up), you’ll explore your lifestyle, goals, financial picture, and any worries or questions. Marlene designed these meetings to help you prepare for retirement in a way that gives you confidence in the decisions you are making. These conversations go beyond numbers, they centre around your life, values, and what you want the future to look and feel like. Clients often describe these meetings as surprisingly enjoyable and calming. There’s no judgment, only space to be honest and supported.

3. Gathering Information
   You don’t need to prepare anything before the first meeting. After that, Marlene will provide a personalized list of documents tailored to your situation. For those who prefer to work ahead, a general list is available. The entire process is built for ease and efficiency, so you can stay focused on what matters most.

4. In-Person or Virtual Options
   You can choose to meet in person or over Zoom. Marlene’s office is located in downtown Toronto at the corner of King Street and Bay Street. The office is easily accessible by subway (King or St. Andrew) or Union Station.

5. Flat Fee Structure
   The fee is a flat fee structure based on the complexity of your situation. You will receive clear information about this in the initial consultation; no surprises, no pressure.

6. A Personalized Plan
   Your plan is more than numbers. It’s a clear, detailed roadmap created specifically for you. This isn’t a template or generic report. It is extremely practical. It’s built around your life and delivered in your third meeting for us to go over together. You then go over it on your own and write down any questions or thoughts. We then review any questions, thoughts, or whatever you need in the Follow Up meeting a couple weeks later.

7. Ongoing Support (If Needed)
   After you receive your plan, you may choose to return for check-ins, updates, or further support as your life evolves. It is completely optional and flexible based on your needs. Fees are determined based on needs at that time.

6. Do you manage investments?

No. Buxton Financial For Retirement does not sell investment products or manage portfolios, and that’s intentional.

Many clients manage their investments in different ways: some work with a portfolio manager or financial advisor, others have self-directed accounts or take a DIY approach. Whichever way your investments are structured, Marlene will help you assess whether your investments are aligned with your goals and risk profile.

You’ll receive:

• An independent review of your current investment structure

• Thoughtful, unbiased recommendations you can implement with your existing advisor or platform

• Tax-efficient withdrawal strategies that support your lifestyle and long-term goals

• Strategies for protecting your portfolio during market downturns

This keeps the focus on planning, not product sales. This allows your investment decisions to align with the rest of your retirement income strategy.