Success Stories

"Karin Mizgala is a remarkable professional. I have to say that my stress (and my partner's) has reduced hugely since we started to work with her. She helped us analyze our financial situation, assess where we wanted to be, and helped us set goals to move forward. She's been amazing at answering our questions and providing direction so that we are more on track than ever.

A couple of other things:

1. She's independent so she is not selling anything other than her own expertise. That is unbelievably refreshing.

2. She totally understands the fact that helping couples work together to resolve financial issues really helps you feel much safer and happier in your relationship.

In short, I think she's an amazingly competent and knowledgeable Financial Advisor."




"My husband and I started working with Karin 8 years ago because we wanted to have an overall financial plan, to have more vision than dumping money into an RRSP just for the tax deduction. Karin helped us get some structure to our finances. We looked at things like how much we could save, how much we could spend on vacations, and whether we could max out our mortgage payment-we wouldn't have done any of this without Karin.

Today, we're looking good in terms of retiring, and our net worth has gone up remarkably. This is in itself a testimony to Karin's skills as an educator and consultant. I would also recommend Karin to entrepreneurs and small business owners who may need help in setting up a financial structure for their companies. "




"I received an inheritance and was closing in on retirement age. I had lots of questions: could I retire at 55? If not when? Could job sharing be a possibility? How would that affect my CPP?

Karin pulls in all the loose disjointed issues of saving, retirement planning, investing and even spending. Then she breaks it down into steps and guides you along. Although I'm not finished the process yet, I feel more in control and less overwhelmed. I feel good about my accomplishments, like setting goals, charting my cash flow, redoing my will, choosing where to invest. "




"I took Karin's courses because I was finally at a point where I needed to learn enough to navigate my way around the world of personal finance. Karin pushed the point that the place you must begin is with yourself-your goals, risk tolerance, cash flow. So she really personalized the process and that made it easier for me. I'm now in a position to confidently develop my own financial plan and I'm doing that. I'm in charge of my life. "




"Karin acted as my advocate during my divorce. I was nervous and afraid of making "big" financial decisions on my own, but Karin empowered me to see that there was nothing to fear. From working with her, I have assimilated a sound thinking process to following in making financial decisions.

I know that as a result, I will always feel comfortable in my ability to assess my finances and move forward. The whole experience, with Karin's help, has made me a stronger person. "




I was the classic example of a woman who was busy working and raising kids and who took little interest in financial matters-my husband was much better at it, so he just did it. Since I'm approaching retirement, I wanted to understand more about my financial situation.

Karin helped me consolidate my RSP which was a major concern because my investments were all over the place. She guided me to ask the right questions. I now feel a lot more confident and in control of my finances, so I feel a lot more in control of my life. I tell all my close friends about her. "




"I hired Karin because I had a tragedy in my life and had to plan for retirement. She helps me keep track of my investments and bank accounts. I couldn't do without her. "




"I hired Karin 3-4 years ago to make sure I was on track with my investments. I have two kids and my husband was out of work on disability. I worked for a bank and had taken a few financial planning courses but didn't have the confidence. I needed verification that I was moving in the right direction and wanted to work with someone outside the bank who was not pushing bank products.

We realigned some investments, looked at whether we should be doing RSP's, and when we should be paying off our mortgage. I feel a lot more comfortable now; she eased my fears of whether or not I was doing the right thing. "




"I wasn't interested in money management, yet I recognized it was a responsible thing to do. Karin gave my financial life structure-she supported me in doing a reasonable budget, and working towards the goal of retirement. Karin's principles are in synch with mine; she's honest, straight-forward and completely trustworthy. "




"Because I'm self-employed, I have no particular date for when I should retire, and wanted help figuring out how long my money might last. Karin was able to come up with different models of retirement based on some of my dreams such as living in Europe, and bringing my 93-year-old mother over from Scotland.

I could have gone to an accountant, but deciding when to retire is such an emotional decision, and Karin is compassionate and understanding, and offers counseling and listening skills.

I was quite concerned about what the numbers would look like, but I now feel a tremendous liberation of spirit, and can indulge myself a lot more. I would recommend Karin to any self-employed professionals. "