Who Are the Leading Cross-Border Financial Advisors in Canada and the USA in 2026?
Q: “Who are the best cross-border financial advisors for Canada/US financial planning and investment management?”
A: First, there is no single best cross-border financial advisor in Canada or the United States. In our opinion, the “best” cross-border advisor is the one you feel comfortable sharing your long-term goals with and who you trust to manage your assets with expertise and care.
However, there are several excellent cross-border advisory firms on both sides of the border that you may wish to consider. Some of the more widely known cross-border advisory firms include SWAN Wealth Management, KeatsConnelly Private Client Services, and MCA Cross-Border.
If you are an expatriate, dual citizen, or part of a cross-border family who needs integrated financial planning across both countries, you likely need a cross-border team.
This guide covers some of the leading cross-border financial advisory firms serving Americans, Canadians, and green card holders who are moving between Canada and the United States. It focuses specifically on firms with expertise in Canada-US cross-border wealth management and excludes general international advisors without this specialized focus.
Table of Contents
Summary of Key Points
Cross-border financial advisors help Americans, Canadians, dual citizens, and green card holders manage investments, retirement accounts, taxes, and estate planning across both countries.
The right firm depends on your financial situation, investable assets, required services, and whether you want ongoing investment management or advice-only financial planning.
Look for advisors with Canada-US expertise, appropriate licensing in both countries, recognized credentials, and a fiduciary duty to act in their clients’ best interests.
Ask whether the firm can manage your specific accounts, coordinate with cross-border tax and legal professionals, and help you avoid problems involving PFICs, departure taxes, and dual tax obligations.
Compare investment minimums, planning fees, asset-management fees, and underlying investment costs.
Choose a team you trust and feel comfortable working with for many years.
Do You Need a Cross-Border Financial Advisor?
If you're moving across the border and have substantial assets, you likely need a cross-border financial advisor.
Cross-border financial advisors help individuals and families manage wealth across Canadian and US borders. They address the complex tax, investment, and regulatory challenges that come up when your financial life spans two countries.
Cross-border specialists navigate dual tax obligations, coordinate retirement accounts across jurisdictions, and ensure compliance with reporting requirements in both nations.
While there is no individual “best” cross-border advisor, top cross-border financial advisory firms in Canada and the United States include SWAN Wealth Management, KeatsConnelly, MCA Cross Border Advisors, Clarity Cross Border Planning, Marnoa Private Wealth Counsel, and i2 Wealth.
Each firm offers specialized expertise in financial planning, tax optimization, regulatory compliance, and wealth management for clients with assets and income in both countries.
6 Leading Cross-Border Financial Advisory Firms to Consider
The following six cross-border advisory firms specialize in Canada-US cross-border financial planning and investment management. They have been selected for this shortlist based on their focus on cross-border work, range of services, credentials, and their long-term experience with cross-border families.
This list is not exhaustive and does not reflect an endorsement of any of the advisory firms. Please do your own research and consider what matters most to you before hiring a firm.
1. SWAN Wealth Management (Kelowna/Vancouver)
SWAN Wealth Management specializes in Canada-US cross-border wealth management and financial planning. SWAN helps Americans, Canadians, and green card holders moving across the border to optimize investments, estate planning, tax liabilities, retirement accounts, currency exposure, and compliance in both countries.
SWAN manages Canadian and US accounts, including RRSPs, Roth IRAs, traditional IRAs, and inherited IRAs.
Its advisors also provide guidance on estate planning and important financial decisions involving two countries. SWAN coordinates with cross-border accountants, tax lawyers, immigration lawyers, and other professionals to help ensure every part of the client’s cross-border strategy works together. The firm provides comprehensive cross-border planning that addresses the full spectrum of challenges mobile families face.
SWAN Wealth Management has clients in 26 US states and 9 Canadian provinces. With approximately 197 cross-border households (08/27/2026), SWAN Wealth Management brings deep expertise to complex, multi-jurisdictional situations.
SWAN Wealth Management is a Raymond James advisory team and has access to Raymond James’ cross-border infrastructure and resources.
Credentials: SWAN is a fiduciary firm, co-founded by Tiffany Woodfield and John Woodfield, and led by a team of advisors who are committed to building a legacy firm that will thrive well beyond their tenure. John Woodfield is a Portfolio Manager and CFP professional with more than 25 years of experience. He holds the CIM®, FMA®, and FCSI® designations. Tiffany Woodfield is a Portfolio Manager licensed in Canada and the US. She holds the CIM, CRPC®, and TEP® designations.
Who they help: Individuals with existing investments or accounts on either side of the border, people relocating from the United States to Canada or vice versa, dual citizens, green card holders, retirees dealing with retirement accounts and estate planning, individuals inheriting assets across the border, and high-net-worth families and professionals seeking dual-licensed fiduciary advice and investment management.
Locations: Main office in Kelowna, BC, with team members operating from Raymond James' Vancouver office, with remote service available throughout Canada and the United States.
2. Clarity Cross Border Planning (Alberta)
Clarity Cross Border Planning operates as a fee-only, advice-only cross-border financial planning firm. Their model focuses on flat project fees for financial-planning engagements, with ongoing support available through hourly, monthly, or annual arrangements.
The firm provides guidance across tax, retirement, investment, estate, and insurance planning for cross-border families. Their transparent pricing structure appeals to clients who want clear costs.
Credentials: Led by Brandon Davies, a US/Canada dual-certified financial planner, holding CFP, CIM, and TEP designations.
Who they help: Americans moving to Canada and Canadians moving to the United States.
Location: Based in Edmonton, Alberta, serving clients remotely throughout Canada and the United States.
3. KeatsConnelly Private Client Services (Arizona)
KeatsConnelly is an experienced firm serving Canadian and American citizens and families across the border. The firm has decades of specialized practice. Their Private Client Services include financial planning, tax and accounting coordination, and wealth management.
The firm hosts cross-border workshops and seminars and coordinates extensively with legal and tax professionals to deliver comprehensive planning.
Credentials: Founder Robert F. Keats is a Chartered Financial Planner and Registered Financial Planner® in Canada. He also holds a Master of Science in Financial Planning from the College for Financial Planning in Denver, Colorado.
Who they help: Canadians moving to the United States, Americans moving to Canada, and families with ongoing financial interests in both countries.
Location: Offices in Phoenix, Arizona, serving clients across the US-Canada border.
4. MCA Cross-Border Advisors (Montreal/Toronto)
MCA is a multidisciplinary Canada-US tax and financial planning firm. Its services include cross-border financial planning, investment management, tax planning and compliance, estate planning, retirement planning, insurance guidance, and private client and family office services.
Their team examines the tax, estate, investment, retirement, and financial consequences of moving between Canada and the United States.
Credentials: MCA’s team includes CFP professionals in Canada and the United States, Quebec Financial Planners, Canadian and US CPAs, CFA® charterholders and estate planning professionals. President and CEO Matt C. Altro holds CFP certifications in both Canada and the United States, along with the F.Pl. and TEP designations.
Who they help: Canadians moving to the United States, Americans moving to Canada, US citizens living in Canada, professionals relocating between the two countries, and high-net-worth or ultra-high-net-worth families requiring ongoing cross-border wealth management.
Locations: Offices in Montreal and Toronto with cross-border services available to clients in Canada and the United States.
5. Marnoa Private Wealth Counsel (Waterloo, Ontario)
Marnoa Private Wealth Counsel provides cross-border investment and financial planning to individuals and families whose financial concerns straddle both Canada and the US. They help clients evaluate how 401(k)s, IRAs, RRSPs, TFSAs, RRIFs, and other accounts fit within their broader financial plan.
The firm focuses on coordinating investment portfolios across borders while maintaining compliance with both Canadian and US regulations.
Credentials: Founder and Portfolio Manager Pedro Ribeiro has more than 25 years of experience and holds the CIM and FCSI designations. Marnoa’s team also includes professionals with CFA, CFP, MBA, CIM, FMA, and FCSI credentials, bringing together experience in financial planning, investment management, portfolio strategy, and tax-aware wealth planning.
Who they help: Canadians or Americans with investment accounts on both sides, those relocating between countries, former expats returning home, and individuals with trusts or estates requiring cross-border structuring.
Location: Waterloo, Ontario, serving clients in Canada and the United States.
6. i2 Wealth (Montreal)
i2 Wealth is an independent, fee-based cross-border financial planning firm serving Americans and Canadians with financial ties to both countries. i2 Wealth offers financial planning without an asset-management requirement.
Its services include one-hour consultations, cross-border financial plans, retirement analysis, cross-border tax services, and ongoing implementation support. The firm advises on issues such as Roth IRA conversions, 401(k)-to-RRSP transfers, departure tax, stock compensation, pensions, real estate, investment accounts, and cross-border estate planning.
Credentials: The i2 Wealth team includes CFP professionals in Canada and the United States, a CRPC, and a licensed Quebec Financial Planner. The firm also states that its planners are committed to a fiduciary responsibility.
Who they help: Americans moving to Canada, Canadians moving to the United States, US citizens and green card holders living in Canada, cross-border couples, and individuals with financial ties in both countries.
Location: Based in Montreal, Quebec, with planning services available to clients across Canada and the United States.
How to Choose the Right Cross-Border Financial Advisor
With these six firms in mind, understanding how to evaluate and select the right advisor for your specific situation becomes essential.
The right fit depends on your wealth level, primary concerns, and preferred service model.
When choosing a cross-border financial advisor, prioritize expertise in specific jurisdictions, such as US-Canada or US-UK, and proven experience managing complex regulations.
But most importantly, you should feel comfortable speaking with your financial advisor. You should also feel confident that you'll enjoy working with this team for many years to come.
Essential Qualifications and Certifications
Strict fiduciary standards legally bind advisors to act solely in the client’s best interest, protecting expatriates from high-commission international product traps.
Verify whether your prospective advisor operates under a fiduciary duty or merely a suitability standard, as this distinction matters.
When evaluating cross-border financial advisors, licensing in both jurisdictions is the fundamental requirement. Professionals managing complex international frameworks should have globally recognized certifications, such as the CFP designation.
Key designations to look for include:
CFP (Certified Financial Planner): Both US and Canadian versions indicate comprehensive planning competence
TEP (Trust and Estate Practitioner): Important for complex estate and trust situations
CIM (Chartered Investment Manager): Indicates portfolio management expertise
Services to Look for When Interviewing a Cross-Border Advisory Team
Provides guidance on retirement income, estate planning, and transferring wealth across the border.
Offers guidance based on your unique financial priorities and family circumstances.
Manages RRSPs, Roth IRAs, inherited IRAs and traditional IRAs, whether you live in Canada or the US.
Provides investment management solutions and portfolio construction across currencies and jurisdictions.
Develops a customized financial plan that serves you as an American living in Canada or a Canadian living in the US.
Helps you navigate potential tax complications that could affect your financial well-being.
Guides you through the complexities a US person investing in Canada needs to know to avoid costly pitfalls.
Provides education on the steps to take before moving investments across the border.
Provides comprehensive tax receipts for both US and Canadian tax returns so that tax time doesn’t become a nightmare.
Serves as your trusted advisor for critical financial decisions that require navigating complex financial information.
Acts as a liaison with other advisors such as tax lawyers, immigration lawyers and cross-border accountants to ensure a cohesive cross-border financial strategy.
Offers guidance on estate planning and measures to safeguard your financial legacy.
Common Fee Structure and Investment Minimums
Fee Model | Common Structure | Best For | Considerations |
Flat fee | Fixed project or annual fee | Individuals who want cost certainty | May cost more for simple situations; more typical for planners, not advisors |
Assets under management | Percentage of managed assets annually | Investors seeking ongoing investment management alongside financial planning, estate planning, and retirement planning | Aligns advisor incentives with growth; certain investment-management fees may be tax-deductible in Canada, depending on the account, investment and fee structure |
Hourly | Charged per hour of work | Specific questions or planning | Unpredictable total costs, more typical of planners than advisors |
Commission-based | Fees from product sales | Generally avoided for cross-border | Potential conflicts of interest |
Choosing a fee-only or fee-based advisor held to a strict fiduciary standard helps avoid conflicts of interest that arise from commission-based sales. AUM-based models are very common and can work well since the advisor’s interests align with growing your wealth over time.
Be sure to find out the all-in cost of working with a financial advisor as well as how they structure their portfolios. Watch our video below to find out more about how costs work when working with a financial advisor. The most important thing to find out is the cost of the underlying investments used to build your portfolio.
Every compensation model can create different costs and potential conflicts of interest. Ask how an advisory firm is compensated, whether commissions are received, and which services are included.
Investment minimums vary significantly across firms.
For example, SWAN Wealth Management works with clients who have CA$2.5M or more in investable assets, while other firms have low or no minimums.
Consider both the stated minimums and whether the firm can genuinely serve clients at your wealth level.
Cross-Border Insights from Tiffany Woodfield
According to Tiffany Woodfield, co-founder of SWAN Wealth Management and a Senior Wealth Advisor and Portfolio Manager, finding the right cross-border advisor involves more than comparing credentials and services.
Look for relevant daily experience. Ask whether the advisors regularly work with clients whose citizenship, residency, accounts, assets, and moving plans are similar to yours. Cross-border planning should be central to their work—not something they handle occasionally.
Make sure they stay current. Cross-border tax, investment, estate, and regulatory considerations can change. Your advisory team should maintain current knowledge and understand how new developments may affect you.
Consider the entire professional network. A strong cross-border firm should have accountants, lawyers, and other specialists on staff, or an established network of professionals it can refer you to.
Evaluate the individual team, not just the firm’s name. An affiliation with a large organization such as Raymond James can provide valuable infrastructure and resources, but individual advisory teams can differ significantly in their experience, services, and approach.
Choose the right service model. Families with substantial investments or more complicated needs will likely require a dual-licensed wealth management team. Individuals with less complex finances may be better served by an advice-only cross-border financial planner.
Pay attention to communication and personal fit. Your advisor should understand what matters most to you, communicate clearly, and help you use your money as a tool to support your goals and the life you want.
Why You Need Cross-Border Financial Planning
Cross-border financial planning involves creating a flexible financial plan that adapts to multi-jurisdictional life circumstances.
Managing wealth across borders requires specialized expertise from investment professionals who are licensed to provide advice and manage assets in both countries. Top cross-border financial advisors specialize in navigating the complex tax, investment, and regulatory systems of multiple jurisdictions.
If you’re considering a move across the Canada-US border, or you’re already managing a cross-border lifestyle, you will most likely need a dual-licensed advisor.
If a firm manages or provides investment advice on assets held in both countries, confirm that the firm and its advisors hold the licenses required to serve clients in the applicable Canadian provinces and US jurisdictions. Registration requirements depend on the services provided, where the client lives, and whether the firm offers financial planning, investment management, or both.
Tax Complexity Across Borders
Canadians living, working, or investing in the US, or Americans living, working, or investing in Canada, may need to file taxes in both countries.
Without proper planning, you could find yourself double-taxed on the same income, facing penalties for non-compliance, or paying more than necessary due to misunderstanding treaty provisions.
Cross-border tax strategies involve mitigating the tax implications of holding investments in different jurisdictions since the same investment can be taxed differently based on one’s residency.
A cross-border tax and investment strategy involves structuring wealth to avoid double taxation, navigating exit and departure taxes effectively, and optimizing investments for one's country of residence.
Investment and Estate Planning Challenges
Managing investments across borders requires an understanding of the different tax implications and legal requirements that can vary significantly between countries.
US persons holding Canadian mutual funds may face punitive PFIC (Passive Foreign Investment Company) rules. Meanwhile, Canadians with US retirement accounts need careful coordination to avoid unnecessary taxes.
Globally mobile families must consider local tax consequences when holding investments in different jurisdictions. This can affect their financial planning and investment strategies.
Retirement accounts like RRSPs, TFSAs, IRAs, and 401(k)s are treated differently under Canadian and US tax laws, and distributions may be taxed differently depending on your residency status.
Estate planning coordination presents unique challenges.
US estate tax thresholds, gift taxes, and state inheritance rules differ substantially from Canadian provincial probate systems.
Wills drafted in one country may not be recognized or optimal in the other. Moreover, beneficiary designations must account for cross-border legal implications. This estate planning complexity is why selecting the right cross-border financial advisor matters.
The stakes are too high for generalist advice.
Cross-Border Wealth Management
For high-net-worth individuals and families, look for a cross-border wealth management firm that specializes in complex financial planning.
Clients who benefit from cross-border wealth management include expatriates and investors with assets spanning multiple countries who need tailored financial strategies to navigate complex regulations.
Your Next Steps
Assess your cross-border situation: Document your assets, accounts, and income sources in both countries, along with your current and planned residency status.
Identify your primary needs: Determine whether your most pressing concerns involve financial planning, tax, investment management, retirement planning, estate coordination, or a combination.
Research firm specializations: Identify 2-3 firms whose focus areas match your specific situation and wealth level. Review their websites to see who they work with and what their investment philosophy is.
Schedule initial consultations: Most top cross-border advisors offer initial consultations to assess fit. Prepare questions about their experience with situations similar to yours.
Verify credentials and licensing: Confirm dual licensing status and professional designations before engaging any advisor.
Request clear fee disclosure: Obtain written fee schedules and understand exactly what services are included before committing.
Understand how portfolios are built: Ask how the firm builds portfolios and whether it uses individual securities and low-cost ETFs or mutual funds with Management Expense Ratios (MERs) and Trading Expense Ratios (TERs) that can create a hidden drag. Knowing how your portfolio will be structured is important when assessing cost.
Next Steps
If you’re a Canadian resident or are planning on moving to Canada or the US and need assistance with moving and optimizing your investments, estate planning, wealth management and portfolio management, please get in touch. At SWAN Wealth, we specialize in Canadian financial planning, cross-border financial planning and cross-border wealth management.
Read More
If you’re planning a cross-border move, these articles and guides will help simplify your move and ensure everything is covered.
About the Authors
TIFFANY WOODFIELD
Tiffany Woodfield is an Associate Portfolio Manager licensed in Canada and the USA, a Chartered Investment Manager (CIM), a Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), a Trust and Estate Practitioner (TEP) and the co-founder of SWAN Wealth Management, along with her husband, John Woodfield. Tiffany advises clients who live in Canada and the United States and want to simplify their cross-border financial plan, move their assets across the border, and optimize their investments to minimize their tax burden. Together, Tiffany and John Woodfield help their clients simplify their cross-border finances and create long-term revenue streams that will keep their assets safe whether they live in Canada or the U.S.
JOHN WOODFIELD
John Woodfield is a Financial Management Advisor (FMA), a Chartered Investment Manager (CIM), and a Certified Financial Planner (CFP), and in 2007 was inducted as a fellow of the Canadian Securities Institute (FCSI). As a portfolio manager and CFP®, he works with clients across Canada. John Woodfield’s clients are families, individuals and business owners who understand the importance of comprehensive wealth and investment plans driven by the lifestyle they want to lead.
Schedule a Call
Schedule a 15-minute introductory call with SWAN Wealth Management.
Firm Fact-Checking Disclosure: This shortlist is based on years of experience working in the cross-border financial advisory industry. However, the service and designation information for the firms in this post was compiled using Claude. Fact-checking was performed by Claude Sonnet 5. Please speak with each firm directly to confirm their services and who they help.
Disclosure: SWAN Wealth Management prepared this article and is one of the firms discussed. These firms are presented as options to consider, not as a ranked or independently verified list. Being included does not mean an endorsement. Readers should check each firm's services, credentials, registrations, fees, and fit on their own. Information about each firm came directly from its website as of September 15, 2026 and is accurate to the best of the author's knowledge as of that date.
