When the stock market fluctuates, there are often conflicting headlines, all with different advice. I help clients cut through the noise and understand how it relates to their own portfolios.

Portfolios are more than a collection of investments. Each one is the result of partnering with a client to define unique goals and create measurements to make sure we stay on track. Then we can consider financial decisions in relation to those goals. Take a new car, for example. How will that impact your goal of early retirement? We'll balance today's priorities with tomorrow's goals.

At Edward Jones, we believe that your interests come first. As a partnership, we are accountable to our clients and ourselves rather than to stockholders. We have no proprietary products, so there's no pressure to recommend specific – or more profitable – investments.

I've helped clients build financial strategies since 2008. Our branch, which includes my Branch Office Administrator Megan Phillips and me, serve professionals planning for or in retirement. We're in the heart of Corso Italia, where I serve on the board of BIA and help plan community events such as our annual Halloween celebration.

Originally from Kitchener, I moved to Toronto in 2010 with my wife Adrienne, now an executive at a Toronto-based market research firm, and our dog, Hurley. We enjoy walking to different places in Toronto, trying new restaurants and hiking. I also have a passion for golf, cooking and travel.

Some of the best advice I've ever received is that if you're facing a task that seems overwhelming, such as putting together a strategy to retire early, simply do the next right thing, no matter how small. Maybe it's a discussion over dinner with your spouse or partner about your vision for retirement, finding out the details of your workplace savings plan or pension, or just picking a retirement date. One small step in the right direction can give you momentum to keep going and accomplish your task.