Gillian Martin

My Dad has always been good with money. For my second birthday, he gifted me a pink piggy bank whose underside was inscribed with gold writing. I loved the heaviness of the piggy bank as it amassed more loonies and the anticipation as I poured its contents onto my bed to count how much I had saved. As I have aged, I have continued to appreciate the way in which my savings result in feelings of security, self-reliance, and pride in the ability to partake in the activities that bring me joy.

After my first "Finance II" lecture at Queen's University, I called my Dad. I relayed to him the essence of the lecture and asked, "Isn't this what you do for a living?". I was nearing the end of my teens and hadn't considered eventually pursuing my Dad's profession. But I was intrigued by this lecture and sat in on my first Portfolio Review meetings with Doug a few weeks later when I returned home from Kingston for Reading Week.

I have been hooked ever since.

Naturally a planner and unapologetically goal oriented, I love the wealth advisory business. I see the business as the missing puzzle piece that links that pink, ceramic piggy bank to being able to live a life that you design for yourself.

At twenty-six, I purchased a cottage in Muskoka, Ontario. Buying a cottage was unconventional, but I felt that the cottage lifestyle would be enriching so planning for it became a priority. The feelings of ease and gratitude that overwhelm me when I wake on Saturday mornings to the sound of waves lapping the underside of the dock are feelings that I seek to help my clients realize too.

I began my career at TD Wealth in 2014 and, since then, have built meaningful relationships with clients to ensure that they have thought holistically about their wealth - beyond simply investment management. Committed to learning and upgrading my skills, I earned my Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Investment Management in 2018 and have been a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA®) charter holder since 2019. I am a Life Insurance Advisor with TD Wealth Insurance Services and I seek to further pursue Responsible Investing and Certified Financial Planning designations.

Of all the topics that I advise upon, I have developed a passion for inter-generational wealth transfer in particular. I work to get clients' children excited about the time that they have on their side to budget, save and invest. This advisory topic comes naturally to me and Doug, considering our unique father-daughter relationship.

I enjoy teaching and choose to volunteer my time with ABC Money Matters, designing and presenting workshops to promote financial literacy among youth and new Canadians. After practicing yoga for more than ten years, I completed a 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training program. During my spare time, I like to ski, hike with my Golden Retriever, and paddle around the lake in our cedar-strip canoe, handmade in and transported from Nova Scotia by my husband's father.

Martin Wealth Management is a part of TD Wealth Private Investment Advice, a division of TD Waterhouse Canada Inc. which is a subsidiary of The Toronto-Dominion Bank.