Hard Work Deserves a Plan That Works Just as Hard.
Financial planning built around the realities of trades work.
Trades workers and construction professionals in Alberta often earn strong incomes — but the financial complexity that comes with the job is real. Seasonal slowdowns, project gaps, union benefits that are hard to understand, tool and equipment deductions, travel allowances, and the physical toll of the work all create a financial picture that most advisors simply aren't equipped to handle well.
There's also the retirement question that weighs on most tradespeople: your body won't do this work forever. Whether it's 10 years from now or 25, there's a transition coming — and the difference between a comfortable retirement and a stressful one comes down to whether you planned ahead. A union pension is a great start, but it's rarely enough on its own. Do you know what yours will actually pay? How does it integrate with CPP? What happens if you're injured before you reach retirement age?
Joanne David CFP® FCSI has worked with Alberta tradespeople — electricians, plumbers, pipefitters, welders, carpenters, heavy equipment operators, and construction managers — for over 25 years. She understands the seasonal rhythms, the union landscape, and the unique challenges of building financial security in a physically demanding career.
What We Help You With
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✓ Seasonal & Project-Based Income Planning
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Building a cash flow plan that prepares for slow months, layoffs, and project gaps — so you're never scrambling when work dries up temporarily.
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✓ Union Pension Understanding & Optimization
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Many trades workers don't fully understand what their union pension will actually pay — or how it integrates with CPP and OAS. We break it down clearly and show you exactly where you stand.
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✓ Disability Insurance for Physical Work
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An injury that takes you off the job site can be financially devastating without the right coverage. We help you find disability insurance that actually covers your occupation and replaces enough of your income to matter.
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✓ RRSP & TFSA Strategies for Variable Income
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Knowing when and how much to contribute when income fluctuates is more nuanced than most people think. We build a contribution strategy that maximizes your tax savings in high-income years and preserves flexibility in slower ones.
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✓ Tools, Equipment & Trade Deductions
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Tools, equipment, protective clothing, and union dues are all potentially deductible — but most trades workers don't capture everything they're entitled to. We make sure you do.
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✓ Travel & Allowance Tax Treatment
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Travel allowances, subsistence pay, and remote site compensation have specific tax rules. We make sure you're handling these correctly — keeping what you earn and staying onside with CRA.
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✓ Retirement Transition Planning
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Physical trades have a natural end date. Whether you want to retire at 55 or 65, we build a plan that makes that transition happen on your schedule — not because your body forced it.
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✓ Home Ownership & Mortgage Planning
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Variable income can make mortgage qualification and management more complicated. We help you structure your finances to support home ownership — and make smart decisions about paying down debt vs. investing.
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✓ Tax Preparation for Trades Workers
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We prepare T1 returns for trades workers as part of a fully integrated service — capturing every eligible deduction and making sure your filing reflects your complete financial picture.
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Your Trade Built Alberta. Now Let's Build Your Future.
Trades workers put in the hard work that builds this province — and they deserve financial advice that respects that. Not generic advice that ignores your union pension, your seasonal income, and your physical reality. A plan built specifically for you, by an advisor who has been working with tradespeople across Alberta for over 25 years.
Book Your Free 20-Minute Call
