With over 30 years in the financial services industry—and more than 25 years dedicated to helping clients plan for retirement and other financial goals—Sam Yau has been a trusted advisor and first point of contact for individuals and families seeking clarity and confidence in their financial future.
Sam specializes in building tailored financial plans and investment portfolios that align with each client’s unique goals, time horizon, and risk tolerance. His approach combines thoughtful strategy with practical, candid advice—anchored in the belief that financial freedom comes from making smart, sometimes difficult, decisions consistently over time.
Born in Hong Kong and raised in Canada from the age of 12, Sam brings a grounded perspective shaped by his early experiences and the values instilled in him by his single mother. These roots continue to influence the way he supports his clients—with honesty, empathy, and a strong work ethic.
Sam holds an Honours Bachelor’s degree from the University of Alberta and carries several industry-leading designations, including Certified Financial Planner (CFP), Financial Management Advisor (FMA), Canadian Investment Manager (CIM), and Fellow of the Canadian Securities Institute (FCSI). He is currently working toward his Associate Portfolio Manager designation, with plans to become a licensed Portfolio Manager in the near future.
His client philosophy is simple: treat others the way he’d want to be treated. That means providing timely communication, proactive service, and clear, ongoing financial education. Sam and his team are deeply committed to long-term relationships, regular portfolio reviews, and ensuring clients are always informed and prepared in a changing market.
Fluent in Cantonese, Sam lives an active lifestyle with his wife. Together, they enjoy golfing, skiing, hiking, and traveling with family and friends. He is a proud father of two adult children.
The most widely recognized financial planning designation in Canada and worldwide, the Certified Financial Planner® designation provides assurance to Canadians that the design of their financial future rests with a professional who will put their clients’ interests ahead of their own. CFP certification is considered the standard for the financial planning profession worldwide. CFP professionals have demonstrated the knowledge, skills, experience and ethics to examine their clients’ entire financial picture, at the highest level of complexity required of the profession, and work with their clients to build a financial plan so that they can Live Life Confidently™.
The Chartered Investment Manager® (CIM®) Designation builds the skills and experience we need to serve a more sophisticated financial client or institution. Financial professionals who hold the CIM® designation are eligible for registration as a Portfolio Manager in Canada. They have expertise in providing money management services to high-net-worth and institutional clients, and they understand the application of portfolio management in the context of Canadian markets and regulatory requirements.
What do these designations mean for you? They mean that when you work with an investment consultant who has taken the time to complete these designations, you’re working with someone who is well-versed in modern concepts of investment advice, is educated enough to understand how your individual investments are being managed and how they work together – no matter how complex it may be. These skills, along with a commitment to advanced education, enable them to provide you with the kind of service that you not only want, but deserve.
The Fellow of CSI (FCSI®) is the pinnacle financial services credential and the highest honour in Canadian financial services. It is reserved for an exclusive group of financial professionals who demonstrate unparalleled leadership, integrity, commitment and dedication to their clients and industry.