Thirty years ago, PWL was built around a simple idea that was anything but common at the time: advice should serve the client, not the product.
In 1996, much of the financial industry was still shaped by commissions, sales targets, and one-size-fits-all recommendations. PWL chose a different path. Fee-based advice. No house products. No commissions. Financial planning and investment management working together, with the client on the same side of the table.
That decision became more than a business model. It became a promise.
For over 30 years, James Parkyn and François Doyon La Rochelle have been helping clients in Montreal, across Quebec, and throughout Canada build lasting wealth and meaningful legacies. Their team integrates financial planning with investment management to deliver a disciplined approach focused on sound, measurable growth. Beyond results, they provide clients with confidence, clarity, and peace of mind through exceptional service that always puts their needs first.
This 30th anniversary film is a reflection on what has carried PWL from a small independent firm to one of Canada’s leading planning and investment firms: a belief that markets work, planning matters, and people deserve to be heard.
It is also a look ahead to the next generation of advisors, planners, and leaders who will continue building PWL with the same humility, curiosity, and conviction that started it all.
Thirty years in, the work is still the same: know what’s right, do what’s right, and help Canadian families feel confident about their future.
Our Investment Philosophy
Patience, conviction, results. Our proven long-term investing philosophy is built on stability and resilience. We help you see the strength of your investments so that you can sleep easy at night, even amid market ups and downs.
Evidence-based investment strategies grounded in empirical evidence & Nobel Prize-winning research
Low-cost, globally diversified investing utilizing ETFs & tax-efficient mutual funds from world-class investment companies
Holistic approach prioritizing factors within our control – such as tax management & asset allocation
Our Wealth Management Services
Comprehensive evidence-based wealth management services to optimize all aspects of your financial life. Support and coaching to give you the discipline and resilience you need to stay the course.
Investment Management
Tailored portfolios that are cost-effective and tax-efficient, with globally diversified, evidence-based strategies to capture market returns over the long term.
Financial & Tax Planning
Financial strategies that put your goals, aspirations, and financial well-being first.
Inter-Generational Wealth Transfer & Philanthropic Planning
Seamless wealth transfer across generations, aligned with your philanthropic values.
Become a Client
Work with a team that understands that financial success is more than just portfolio returns – it’s about aligning your wealth with your values and leaving a lasting legacy that you and your loved ones can be proud of. It’s also about setting financial goals that work for your lifestyle and risk tolerance.
Our fiduciary duty puts your interests first at all times
Our fees are transparent, clear & predictable
Our evidence-based strategies focus on capturing long-term capital market returns
Our collaborative approach with your chosen experts ensures you always receive sound, holistic advice