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Financial Advisors in Waterloo, ON: 2026 rankings

197 financial advisors ranked by RFA ScoreUpdated 0 paid placements in this rankingHow we rank →

The short answer

  1. 1

    Highest RFA Score in Waterloo: JCMortgages.ca FSRA #13637, RFA Score 75/100; 5.0★ from 595 Google reviews.

  2. 3

    Most-reviewed: Co-operators - BENNETT FINANCIAL SERVICES INC., 148 Google reviews at 5.0★, the most of 197 ranked after JCMortgages.ca FSRA #13637; ranked #3.

Rankings can't be bought. Financial advisors can't pay to change their rank or score. How we rank

197 Waterloo financial advisors are ranked here by RFA Score, from eight published factors. 33 open Saturdays and 8 open Sundays, based on posted hours. The median Google rating is 4.8★ across 197 rated firms.

Most of this list also appears on the Financial advisors in Kitchener ranking. See Financial advisors in Kitchener

Top 10 financial advisors in Waterloo at a glance

Ranked by RFA Score from public data such as Google reviews, not by investment performance; sponsored listings are paid, shown separately and never change rank.

Top 10 financial advisors in Waterloo at a glance
RankBusinessRFA ScoreGoogle ratingBased inHoursNotable for
1JCMortgages.ca FSRA #13637755.0★ (595)Kitchener, 29 km away—Top score
2Eau Claire Partners Inc745.0★ (116)Kitchener, 1 km awaySat · Evenings—
3Co-operators - BENNETT FINANCIAL SERVICES INC.735.0★ (148)Cambridge, 17 km away—Most reviews
4Mortgage Architects Bennett Capital Group725.0★ (67)Kitchener, 2 km awaySat · Sun · Evenings—
5Co-operators - Jeff Lyle Insurance Group Inc724.7★ (91)Waterloo——
6SAI Insurances Inc. | Insurance & Financial Services715.0★ (50)Kitchener, 2 km awaySat—
7Co-operators - Richard Van Dyke Insurance Group Inc704.9★ (140)Guelph, 27 km away——
8Independent Financial Strategies705.0★ (68)Cambridge, 17 km awaySat · Evenings—
9Optim Financial Solutions Inc. - Sun Life705.0★ (100)Guelph, 25 km away——
10Devine and Associates Financial Services Inc. - Sun Life695.0★ (69)Guelph, 23 km away——

All 197 financial advisors in Waterloo, in rank order

Ordered by RFA Score, a 0–100 score from eight published factors. Paid placement never changes the order.

Ranked by RFA Score from public data such as Google reviews, not by investment performance; sponsored listings are paid, shown separately and never change rank.

Scores below: based on 6 of 8 factors; registration and recency not yet collected. Hatched segments mark factors we don't have yet.

  2. #2 Eau Claire Partners Inc

    Based in Kitchener, 1 km away

    74/100RFA Score

    Ranked #2 because of its Google rating and specialty focus: 5.0★ from 116 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Investment service”.

    • 5.0★ from 116 Google reviews
    Hours
    Mon–Fri 9:30 AM–8 PM · Sat 9:30 AM–3 PM · Sun closed
    Address
    678 Belmont Ave W Unit 303, Kitchener, ON N2M 1N6
    View profile for Eau Claire Partners Inc(519) 590-8014

  11. #11 Ledgers (Kitchener)

    Based in Kitchener, 1 km away

    69/100RFA Score

    Ranked #11 because of its Google rating and specialty focus: 4.9★ from 28 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Financial planner”.

    • 4.9★ from 28 Google reviews
    Hours
    Mon–Fri 10 AM–6:30 PM · Sat–Sun closed
    Address
    737 Belmont Ave W Ste 3, Kitchener, ON N2M 1P3
    View profile for Ledgers (Kitchener)(519) 781-8291

  13. #13 Arete Financial

    Based in Cambridge, 16 km away

    69/100RFA Score

    Ranked #13 because of its Google rating and specialty focus: 5.0★ from 49 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Financial planner”.

    • 5.0★ from 49 Google reviews
    Hours
    Mon–Thu 9 AM–5 PM · Fri 9 AM–4 PM · Sat–Sun closed
    Address
    310 Queen St W, Cambridge, ON N3C 1G7
    View profile for Arete Financial(519) 651-2572

  16. #16 LSP Canada

    Based in Kitchener, 6 km away

    68/100RFA Score

    Ranked #16 because of its Google rating and specialty focus: 4.8★ from 32 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Financial planner”.

    • 4.8★ from 32 Google reviews
    Hours
    Mon 10 AM–7 PM · Tue 10 AM–8 PM · Wed–Thu closed · Fri 10 AM–7 PM · Sat–Sun closed
    Address
    825 Weber St E #8, Kitchener, ON N2H 1H5
    View profile for LSP Canada(519) 900-1280

  19. #19 Gillespie Financial

    Based in Cambridge, 17 km away

    68/100RFA Score

    Ranked #19 because of its Google rating and specialty focus: 5.0★ from 40 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Financial planner”.

    • 5.0★ from 40 Google reviews
    Hours
    Mon–Fri 9 AM–5 PM · Sat–Sun closed
    Address
    240 Holiday Inn Dr Unit Z, 2nd Floor, Cambridge, ON N3C 3X4
    View profile for Gillespie Financial(519) 620-1224

  24. #24 Financial Miles

    Based in Guelph, 24 km away

    67/100RFA Score

    Ranked #24 because of its Google rating and specialty focus: 5.0★ from 44 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Investment service”.

    • 5.0★ from 44 Google reviews
    Address
    93 Arthur St S, Guelph, ON N1E 0T3
    View profile for Financial Miles(416) 846-8569

How we ranked Waterloo financial advisors

We scored 197 Waterloo financial advisors on eight factors, weighted as shown. A firm is ranked when its specialty is confirmed and it has 3 or more Google reviews or a claimed profile. A firm with no Google reviews scores zero on rating, review volume and recency. Other unknown factors are left out, not counted as zero. Scores last refreshed November 9, 2026.

Paid placement never changes a rank or score. Sponsored businesses are paid, labelled, limited to 3 and shown above the ranking, outside it.

Read the full method: formula, sources and exclusions

RFA Score factors and weights
FactorWeightComputed fromIn Waterloo data
Reputation30%Google star rating, adjusted for how many reviews back it (client experience, not investment results)Measured
Registration20%Active SEC, state or Canadian securities registration matched in public records (not yet measured)Not yet collected
Review volume10%Number of Google reviews, compared with the most-reviewed firm on the listMeasured
Recency5%Share of reviews from the last 12 monthsNot yet collected
Specialty focus15%How clearly the firm offers this specialty (its Google category and name)Measured
Proximity5%Based in the city scores highest, less the farther away it isMeasured
Claimed profile10%The firm has claimed its Ranked Financial Advisors profile (free or paid earn the same)Measured
Partnered5%The firm links to Ranked Financial Advisors from its own website with our badge, checked periodicallyMeasured

How to choose a financial advisor

  1. Confirm the financial advisor and the firm are registered: Investor.gov and FINRA BrokerCheck in the US, the CSA National Registration Search in Canada. Read any disclosure events.
  2. Ask whether they act as a fiduciary on your account at all times, and get the answer in writing.
  3. Ask how they are paid: a percentage of assets, flat or hourly fees, a retainer, commissions, or a mix. Each creates different conflicts of interest.
  4. Read the firm’s Form CRS and Form ADV Part 2A brochure (fees, services, conflicts, disciplinary history) before you sign.
  5. Check designations with the body that grants them, such as the CFP Board for CFP® professionals.
  6. Ask about account minimums and who holds your money: your assets should sit with an independent custodian in your name.
  7. Compare at least two or three firms, and be wary of anyone who promises returns or pushes you to decide quickly.

Questions to ask a financial advisor

  • Are you a fiduciary for all of the advice you give me, and will you put that in writing?
  • How are you paid, in total dollars per year for an account like mine? Do you earn commissions or other payments from product providers?
  • Which registrations and designations do you hold, and where can I verify them?
  • Who will hold my assets, and how will I see statements directly from that custodian?
  • What services are included in your fee, and what would cost extra with you as my financial advisor?
  • Do you have a minimum account size or minimum fee?
  • Have you or your firm had any complaints or disciplinary actions? Where would I see them?
  • How often will we meet, and who will I work with day to day?
  • What happens to my plan or accounts if you retire or leave the firm?

Terms explained

Fiduciary
Someone legally required to act in a client’s interest. In the US, registered investment advisers owe their clients a fiduciary duty of care and loyalty under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.
Registered investment adviser (RIA)
A firm registered with the SEC or a state securities regulator to give investment advice for pay. Most firms managing $100 million or more register with the SEC; smaller firms usually register with their state.
Investment adviser representative (IAR)
A person who gives advice on behalf of a registered investment adviser, usually registered with the states where they work.
Broker-dealer
A firm that buys and sells securities for customers. US broker-dealers are members of FINRA; their registered representatives typically earn commissions.
Regulation Best Interest (Reg BI)
The SEC rule, in force since June 30, 2020, requiring broker-dealers to act in a retail customer’s best interest when recommending a security or account type.
Form ADV
The registration form every investment adviser files. Part 1 holds facts about the firm; Part 2A, the brochure, describes services, fees, conflicts of interest and disciplinary history in plain English.
Form CRS
A short relationship summary that advisers and broker-dealers give retail investors, covering services, fees, conflicts, standard of conduct and disciplinary history.
CRD number
The Central Registration Depository number FINRA and the SEC assign to each firm and registered person; use it to look them up on Investor.gov or BrokerCheck.
Assets under management (AUM) fee
A yearly fee set as a percentage of the money an advisor manages for you. Advisor surveys have put the median around 1% on accounts up to $1 million, lower on larger accounts.
Fee-only
An advisor paid only by clients, with no commissions or other payments from product providers.
Fee-based
An advisor who charges client fees and may also earn commissions on some products. It is not the same as fee-only.
CFP® professional
A person certified by the CFP Board after meeting education, exam, experience and ethics requirements. The CFP Board requires them to act as a fiduciary when giving financial advice.

Financial advisors in Waterloo: frequently asked questions

Which financial advisor has the highest RFA Score in Waterloo?

By RFA Score, the highest-ranked financial advisor in Waterloo, ON is JCMortgages.ca FSRA #13637 with an RFA Score of 75/100. It has 5.0★ from 595 Google reviews. Eau Claire Partners Inc (#2) and Co-operators - BENNETT FINANCIAL SERVICES INC. (#3) follow. We ranked 197 financial advisors on eight factors, last updated November 9, 2026.

How many financial advisors are there in Waterloo?

RankedFinancialAdvisors ranks 197 financial advisors serving Waterloo, ON. 4 of them are based in Waterloo; the rest serve it from nearby towns. Counts are as of November 2026.

Which financial advisors in Waterloo work on weekends?

33 of 197 ranked financial advisors post Saturday hours and 8 post Sunday hours. The highest-ranked open Saturdays are Eau Claire Partners Inc (#2), Mortgage Architects Bennett Capital Group (#4) and SAI Insurances Inc. | Insurance & Financial Services (#6). Many advisors meet by appointment, including evenings or by video, outside their posted office hours.

What Google rating do Waterloo financial advisors have?

The median Google rating among 197 rated financial advisors in Waterloo is 4.8★, with a median of 13 reviews. JCMortgages.ca FSRA #13637 has the most, 595 reviews, and ranks #1. We adjust ratings for review count, so a few five-star reviews cannot top the list.

How does RankedFinancialAdvisors rank financial advisors?

Each financial advisor gets a 0–100 RFA Score from eight published factors, led by reputation (30%), specialty focus (15%), review volume (10%) and claimed profile (10%). A firm with no Google reviews scores zero on rating, review volume and recency; other factors we cannot measure are left out. Only firms with a confirmed specialty and 3 or more reviews, or a claimed profile, are ranked.

Do financial advisors outside Waterloo count in this ranking?

Yes, if they are within 40 km of the Waterloo city centre, our service radius for financial advisors. Each listing shows where the firm is based and how far away it is. Proximity is 5% of the RFA Score, so a nearby firm gets a small edge.

Can financial advisors pay to rank higher on RankedFinancialAdvisors?

No. The RFA Score never reads payment status, and this ranking has 0 paid placements. Up to 3 Featured firms may appear above the list, labelled Sponsored and showing their honest rank.

What does a financial advisor do?

Financial advisors help clients plan and manage their money, from budgeting and saving to investing, retirement and estate questions. In the US they work as registered investment adviser representatives, as broker-dealer representatives, or both.

How are financial advisors in Waterloo ranked?

By RFA Score: public signals such as the Google rating and review count, how clearly the firm offers financial advice and how close it is. Paid placements never change the order, and the score does not measure investment performance.

How do I check a financial advisor’s registration?

Search the person and the firm on the Canadian Securities Administrators’ National Registration Search, and for investment and mutual fund dealer representatives on CIRO AdvisorReport.

Who regulates financial advisors in Waterloo?

Advisors who sell or recommend securities register with the provincial securities regulator, and representatives of investment and mutual fund dealers are also overseen by CIRO. In Ontario, the titles “Financial Planner” and “Financial Advisor” are restricted to people holding a credential approved by FSRA.

How much do financial advisors charge?

Fees depend on the firm and the service: a percentage of assets managed each year, a flat or hourly planning fee, a retainer, or commissions. Ask for the fee schedule in writing and read the firm’s Form ADV Part 2A brochure or, in Canada, its relationship disclosure.

Update log for Waterloo

  1. November 2026: RFA Scores recalculated for 197 financial advisors serving Waterloo.

More financial advisors and Waterloo pages