About Still Water Financial Partners
Most financial advisors want to manage your investments or sell you products. We exist to do something different: bring clarity to the complex financial lives of Ontario corporation owners.
When you own a corporation, your financial life doesn't divide neatly into "business" and "personal." Your compensation structure affects your tax planning. Your corporate cash deployment impacts your retirement strategy. Your business succession plan shapes your estate planning. Traditional advisors treat these as separate problems. We recognize they're interconnected parts of one financial life.
We work with corporation owners in two ways:
Comprehensive Financial Planning provides strategic guidance, implementation support, and semi-annual reviews for professionals who need expert coordination but can manage day-to-day decisions themselves.
Fractional Family Office Management offers deeper weekly engagement (4-8 hours) for select families who need complete financial coordination, proactive strategy development, and a true thinking partner embedded in their financial life. This service is intentionally limited to 3-5 families to ensure exceptional delivery.
Whether you need annual strategic planning or comprehensive family office management, our approach is built on what we call elegant simplicity: achieving sophisticated outcomes through straightforward strategies that reduce unnecessary complexity and the stress that comes with it.
We believe true wealth isn't just about maximizing returns. It's about building a financial life that enhances rather than complicates the life you're trying to live.
Our Philosophies
Financial planning is about more than models and projections - it's about creating clarity in an increasingly complex world. We believe the relationship between an advisor and client should be built on genuine understanding, shared purpose, and an unwavering commitment to your success.
These core philosophies guide everything we do.
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In wealth management, complexity is often mistaken for sophistication. We take a different approach.
Through years of working with incorporated professionals, we've learned that the most effective financial strategies are often the clearest ones. While aggressive tax planning might promise immediate savings, it can lead to years of uncertainty, costly professional fees, and sleepless nights during CRA reviews.
We call this the "Stress Premium" - the hidden cost of overly complex financial strategies. It's why we focus on creating clear, defensible solutions that:
Give you confidence in your financial decisions
Stand up to regulatory scrutiny
Let you focus on your practice and family
Provide sustainable, long-term results
Our approach isn't about avoiding every dollar of tax. It's about building lasting wealth while maintaining your peace of mind.
There is a time for complexity, however at Still Water we know the truth, that in most cases there is an elegance in simplicity.
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We've deliberately chosen to remain independent of banks, brokerages, and insurance companies. This isn't just about avoiding conflicts - it's about being able to put your interests first, without compromise.
Through our experience, we've learned that even well-intentioned advisors within larger institutions face an impossible challenge: balancing their clients' needs against their firm's priorities, product quotas, and shareholder demands.
Our independence means:
Your interests are our only priority
No pressure to sell specific products
Freedom to recommend what you actually need
Complete transparency in our recommendations
Clear, straightforward fee structure
At Still Water Financial Partners, the only people we answer to, are the families who trust us as their Financial Partners. It's that simple.Plans that work for people, not models
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Financial planning is more than spreadsheets and projections. It's about creating a framework that aligns with who you are - both as a professional and a person.
At Still Water Financial Partners, we understand that the most sophisticated financial strategy is worthless if it doesn't fit your life. That's why we build systems that:
Work with your natural decision-making style
Respect your values and priorities
Adapt to your professional realities
Balance business growth with personal goals
Make complex decisions feel manageable
We don't just create plans - we build frameworks that make financial clarity a natural part of your life, not another item on your to-do list.
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We don't measure our value by how impressed you are with our market commentary or economic forecasts. Real value comes from answering the questions that keep you up at night:
"Am I paying myself the right way from my corporation?" "How do I balance practice growth with personal wealth?" "Is my family protected if something happens?" "Am I making the right long-term decisions?"
Our role is simple: We transform complex financial questions into clear, actionable answers. No jargon. No showing off. Just straightforward guidance that helps you make confident decisions about your money.
You're paying us for clarity, and that's exactly what we deliver.
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We serve as more than just advisors - we're your dedicated thinking partner for every financial decision, from daily corporate cash flow choices to life-changing practice opportunities.
Our role is to:
Understand your complete financial story - both personal and professional
Ask the questions you might not think to ask
Challenge assumptions when needed
Provide a clear-headed second opinion
Help you see around corners before making big decisions
Keep your long-term goals in focus during short-term decisions
We believe that having a trusted thinking partner - someone who understands both where you've been and where you're going - is the key to making confident financial decisions.
Because in the complex world of corporate and personal finance, having someone in your corner who understands both the numbers and the nuances can make all the difference.
About Mitchell Shields, Founder
Mitchell A. Shields, CFP, CLU, TEP
A Journey to Clarity
My path in financial services has taken me from advising small-town Canadians to working with some of Canada's wealthiest families on Bay Street. Through this journey, I witnessed something troubling: the financial industry's tendency to equate complexity with value. While the intricate strategies were technically sound, I saw them create unnecessary stress and confusion for clients, often leading to worse outcomes.
This observation sparked a realization: True sophistication lies in clarity, not complexity.
The Path to Independence
My experience across the financial industry - from a small-town insurance practice to Bay Street wealth management and now independent practice - revealed a fundamental truth: independence is essential for putting clients first. Free from institutional pressures and product quotas, we can focus solely on what matters: helping you build and preserve wealth through clear, thoughtful strategies.
Professional Expertise
As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER CFP®, Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU), and Trust and Estate Practitioner (TEP), I bring a comprehensive understanding of the complexities faced by incorporated professionals. My active memberships in the Financial Planning Association of Canada and the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners reflect my commitment to advancing the profession and maintaining the highest standards of practice.
Core Philosophy
My approach rests on a simple truth: corporate financial planning doesn't need to be complicated to be sophisticated. By focusing on clear, evidence-based strategies and removing unnecessary complexity, we help corporation owners achieve their goals with less stress and greater confidence, whether they operate through professional corporations, holding companies, or complex multi-entity structures.
Beyond the Office
Beyond the Office I'm a follower of Jesus, a devoted husband to Sara Ann, and a proud father to our daughters River and Lila. My passion for continuous learning drives me to stay current with industry developments, with a particular interest in behavioural finance. When not helping clients, you'll find me at a concert or expanding my guitar collection.
Meet Our Trusted External Partners
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Andrew Kirkland CFP, CIM
PORTFOLIO MANAGER, JUST WEALTH
Andrew serves as the dedicated external portfolio manager for all Still Water Financial Partners clients, bringing over a decade of investment expertise and an unwavering passion for making things right for every client.
Over the past decade, Andrew has held roles of increasing responsibility at one of Canada's largest independent asset managers, gaining comprehensive experience across client servicing, operations, and business development. His expertise spans the full spectrum of investment management, from portfolio construction to client communication.
Andrew's excellence in the industry has been recognized through his profile in the 2018 Wealth Professional Magazine Young Gun Edition, highlighting top performers within the Canadian investment industry. He was also nominated for Young Gun of the Year at the WP Awards in 2018, representing the top performers in Canadian wealth management.
At Just Wealth, Andrew manages all investment portfolios for Still Water clients, ensuring our sophisticated investment strategies are executed with precision and care. His collaborative approach and commitment to excellence align perfectly with Still Water's philosophy of delivering elegant simplicity in financial planning.
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Jeffrey Cait, MBA, CFP, CLU, CH.F.C., TEP
INSURANCE PRODUCT SPECIALIST
With nearly 40 years in life insurance, Jeff's career has taken him from building products for the world's largest insurance companies to leading sales teams focused on high-net-worth clientele and supporting the philanthropic community with charitable giving strategies.
For the past 20 years, Jeff has served as an independent consultant to high-net-worth professionals, families, and their advisors. At Still Water Financial Partners, Jeff provides specialized product expertise and insurance architecture guidance, helping design optimal insurance solutions that align with our clients' sophisticated financial strategies.
Jeff's deep product knowledge and independence allow him to recommend the best solutions across the entire marketplace, ensuring our clients receive maximum benefit from their insurance policies through organized, simplified advice that enhances rather than complicates their financial plans.
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Denise Stewart, CPA, CGA
ACCOUNTANT, DENISE STEWART CPA
Denise serves as a trusted accounting partner for Still Water Financial Partners clients, bringing extensive expertise in tax planning and financial consulting with a genuine commitment to understanding each client's unique goals.With years of experience supporting small businesses and entrepreneurial ventures, Denise has built her independent practice on a foundation of personalized service and clear communication. Her expertise spans accounting, tax strategy, and financial consulting, with particular strength in helping incorporated professionals navigate complex corporate structures.
Denise's philosophy mirrors Still Water's commitment to clarity over complexity. She believes in more than just bookkeeping: her mission is to provide insight-driven financial guidance that helps organizations grow with confidence. Whether clients are refining financial processes, optimizing tax efficiency, or seeking strategic advice, she works as a dependable partner to help them navigate the numbers.
Through her collaborative approach with Still Water, Denise ensures clients receive comprehensive, coordinated guidance that complements our wealth management strategies. Her dedication to understanding client objectives and delivering practical solutions makes her an ideal partner in helping our clients build and preserve wealth.
Our Commitment to Professional Excellence
The Fiduciary Standard
At Still Water Financial Partners, we voluntarily commit to the highest standard of care in financial services - the same fiduciary duty that exists between doctors and patients or lawyers and clients. While not yet legally required for financial planners in Canada, we believe this level of commitment is essential for true client success.
Our Fiduciary Commitments:
Put your interests first
Provide evidence-based advice with skill and care
Maintain complete transparency in all compensation
Avoid or disclose conflicts of interest
Continuously enhance our expertise
Advance professional planning standards
Professional Expertise
CFP® (CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER)
Global standard in financial planning excellence
Comprehensive expertise across financial, tax, and investment planning
Ongoing education requirements
Bound by FP Canada Standards Council™ Ethics
CLU (Chartered Life Underwriter)
Advanced expertise in insurance and estate planning
Specialized business succession planning knowledge
Continuous professional development
TEP (Trust and Estate Practitioner)
Recognized expertise in estate and trust planning
Active Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) membership
Current with latest planning strategies and legislation
True Independence
We maintain complete independence to serve only our clients:
No bank or investment firm affiliations
No product sales requirements
No proprietary products
Success measured by client outcomes
Professional Standards & Security
Professional Accountability
Ongoing professional development
Active professional association membership
Documented advice and recommendations
Regular plan reviews and updates
Data Security
Enterprise-level security protocols
Encrypted systems and communications
Regular security audits
Privacy legislation compliance