Hello!
Thanks for stopping by!
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One of the biggest gaps in the traditional financial system is the ability of the everyday Canadian to receive professional, qualified and truly unbiased financial advice. Historically, advice has been linked to a product sale, a commission or a fee-based investment management relationship. After spending 20 years in the industry, we have seen many people are feeling uncomfortable and unsure about their financial futures.
How do you know if the advice you're getting is truly in
your best interests?
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Modern Cents was created with a mission to provide an accessible financial planning service for those looking for unbiased guidance outside of a traditional advisory or bank-linked relationship. We hope that the value you attain from working with us gives you peace of mind and confidence on your long-term financial journey.
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Meet The Team
Andrea Thompson, CFP, CRPC (US),
CLU, CHS, CCS
Founder & Certified Financial Planner
Current Board Member,
Financial Planning Association of Canada
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I've spent more than two decades working on Bay Street. After starting my own family in 2018, I struggled to find the right balance between work and family life. I realize that many others are in the same camp, and don't have a lot of time to attend to their own priorities. The journey of a parent teaches you that life is no longer about you.
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My mission is to provide financial guidance and education to empower Canadians to make their personal finances a priority, in a simple, low friction, minimalistic way.
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I want to empower you to become more confident and engaged with your finances, and yourself, over time. Most importantly, I believe that developing a relationship with you is key to long term financial success so that you are understood, valued and respected - no matter how much money you have, what you earn, or who you are.
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Vikki Brown, CFP, CRPC (US), CCS
Certified Financial Planner
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With over 12 years of experience in the Canadian financial services industry, I have a passion for assisting Canadians to learn about personal finance and make informed decisions. My speciality is assisting clients whose lives span the US/Canada border, providing tailored solutions to their unique cross-border challenges.
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I genuinely care about my clients and strive to build relationships based on openness and empathy. My clients describe me as a warm and compassionate listener. I say this with pride and strive to make talking about your finances as comfortable as possible.
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Embracing the digital nomad lifestyle, I left behind the security of a full-time Bay Street job to embark on an exciting adventure. Currently based in Tasmania, Australia, 2023 sees me living and working in vibrant Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and breathtaking Queenstown, New Zealand. The digital nomad lifestyle allows me to explore new horizons while maintaining the same dedication to serving my clients, regardless of our locations. I look forward to working with you along your financial journey!
Justine Kelly, PFP
Personal Financial Planner
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HI! I'm a Financial Planner with a passion for shaping financial lives. Over the course of my 15-year career in the financial industry, I've had the privilege of serving clients in both retail banking environments, independent brokerages as well as training and supporting other financial planners, this experience is what led to my passion for advice only financial planning.
I find immense satisfaction in guiding clients through the complexities of financial decisions, offering clarity and foresight to help them achieve their goals and make decisions. Most importantly to me, is being able to offer this advice in a model that aligns with my values by being unbiased and having the full flexibility to guide my clients in the direction that feels right for them without the worry of sales targets that other institutions are well known for.
What truly drives me is the opportunity to build lasting relationships with my clients. I have a unique ability to demystify complex financial strategies that are not only understandable but actionable that leave clients feeling empowered by planning.
I also place significant importance on continuous learning. I am constantly researching new ideas and changes within the financial industry and expanding my knowledge to be able to share it with others.
Katie, Toronto
Consultation: Modular
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What a pleasure it has been working with Vikki. Instead of telling me what I have to do, she helped to guide me towards making my own decisions through education and clear explanations as to what might benefit me and why. She's been an invaluable resource who I will definitely be referring my friends to!
Adrian B, Toronto
Consultation: Comprehensive
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From the get-go working with Andrea has been an absolute pleasure. Not only is she extremely well versed in complicated financial topics, but she also brings a tremendous amount of experience to the table. After our introductory session, it was clear to me that the subscription-based service fit with my requirements, and we immediately got to work. Andrea really took the time to understand my financial situation, using tools to guide our discussion but not overwhelm them. For topics I did not understand, Andrea provided excellent examples and educational resources. Meetings were efficient and scheduling was a breeze. Within a short period of time, we were able to establish a plan that was right for me.
Laura, Toronto
Consultation: Cross Border Comprehensive Planning and
Annual Service Model
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Andrea is wonderful and has saved us thousands of dollars. She is a walking encyclopedia of both US and Canadian finances and estate planning. We did a comprehensive consultation. She patiently reviewed my 90-year-old Canadian Mother's finances with my Mom, myself and my American brother. She walked us through the steps we needed to take, warned us of potential challenges and taught us strategies to overcome them. We all learned so much and together we came up with a sound plan. I'm so grateful that we can continue working with her through her "Occasional Consultation" plan. She is professional, organized, an invaluable resource and a really lovely person to work with. I would recommend her to anyone who needs any kind of financial advice.
Stephen B, Ontario
Consultation: Hourly
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I met with Andrea for an hour to discuss my RIF portfolio strategy and came away enlightened and impressed. She is focused, attentive and well informed, and has excellent communication skills. She is far and away the best advisor I’ve dealt with over the last 14 years. I also appreciated the enthusiasm and client focus she brings to the often entangled details of financial planning. She came well prepared for the meeting and afterwards sent me a PDF of the portfolio analysis as well as detailed notes on our discussion. I highly recommend her.
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