Doctors & Dentists devote enormous amounts of their time and energy to the health of their patients. For that, we can all be grateful. But surprisingly, many doctors and dentists don’t pay enough attention to their own affairs – especially when it comes to their finances.

Who is John Moakler

John Moakler’s passion for working with doctors, dentists and business owners is based on two epiphanies and is a matter of giving back.

A graduate of the University of Waterloo with a Bachelor of Mathematics and Computer Science, John spent almost 20 years in high tech, time that included creation of a software company and then its sale to IBM for $76-million. In the midst of that sale, he found the financial advice he was receiving to be sorely lacking. So, he decided, right there, to become a financial planner – with the goal of helping business owners avoid that same painful experience.

Several years later, John was diagnosed with cancer – osteosarcoma – in his jaw, and it was doctors and dentists who saved his life. While undergoing the seemingly endless chemo, surgeries, appointments and recovery, John realized how fortunate he was to have his financial house in order. He could not imagine someone going through what he did while worrying about money, which—because he had prepared properly—he did not have to do.

At that moment, John decided to broaden his financial planning practice to include doctors and dentists. We can all be grateful for the attention and commitment these professionals show to our health. Perhaps they are even too focused on us, because John discovered that the truth is this: far too many of them need to give more attention to their personal finances.

Inspired to be great in his chosen field, John achieved the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) and Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) designations, which place him in a zero-conflict position compared with most advisors.  Frequently asked if he is a fiduciary, John can reply with an emphatic “yes”:  he is licensed to always propose what is in the best interest of the client, and therefore represents many insurance companies – not just one.  As well, John partners exclusively with ICPMs – Investment Counsellor Portfolio Managers – who by definition are fiduciaries.

Together with his BMath, John’s designations amount to a rare and powerful combination that he likens to the many letters that great doctors, dentists and business owners have after their names.

There is a particular issue that John sees again and again in his work with these esteemed professionals. It is the lack of tailor-made advice they are receiving. And the biggest issue of all is that they often have no written plan. So John made it his mission to assess their financial condition and then prescribe a customized, written Financial Treatment Plan.

John has been a financial planner since 2004. Before creating his own practice, he worked with one of the largest mutual fund companies in Canada, where he won a host of awards, including the Gold Medal—and five wins of the Financial Planner of the Year Award.

He is a resident of the Greater Toronto Area and is very proud of his three grown children. Outside of work, he is passionate about competitive volleyball, and has refereed at the provincial, national and international levels, including at the Invictus Games.

John has been interviewed on the subject of financial planning by many media outlets, including Zoomer magazine, Morningstar and the Globe and Mail. He sits on the board of Advocis—The Financial Advisors’ Association of Canada—in the Peel Halton Region. His bestselling book is Heal Thy Wealth: How Doctors are Misdiagnosing Their Own Financial Health and What They Can Do About It.