A partnership forged by a shared belief in depth, expertise, and collective strength
For Cliff and Colton Wiegers of Wiegers Financial & Benefits, the decision to join Q Wealth Partners was not about the cheque. In fact, they knew the move would cost them a lot in time, lost residuals, fees, and other unexpected things. It was about securing the right platform, creating the best environment, and building a foundation for decades ahead.
“Clients ask why we did this,” Cliff says. “I tell them: we could have gotten millions to go somewhere else. Instead, we invested in this move because it is the best offering for our clients and our team.”
Choosing clients over a cheque
The partnership’s origin story starts with Wiegers Financial & Benefits’ frustrations with technology at its previous dealer. After repeated conversations with leadership failed to result in improvements, Cliff began exploring alternatives. While he found a market full of suitors ready to pay handsomely for Cliff to move to their platform, he wasn’t looking for a lateral move. He set his sights on Q Wealth, which had a track record that carried weight. He had watched trusted peers such as John Lunz, Founding Partner of Arca Financial Group, a longtime industry colleague and partner in his MGA Barrington, successfully make the move.
“What stood out about Q Wealth was its structure as an advisor-owned partnership. The alignment was immediate. “It was the only model that was advisor-owned,” Cliff says. “We liked the people we met at head office, and we liked the story.”
Jared Rabinowitz, co-founder and chief executive officer of Q Wealth Partners, added:
“Our equity Partnership model is built on deep collaboration and an entrepreneurial spirit. The Wiegers team exemplifies these qualities. Having Cliff, Colton, and their team choose to join us as a Q Wealth Partner over a myriad of competing options speaks to the strength of the community and the platform that we're building, and how uniquely positioned we are in Canada. It's one thing to say you're doing these things, but savvy business people like the Wiegers know the real deal when they see it.”
Colton saw the same advantages from a management perspective. He describes the decision as one that addressed the growing pressure across the firm from advisors, administrators, and clients alike. “You must find an option that works for everyone. This move gives us more ability, along with the rest of the partners, to guide where the whole thing goes. That is what you need when you are talking about a ten- or twenty-year vision.”
Specialists serving clients, not generalists
Wiegers Financial & Benefits has always operated as a planning-first firm with clear divisions of expertise. The firm has dedicated teams for personal financial planning, insurance, group benefits, and group retirement.
That structure was designed to create more value for clients by relying on specialists rather than generalists. In Colton’s view, the philosophy aligns closely with Q Wealth’s own vision. “Our business is built on specialization. When Cliff and Deb founded Wiegers Financial & Benefits over 30 years ago, they understood the importance of this, which is why Cliff built the financial side and Deb focused on benefits. We are 40 people today because of that vision.”
That focus extends to investment management. Rather than maintaining responsibility for portfolios in-house, the Wiegers team believes clients benefit when a dedicated team of portfolio managers is responsible for investment oversight. “If these guys at Q Wealth are doing this full time and not also managing client relationships, they should do a better job than I can,” Cliff says. “It frees us to do what we do best, which is planning.”
The benefits for clients are tangible. “I have been dealing with some of my clients for more than forty years. They are going wherever we are going but being able to tell them they can expect competitive returns, reduced volatility, and cost savings has been powerful. Those are all positives.”
Colton highlights another shift, pointing out that Wiegers Financial & Benefits was MFDA before and now has access to everything. This is a critical differentiator in the current market. “Sophisticated investors are looking for real estate exposure, private equity, private debt. Younger investors are comparing ETFs and alternatives to traditional funds. Having those options open is a big add for us and for our clients.”
Stronger platform, broader investment options, and deeper tools
The transition has not been without challenges, but the support of the Q Wealth team helped smooth the process. Cliff’s entire book was moved in just two weeks, a timeline he admits would not have been possible without immediate buy-in from their new partners. The result is a stronger platform, access to broader investment options including private markets, and a deeper set of tools for clients at every stage of their lives.
Now that things are running smoothly, Cliff and Colton are all-in on the future. With seventy-five percent of their team under the age of 45, they see Wiegers Financial & Benefits positioned for decades of growth, and that’s the bigger picture they have their eye on.
“Wiegers Financial & Benefits represents everything we stand for at Q Wealth: independence, client-first values, and a vision to elevate the advisor and client experience,” said Stephen Gasparek, chief marketing officer and head of business development at Q Wealth Partners. “Cliff and Colton bring both deep expertise and a modern perspective, and we are proud to welcome them as Principal Partners with a permanent seat at the table.”
Cliff adds. “We have built a team of A players across all our divisions, and we want to keep them invested for the long term. That is also what we saw at Q Wealth. The people joining are betting on themselves, and that is who we want to be with.”
