Financial Planning for the Film Industry

Advice-Only, Fee-for-Service Planning for "Hollywood North"

A career in Vancouver or Calgary's film industry is unlike any other. It is a world of "hurry up and wait" defined by intense, 16-hour days and high-pressure projects followed by sudden gaps between contracts.

This project-based lifestyle can be incredibly rewarding, but it makes financial planning a unique challenge. "Standard" financial advice is built for a 9-to-5 employee with a T4. That advice is useless when you are managing feast-or-famine income, multiple union contracts, and the complexities of incorporation.

You do not need a salesperson. You need a planning partner who understands the industry and can build a stable financial foundation for a chaotic career path.

Why "Standard" Advice Fails on Set

We find our clients in the film industry are masters of their craft but are looking for a specialized partner to help navigate a financial landscape that includes:

• The "Feast or Famine" Cycle: Your income is anything but predictable. You need a plan that takes the high pay from a few intense months and stretches it to cover the entire year, including the inevitable hiatuses.

• Incorporation Headaches: Are you a sole proprietor or a loan-out corporation? Managing GST/HST remittances, corporate tax instalments, and navigating the CRA's "Personal Services Business" risk is a major burden.

• Union Pension Confusion: You might be in IATSE, DGC, or UBCP/ACTRA. Each has its own pension (like CEIRP) and benefits structure. How does this plan work? Is it enough? What do you do if you are non-union?

• The "Strike" Threat: How do you budget for a potential industry strike, a global slowdown, or just the 3-month gap between shows? You need a "hiatus fund" that does not cannibalize your long-term retirement savings.

A Production Manager for Your Money

At Mountainview Planning, we specialize in clear, unbiased, advice-only financial planning.

We offer no products and receive no commissions. Our only goal is to provide you with the best possible advice tailored specifically to your situation. We act as the "production manager" for your finances. We make sure the budget works so you can focus on the work.

Our "Hollywood North" Framework

We have developed a specific planning protocol for film professionals that focuses on:

• The "Paycheck Smoothing" System: We create a structured, year-round cash flow system. This strategy ensures your personal bills are paid, your taxes are set aside, and your savings goals are met automatically, even when you are not on set.

• Corporate Tax Optimization: We help you navigate the complexities of your business. We build a plan for tax remittances, managing expenses, and deciding how to pay yourself (Salary vs. Dividends) in the most efficient way possible.

• Building Your "Hiatus Fund": We design a dedicated plan to build a cash reserve. This fund protects your long-term investments and gives you the freedom to say "no" to a bad project because you know your overhead is covered.

• The CEIRP Integration: We integrate your union pension into a complete financial picture. We use your personal RRSPs and TFSAs to fill the gaps that the union plan leaves behind.

Your Career is Unpredictable. Your Financial Plan Should Not Be.

You work hard to bring stories to life. Let us do the hard work of securing your future.