Financial Planning for University Professors, Academics, and Administration

Advice-Only, Fee-for-Service Planning for the Academic Sector

A career in academia offers a level of stability that is rare in the modern economy, but it also creates a unique layer of financial complexity.

You navigate a world of sabbatical logistics, complex tenure streams, and high-value pension arrangements that vary wildly from institution to institution. "Standard" financial advice often fails here because it applies a "one-size-fits-all" retail strategy to a compensation structure that is anything but standard.

You don't need a sales pitch. You need a partner who understands the specific mechanics of university benefits—whether you are managing a massive Defined Contribution portfolio or integrating a Defined Benefit guarantee.

Why "Standard" Advice Fails in Academia

We find our academic clients are brilliant in their fields but are often looking for a specialized partner to help navigate a financial landscape that doesn't fit the generic mold. We help you solve the specific puzzles of the academic life:

• The Pension Variance (DB vs. DC): If you are in a Defined Benefit plan, you have "golden handcuffs" that affect your RRSP room and tax brackets. If you are in a Defined Contribution plan (common in Western Canada), you bear the investment risk for a massive portion of your net worth. Both require very different strategies.

• Sabbatical Logistics: How do you fund a year of research, travel, or rest on a reduced salary without pausing your long-term compounding?

• The "Invisible" Paycheck: Your benefits package is excellent, but is it optimized? Are you over-insured in some areas (doubling up on university coverage) while being exposed in others?

An Analytical Approach for Analytical Minds

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

Because we sell no products and take no commissions, our incentives are perfectly aligned with yours. We approach your finances the way you approach your work: with research, data, and thoughtful analysis.

Our "Academic Track" Services

We have developed a specific planning framework for university faculty and staff that focuses on:

• Pension Optimization:

  • For DC Plans: We review your fund allocation and risk exposure. Since the market risk sits with you, we ensure this massive asset is actually aligned with your retirement timeline.

  • For DB Plans: We model the future value of your pension and build your personal savings strategy around it, ensuring you aren't saving efficiently for a retirement that is already funded.

• Sabbatical Cash-Flow Modeling: We create a clear roadmap for your time away, outlining the savings strategy and income adjustments needed so you can focus on your research (or your rest) without financial stress.

• Decumulation Strategy: The transition from tenure to retirement is a massive tax event. We create a step-by-step plan to draw down your assets efficiently, coordinating your pension, CPP/OAS, and personal savings to minimize your lifetime tax bill.

You’ve Done the Research. Let Us Do the Planning.

Your career is dedicated to knowledge and analysis. Your financial plan deserves the same level of intellectual rigor.