Investment Advisory Vancouver — Business Surplus Cash Strategy (2026)

Your business has $500,000 sitting in a bank account earning 0.5% interest. Your accountant says to “do something with it.” Your spouse wants to take it as dividends. You are not sure what is smart.

This is a good problem to have. But the wrong decision costs you:

• Inflation erodes purchasing power (2–3% per year)

• Missed returns (3–8% you could have earned)

• Tax inefficiency (dividends vs capital gains vs retained earnings)

Most investment advisors focus on personal wealth management — RRSPs, TFSAs, retirement planning. They do not understand corporate surplus, holding companies, or the unique constraints of business owners.

ARV Consultants provides investment advisory specifically for business surplus cash — money in your operating company or holding company that you do not need for working capital or immediate expenses.

For personal wealth management, please speak with a licensed wealth advisor. For business surplus, continue below.

For broader financial planning including forecasting and budgeting, see our finance consultancy page.

What to Do with Business Surplus Cash — A Decision Framework

Not all surplus cash is the same. Your time horizon, risk tolerance, and liquidity needs determine the right approach.

Our approach: We help you evaluate each option based on your specific situation. We do not sell products. We give advice. You execute (or we recommend a licensed partner).

How We Help with Business Surplus Cash

Option 1 — Investment Policy Statement (Fixed-Fee)

What it is: A document that guides all future investment decisions for your business.

What you get:

• Risk tolerance assessment (for your business, not you personally)

• Time horizon analysis (when will you need the cash?)

• Liquidity requirements (how much must be accessible?)

• Asset allocation recommendation (what % in each option)

• Investment guidelines (what you will and will not invest in)

• Rebalancing and monitoring process

Investment: $2,500–$5,000 (one-time)
Deliverable: A 10–15 page document you can give to anyone managing your investments.

Option 2 — Surplus Cash Strategy (Fixed-Fee)

What it is: A one-time analysis and recommendation for your current surplus.

What you get:

• Cash flow analysis (how much surplus do you actually have?)

• Tax analysis (should you leave it in the company or take it as dividends?)

• Option evaluation (savings vs GICs vs bonds vs private lending vs acquisitions)

• Specific recommendation with rationale

• Implementation plan (who does what, when)

Investment: $3,000–$7,500
Deliverable: A specific “what to do” recommendation with expected returns.

Option 3 — Ongoing Advisory (Fixed Monthly Fee, Not AUM %)

What it is: Quarterly reviews and ongoing advice for businesses with $250k–$5M in surplus.

What you get:

• Quarterly review of investment performance

• Rebalancing recommendations

• New opportunity evaluation

• Tax-efficiency monitoring

• Access to our network of private lending and acquisition opportunities

Investment: $500–$2,000/month (based on surplus size)
Not: Assets-under-management percentage (0.5–1.0% is typical for wealth managers; we do not charge this)

What we do NOT do:

• Sell investment products (no commissions, no conflicts)

• Manage your investments directly (we advise; you or a licensed partner executes)

• Provide personal financial planning (RRSP, TFSA, retirement)

For execution, we can refer you to licensed investment advisors. We do not take commissions from them.

Investment Advisory Pricing (2026) — Fixed-Fee, Not AUM

Compare to traditional wealth managers:

• Typical wealth manager fee: 0.5–1.0% of assets under management (AUM)

• On $1Msurplus:$5,000–$10,000 per year

• Our fixed-fee ongoing advisory: $6,000–$24,000 per year (depending on complexity)

We are not cheaper. We are different. We advise on business surplus — not personal wealth. We do not sell products. We help you make better decisions.

Not sure which service fits your situation? A 15-minute call gives you a clear answer. book a free consultation

Investment Options for Business Surplus — Detailed

High-Interest Savings Account (1.5–3.0%)

• Best for: Cash needed within 3 months

• Where: Online banks (EQ Bank, Oaken, etc.) offer higher rates than big banks

• Risk: CDIC-insured up to $100k per institution

GICs (3.0–5.0%)

• Best for: Cash needed in 1–5 years, capital preservation

• Where: Any bank or credit union

• Risk: CDIC-insured (within limits), but locked in for term

Government Bonds (3.5–4.5%)

• Best for: Cash needed in 3–10 years

• Where: Brokerage account (Questrade, IBKR, or bank brokerage)

• Risk: Very low (Government of Canada), but prices fluctuate if you sell early

Corporate Bonds (5.0–7.0%)

• Best for: Higher yield, can tolerate some risk

• Where: Brokerage account

• Risk: Company default risk. Stick to investment-grade (BBB or higher).

Private Lending (8.0–12.0%)

• Best for: Long-term surplus, higher risk tolerance

• What: Mortgages (first or second), business loans, development financing

• Risk: Borrower default. Requires due diligence. Usually illiquid.

Equipment Purchase (for your business)

• Best for: Expanding your own business

• Return: The ROI of the new equipment (10–30% if it increases capacity)

• Risk: Business risk (what if demand does not materialize)

Acquisition (buy another company)

• Best for: Strategic growth, long-term horizon

• Return: Highly variable (could be 20%+ or loss)

• Risk: Highest. Integration risk, culture clash, overpayment.

Holding Company Investment Account (4–8%)

• Best for: Long-term surplus, tax-efficient growth

• What: Diversified portfolio of ETFs (stocks, bonds, alternatives)

• Tax: Corporate investment income is taxed at ~50%, but there are strategies (pipeline, capital gains reserve)

Vancouver Business We Helped

Professional services firm in Kitsilano: $3Mrevenue,$600,000 surplus cash in their operating company. The cash was earning 0.5% interest. The owner was considering taking it as dividends ($400k after tax).

Our engagement: Surplus cash strategy ($5,000 fixed fee).

What we analyzed:

• Working capital needs (they only needed $150k for operations)

• Tax implications (dividends vs retained earnings)

• Time horizon (no need for cash for 5+ years)

• Risk tolerance (low to medium)

Our recommendation:

• Keep $200k in high-interest savings (1.5–3.0%)

• Invest $200k in a diversified portfolio within a holding company (5–7% expected)

• Invest $200k in private lending (8–10% expected) through a mortgage investment corporation (MIC)

Expected annual return: $15,000–$20,000 (vs $3,000 from savings account)

Implementation: We referred them to a licensed investment advisor for the portfolio and a MIC for the private lending. No commissions to us.

When Investment Advisory Is Part of a CFO Engagement

If you have significant surplus cash ($1M+) AND you need ongoing CFO services (forecasting, banking, tax planning), we combine both.

Combined engagement pricing: $5,000–$10,000/month (CFO + investment advisory)

For CFO services, see our CFO services page.

When You Need a Valuation Before Investing

If you are considering acquiring another company or bringing on an equity partner, you need a business valuation first.

For valuation services, see our business valuation page.

Related Services

Finance Consultancy
For forecasting, budgeting, and financial analysis, see our finance consultancy page.

Vancouver-Specific Questions (FAQ)

What is the difference between investment advisory and wealth management?
Wealth management is for personal finances (RRSP, TFSA, retirement). Investment advisory for business surplus is for corporate cash. Different tax rules, different time horizons, different risk profiles.

Do you sell investment products?
No. We give advice. You execute through a licensed partner (or we refer you). No commissions. No conflicts.

How is this different from talking to my bank?
Your bank will recommend their own products (their GICs, their mutual funds, their private lending). We are independent. We look at all options.

What is the typical minimum surplus to make this worthwhile?
$100,000. Below that, a high-interest savings account or GIC is usually sufficient.

Can you help with holding company structure?
Yes. Many of our clients have holding companies (Holdcos) that own their operating companies (Opcos). We advise on surplus within Holdcos, including investment policy and tax-efficient withdrawal strategies.

Ready to Make Your Surplus Cash Work Harder?

Savings account at 0.5%. GICs at 3–5%. Private lending at 8–12%. The right option depends on your situation.

Here is how to start:

1. Book a free 15-minute consultation — we discuss your surplus cash and goals

2. We recommend the right service — policy, strategy, or ongoing advisory

3. You get a fixed-fee quote — no surprises, no AUM fees

Book your free consultation

Rajeev Kumar, Director at ARV Consultants. 18 years advising BC business owners on corporate surplus, holding company strategy, and investment policy. Named one of the world’s Top 10 CFOs by CEO Insights Magazine (2024, 2023, 2022).