Expert in Family Enterprise systems, Governance, Estates and life insurance planning.

Family Business Planning Services

Succession Planning

Family business succession is perhaps one of the most neglected and difficult areas of wealth transfer. It is important to implement an orderly and tax-efficient plan to achieve the objectives of you, the family business owner. Your professional advisors work as a team in developing strategies that work together to achieve your objectives.

Wealth Transfer

It is important to implement an orderly and tax-efficient plan to achieve the objectives for disbursement of assets. Your objective may be to transfer your assets during your lifetime or after your death. A plan to ensure your continued freedom and security during your lifetime is a first step in considering how you choose to disburse the wealth you have accumulated. Tax planning is an essential component of the process. Your professional advisors work as a team in developing strategies that work together to achieve your objectives.

Risk Assessment

An examination of RISKS and opportunities is important to the continued growth of your assets. A "big picture" review helps match your objectives with probable outcomes.

Wealth Preservation

As you continue to increase your wealth you may want to explore some strategies that minimize the risk of the wealth you have created. Tax planning is an essential component of the process. Your professional advisors work as a team to develop strategies that work together to achieve your objectives.

Susan St Amand
TEP, FEA, ICD.D

Susan St. Amand is an entrepreneur, the Founder and President of The Sirius Group Inc. and Sirius Financial Services in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. She specializes in continuity planning for Business and Philanthropic Families with wealth. Susan collaborates with client families and their professional team to develop strategies and goals focused on their unique value systems.

Susan has over 30 years of experience in finance, governance, strategy, risk management and philanthropy. Her advisory services are built on a foundation of trust and mutual respect. Susan’s integrity, passion, ‘big picture’ view, intense listening and communication skills, and comprehensive approach make her uniquely skilled. Susan has continued as the President of the successful life insurance business she started in 1990, while focusing her consulting on family enterprise continuity.

Susan is Chair of the Board of Family Enterprise Canada, a director on the local Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD), Co-Chair of the local International Women’s Forum, a member of The Society for Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP), The Purposeful Planning Institute, ADVOCIS, and the Conference for Advanced Life Underwriting (CALU).

Past Chair of the Board of the Ottawa International Airport Authority, Past Chair of CALU, Past Chair of the Ottawa STEP Chapter and one of twenty founders of the Women for Mental Health campaign associated with the Royal Ottawa Centre for Mental Health. Over the last 30 years, Susan has sat in leadership positions on more than 20 boards.

Susan advises families focusing on their values and desired outcomes and takes a collaborative approach to all her work; she

reviews your current structure and plans seeking coordination between the family, business and ownership systems.
develops process and structure to avoid unintended consequences in the intersection between, family, business and ownership of family assets.
collaborates with your professionals (legal, accounting etc.) to confirm alignment
facilitates discussion amongst all stakeholders

Susan started her independent continuity planning firm over 30 years ago.

Our Planning Services

Key Person Risk Management

Key people interact with various entities who have relationships with the company. They create confidence by virtue of their image and their involvement with the company. This confidence is reflected in the company's market value and in the relationships created with customers, creditors, suppliers, investors and the management team.

Employee Benefits

To attract a high-calibre team, a start-up needs to provide competitive compensation packages. Such packages often include a comprehensive employee group benefits plan.

Shareholders' Risk Management

Providing liquidity and control at the death, disability and/or dissolution of a shareholder can guarantee the successful continuation of the business. A forced sale of shares can hinder the performance of a company, reduce the operational cash flow and reduce the value of all outstanding shares.

Estate Planning

Consideration must be given to a shareholder's personal estate and tax planning and the impact on both the company and the shareholder's personal net worth. The interaction of the shareholder's corporate investments have an impact on his or her personal objectives. Both corporate and individual objectives should be considered to ensure the objectives are not opposed.