When are you leaving?
I am not disappearing right away.
My last day with BDO will be June 30, 2027.
I thought you were staying at BDO until the mandatory retirement age of 65?
I want to address something directly, because you deserve that.
For some of you, I took on your file a couple of years ago from my colleague who was retiring, I told you I planned to be here for the long term. I meant that. My intention at the time was genuine, and I want you to know that.
Recently, I was told of a shift in the firm’s expectations that made it clear that building something independent was the right move — for my clients, and for the kind of work I want to spend my next chapter doing.
What's the succession plan?
Over the coming months, and until June 30, 2027, I will try to ensure your planning work is in excellent hands — shepherding any outstanding projects through to completion or suitable plateaus for next steps. Your managers will continue to lead the work related to your financial statements and tax returns as they have been doing for the most part since I started working with you. For most, we have a suggested partner lined up for your approval. My hope is that you will not feel like you are forgotten. That matters to me as much now as it did when we started working together. My plan is to share details with clients I am responsible for in personalized emails as part of the annual engagement letter process that I began last summer, or alternatively when we talk next.
Can I contact you after you leave BDO?
I want you to know that this transition doesn’t end our relationship if you don’t want it to.
The advisory and planning work I’ll be doing independently — retirement and estate strategy, tax planning, wealth building — is exactly the work many of you have been asking about. I will be continuing to share information through my virtual presentations, Office Hours with George webinars, and newsletters, for example. If it makes sense, I’d be glad to be part of your team in a different capacity. But there is absolutely no pressure, and no expectation. My first priority right now is making sure you feel looked after through this change.
My web site is still georgedube.com and my email is still george@georgedube.com.
Will you be meeting every single client?
Great question. Short answer is no. My team and I have created a succession plan that ensures we take care of clients in the best way possible. For those clients who just require, or want, compliance matters dealt with, for example financial statements, tax returns, renumeration discussions, you’ll be best served dealing with your manager and new partner. I can’t add value here. And there’s nothing wrong with that. Continuing the relationship with your manager, and developing one with your new partner, is part of the plan.
Who will you meet with during the next year?
My initial focus will be meeting with those who have tax planning, retirement planning, estate planning, and wealth planning projects in process. I want to ensure your work is in excellent hands — shepherding any outstanding projects through to completion or suitable plateaus for next steps.
What can you still help me with?
Most people with real wealth still don’t have a plan that matches it.
They don’t know all the tools they could be using to build and protect their wealth but know they exist and hear their friends are using them. They may be working with good advisors — an accountant, a financial planner, a lawyer — but may not have a trusted tax advisor who can proactively use deep expertise to put a plan in place, instead of being focused on compliance, tax deadlines, and reacting to specific transactions.
Trust me…I know after being in that environment for 35+ years. That’s the gap I now fill.
I’ve spent a career helping real estate investors, developers, medical professionals, and investors building wealth through traditional and alternative investments keep more of what they earn, build wealth with a purpose, retire more tax efficiently, and make sure it goes where they want when they’re gone…not to CRA.
And…I’ve gotten better over time!
I work alongside your existing advisors or help you build the right team and use sophisticated planning strategies for those who are building and protecting their wealth. I am the person whose focus is on Saving the world from tax, one bow tie at time®…and I want to save that tax for you.
With a playbook of more than 50 dynamic tools and techniques to help you achieve your dreams, I’m here to give you a foundation to Do wonderful things®.