Meet Ayana Forward
Ayana Forward is a Certified Financial Planner based in Ottawa, Ontario. She is the founder of Retirement in View, a fee-only financial planning firm focused on guiding individuals who are within one to five years of retirement. Her practice blends technical expertise with practical, personalized advice to help clients transition from full-time work to a secure and fulfilling retirement.
Ayana helps clients prepare for retirement by clarifying financial goals, creating tax-efficient retirement income strategies and advising on the best timing to claim government benefits such as the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) and Old Age Security (OAS). She also assesses portfolio sustainability to ensure savings will last through retirement, taking into account lifestyle goals, inflation, longevity and tax implications. Her work covers both the numbers and the lifestyle questions that come with leaving the workforce.
| Services | • Financial Planning • Investment Planning & Implementation |
| Specializations | • Comprehensive Financial Planning • Retirement Income Planning • Tax Planning |
| Payment Model | • Fees paid by clients based on assets managed by advisor • Fees paid by clients for advice (not based on assets) |
| Languages written and spoken | • English |
Why did you become a planner?
I’ve always enjoyed budgeting, organizing finances and helping people make informed choices about money. When I discovered that financial planning could combine those interests with a meaningful career, it was an immediate fit. I wanted to help people turn uncertainty about retirement into a clear, actionable plan so they can make confident decisions about money and lifestyle in the years ahead.
What is your approach to financial planning?
My approach is independent, objective and client-focused. I provide professional advice in an environment free of sales pressure. That means reviewing a client’s overall financial picture — income, expenses, investments, tax situation, benefits and personal goals — and delivering practical recommendations tailored to their priorities. I emphasize clarity: explaining trade-offs, quantifying outcomes and offering step-by-step actions to optimize finances and prepare for retirement.
Typical planning steps include an initial consultation to identify priorities, a data-gathering phase to build a complete financial picture, development of a detailed retirement income plan, implementation guidance for investments and benefits timing, and ongoing reviews to adapt the plan to changes in markets or life circumstances.
What is your proudest achievement as a financial planner?
Choosing a fee-only model is one of the decisions I’m proudest of. It allows me to provide advice without inherent product commissions and to maintain transparent pricing. I also intentionally set no minimum asset requirement so that independent advice is available to people who may not have large portfolios but still need trusted guidance. Offering unbiased advice and clear costs helps clients trust the process and focus on what matters most to their retirement plans.
What is a client success story you can share?
One of the most rewarding outcomes is when clients feel secure enough to submit their retirement notice to an employer with confidence. Clients often tell me that the greatest benefit of planning was the peace of mind: knowing their income will be sustainable, that taxes and benefits are timed efficiently, and that they have a contingency plan if markets or health needs change. That combination of financial clarity and emotional readiness is the kind of success I strive for with every client.
What would you do if money were no object?
If money were no object, I would own a professional women’s sports franchise. I believe in investing in and elevating women’s sports teams and creating opportunities for athletes and communities to thrive.
What’s the best money advice you ever received?
My father showed me how mortgage payments are structured: in the early years a large portion of each payment goes to interest. Seeing that math firsthand motivated me to accelerate payments when possible, which reduced the amortization period and saved significant interest. That practical lesson about the power of timing and repayment habits shaped how I approach debt and financial priorities with clients.
What is the worst money advice you ever received?
The worst advice is to invest in anything without understanding the underlying risk. Investments that sound promising can carry volatility, liquidity constraints or tax consequences that make them unsuitable for a person’s specific goals. Good financial planning always starts with an assessment of risk tolerance, time horizon and how an investment fits into the overall plan.
Contact Ayana Forward
- 📍 Ottawa, Ont.
- 🔗 Retirement in View
- ☎️ 613-416-9593
- linkedin.com/in/ayanaforward/
If you are approaching retirement and want an independent, personalized plan that addresses income, tax efficiency and the timing of government benefits, Ayana provides clear guidance and actionable steps to help you make the transition with confidence. Her focus on fee-only advice and accessible service makes Retirement in View a resource for those seeking transparent, client-focused retirement planning in the Ottawa area.