How one Calgary advisor turned a chance into opportunity and now one of Canada’s leading female-led wealth management brands.
When people meet Filomena May today—Senior Wealth Advisor, CIM® and founder of Filo Financial Solutions—they see a confident entrepreneur with over two decades of experience guiding families, professionals and business owners toward secure financial futures. What they don’t see is how unplanned and challenging her path truly was.
Prior to becoming an advisor, Filomena was a fresh grad, working at a top hotel brand with aspirations of advancing the
corporate ladder while bookkeeping for her father’s electrical company. Finance and entrepreneurship weren’t on the map. Her boss telling her that a woman didn’t belong in the Engineering dept. led Filomena to search for what was next.
“A wealth management firm reached out requesting an interview for a financial advisor role,” she recalls.
“I honestly wasn’t even sure what a financial advisor did.”
The interview was exceptional. Personality and aptitude assessments indicated that she had the ideal combination of communication skills, empathy and analytical intelligence—traits that would later define her advisory style. Filomena gave herself one year to prove herself.
That year changed the trajectory of her life path. Filomena faced challenges but was determined. She compressed three licensing exams into just three weeks in time for the training deadline, later discovering that the role was fully entrepreneurial which meant building her own business and client base from scratch. Thirdly, she had to prove herself in a male-dominated industry where female representation was under 5%, particularly in leadership or ownership roles. “I became a student of the business. I found mentors, worked long hours and immersed myself.”
Her commitment paid off. She was awarded Rookie of the Year, which gave her the confidence to continue with a practice founded on trust, empathy and deep financial knowledge. Six years later after being blessed with the birth of her second child, Filomena had a calling to build an independent practice setting a precedent for women in her industry— rooted in her values and built on integrity. The firm at the time denied her a managerial position once they discovered she was an expecting mother. “What felt disheartening at the time was one of my greatest gifts. If you listen to your intuition, you discover that there are no accidents. I built up self-reliance, strength and belief in myself that I didn’t think I had.”
“It took a long time to gain self worth, block out the imposter syndrome, alongside personal and professional roadblocks along the way.”
“My edge at the time was learning the financial planning software that was new to the industry and building out clients’ roadmaps proving my intelligence as a 24-year-old new female advisor in the industry.”
The Birth of Filo Financial Solutions
With courage, she launched Filo Financial Solutions in 2008, just one week before the financial crisis. The crisis had her questioning her decision during a time of fear and uncertainty with investors; however, during that time she was able to provide more options for clients, educate and guide them through a difficult time. From inception, her vision was clear: deliver personalized, transparent, relationship-driven financial planning with a level of care and integrity that set her apart.
As the market evolved, so did Filomena. She embraced changes ahead of the industry’s curve, broadened her practice and expanded once again with Raymond James Ltd. in 2014. This transition unlocked a full suite of tools and resources that allowed her to integrate her planning-based model that was not widely utilized in the “stockbroker world.” In 2017, she expanded the boutique advisory experience and Filo Financial opened the doors to her independent branch, as the youngest female agency across Canada.
“It means a lot when clients say they feel safe with me—that they trust me. That’s what this job is truly about.”
A Holistic, Human Approach to Wealth
Filo Financial Solutions is a fully integrated wealth planning practice —bringing together investment management, cash flow planning, tax strategies, retirement planning, estate planning, insurance and risk management.
“It’s about understanding the full scope of a situation—putting all the pieces of the puzzle together,” Filomena explains. “Clients want customization by one trusted source, not a fragmented or cookie-cutter approach.”
Her ability to blend the technical with emotional intelligence has become her superpower when mapping out best solutions during life events such as retirement and pension planning, intergenerational wealth transfer, estates after someone passes or
navigating asset division during divorce. Filomena’s approach allows for vulnerable conversations from a space of compassion and intuition.
A Brand Rooted in Trust, Integrity and Impact
Filomena has built a reputable brand known for clarity, transparency and unwavering advocacy for clients. Recognized for her leadership, mentorship and community contribution, supporting numerous organizations as well as president of her cultural community
“Consistency is everything,” she says. “People know what to expect from me—honesty, thoughtful planning by understanding their goals and needs and a genuine desire to improve their lives.”
Her greatest motivation has come from witnessing milestones achieved or knowing she made a difference during a difficult
transition.
Filomena May’s journey is a testament to resilience, vision and the power of doing things differently in helping people build strong financial futures.
Contributed by Filomena May.
Filomena is a Financial Advisor with Raymond James Ltd. Information provided is not a solicitation and although obtained from sources considered reliable, is not guaranteed. The views and opinions contained in the article are those of Filomena May, not Raymond James Ltd. Raymond James Ltd. member of Canadian Investor Protection Fund.
