Meet the Team

Laura Whiteland, CFP®, CIM®

Owner & Financial Planner

Laura began working in the financial services industry in 2014, after completing a business administration program from NSCC. Laura grew her knowledge over time, by earning the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® Designation in 2017, and the Chartered Investment Manager® Designation in 2018. Laura has worked as an Investment Advisor and Portfolio Manager, with securities licensing including derivatives and options which is some of the highest certification you can attain in the investment industry. Laura has completed tax planning courses and has experience completing T1s alongside her tax planning knowledge. Laura has also been life insurance licensed having completed the LLQP program. She has also worked with multiple large financial institutions in various roles and has experience with personal and business lending, banking, and mortgages. Laura is the first openly transgender financial planner and transgender portfolio manager in Nova Scotia, if not Canada, which has earned her recognition as Canada's trans financial planner.

Laura started Inclusive Financial Planning with a goal of making financial advice for accessible for everyone. Having worked in wealth management for over five years Laura has seen how access to financial planning and advice is often limited to those that have large investment portfolios. Which leaves out many who are in need of advice. Since starting IFP she has seen how access to robust financial planning and advice can help: business owners in the early stages of their entrepreneurial journey; younger folks looking to find the right direction, and retirees or pre-retirees that don't find a great fit with traditional financial services. Finances are complicated, and having someone to talk to can make all the difference for your peace of mind, your quality of life, and getting most out of the dollars you have.

Access to quality financial planning is an important part of empowering people to reach their potential and live their lives how they want. As a nationally recognized financial professional and trans advocate Laura has been interviewed by CBC Radio 1, The Canadian Press, The Globe and Mail, CTV News Channel, Global News, and Saltwire Media as well as financial industry papers such as Investment Executive to help spread the message on the importance of accessible quality financial advice and to help educate others on financial matters. You can learn more about it here.

Beyond just advisory experience Laura has been involved in decision making with large and small businesses and non-profits directly. Having a broad range of experience with every stage of an organization's life, from the very beginning steps towards incorporation and operation through to growth and maturity which gives her special insight to the financial planning process for a diverse range of organizations.

Laura has a strong belief in supporting people and communities, particularly the 2SLGBTQIA+ community in rural Nova Scotia with a focus on trans inclusion and empowerment. Laura is a Co-Founder and past Chair of the Truro Pride Society. As well as a former co-chair of The Youth Project Society of Nova Scotia. Laura also serves as a Commissioner on the Truro Police Service Board and is a member of the Town of Truro’s Diversity Advisory Committee. As well as volunteering with FP Canada as a Media Ambassador to help show the importance of financial planning across the country.

In 2022 Laura was honoured with a Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal for her work with the 2SLGBTQIA+ community in Nova Scotia.

Born in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia Laura now lives in Truro, Nova Scotia with her wife Courtney, her child Elliott, and cat Oliver.

Tammy Totten, BBA

Senior Human Resources Consultant

Tammy has worked in Human Resources management since 1999, after completing her BBA from Mount Saint Vincent University. She improved her skills with a Certificate in Human Resource Management in 2005 from Dalhousie University. She has memberships with Chartered Professional in Human Resources Nova Scotia, International Federation of Employee Benefits, and Association of Municipal Administrators of Nova Scotia. Tammy brings a broad range of experience from the public and non-profit sectors, with a keen eye to balancing differing legislation, policies, and procedures amongst unionized and non-union employees.

Tammy approaches Human Resources with her signature ‘tell it like it is’ attitude. Deftly navigating the various requirements of differing collective agreements while ensuring productivity and effectiveness across the various departments and teams she manages.

This experience has made Tammy an expert in managing employer responsibilities and requirements. Tammy believes that effective human resources should not only work to improve the capabilities of the employees they service but also effectively manage risk and reduce liability to the organization. Ensuring compliance with various federal and provincial legislation is not a simple task, and with ever increasing complexity to labour and human rights law there is little room for error.

Managing and bargaining collective agreements is a complex and time consuming process. Tammy’s experience across multiple unions gives her a unique perspective. This experience also carries over to working with non-unionized workers in the quality and accuracy of the policies and procedures she crafts. Facilitating constructive and effective dialogue when dealing with employees who are not performing or are creating an unsafe environment is a task Tammy handles with skill.

Tammy has a firm commitment to creating inclusive, safe, and healthy work environments. She is a leader in diversity, equity, and inclusion as well as a fierce advocate for mental health. She has served as vice-president of the CMHA Colchester East Hants Branch, as well as served on committees for Nova Scotia World Junior A Hockey committee and Nova Scotia Music Week.

To contact Tammy her email is Tammy@inclusivefp.com