Desjardins Financial Security Independent Network

What Desjardins Financial Security Independent Network does

Desjardins Financial Security Independent Network (DFSIN) is a Canadian wealth and insurance distribution network operating as a trade name of Desjardins Financial Security Life Assurance Company, part of the Desjardins Group cooperative. The network aggregates approximately 1,500 independent financial advisors across 22 financial centre locations in every Canadian province, serving individuals, families, and small business owners with financial planning, wealth management, and insurance advisory services. Advisors operate under an open product shelf model with access to investment products from over 70 fund companies and insurance products from 20 providers, supported by multi-vendor technology including Equisoft (CRM), Dataphile (brokerage), Wealthserv (wealth analytics), and Conquest (advisor business development), plus a digital Investor Hub client portal for portfolio access.

The business model is sales-led and commission- and fee-driven: revenue is generated through advisors distributing mutual funds, securities, and insurance products, with each advisor owning their own book of business and setting independent pricing for advisory services. Distribution occurs through direct advisor relationships in physical financial centres, an online "Find an Advisor" tool, and the Investor Hub self-serve portal. The network is regulated by CIRO and is a member of CIPF, with compliance aligned to the 2021 CSA Client-Focused Reforms. The DFSIN banner operates alongside sub-brands including SFL Wealth Management (Quebec and New Brunswick) and Desjardins Financial Security Investments (mutual fund and securities brokerage).

Customer segmentation is horizontal, targeting individuals and families seeking comprehensive financial planning across life stages, as well as small business owners needing business succession, key-person, and group benefits solutions. Geographic reach is exclusively domestic (Canada), with an explicit restriction excluding the United States market. The firm was founded in 2002, is privately held as a subsidiary of Desjardins Group, and has between 1,001 and 5,000 total personnel per firmographic data.

Name

Desjardins Financial Security Independent Network

Legal name

Desjardins Financial Security Life Assurance Company

Website

https://dfsin.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Desjardins Financial Security Independent Network is a Canadian wealth and insurance distribution network, part of Desjardins Group, operating through approximately 1,500 independent advisors across 22 financial centres serving individuals, families, and small businesses nationwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wealth Management and Financial Advisory Services

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Discretionary Portfolio Management (DPM) (FSAAABAC)

Keywords

• Wealth management services
• Independent financial advisors
• Financial planning advisory
• Insurance product distribution
• Investment advisory network

Headquarters

HQ city

Toronto

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices23 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Financial Advisory Services: Revenue generated through advisors providing financial planning, wealth management, and insurance advisory services to clients. Advisors operate independently under the DFSIN banner with access to a broad shelf of investment and insurance products from over 70 fund companies and 20 insurance providers.
2. Insurance Products Distribution: Distribution of life insurance, disability insurance, critical illness insurance, and other insurance products through the independent advisor network.
3. Investment Products Distribution: Distribution of mutual funds, securities, and investment products through investment advisors and mutual fund representatives who are part of the network.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

DFSIN is a national Canadian network of approximately 1,500 independent financial advisors that delivers comprehensive wealth management, financial planning, and insurance advisory services to individuals, families, and small businesses. The network provides access to investment products from over 70 fund companies and insurance products from 20+ providers, supported by 22 physical financial centres and an online Investor Hub portal, operating under the Desjardins Group umbrella.

Product overview

Desjardins Financial Security Independent Network (DFSIN) is a national independent advisor network offering a comprehensive wealth management platform. The network provides access to an open product shelf with investment products from over 70 fund companies and insurance products from 20 providers. DFSIN is complemented by SFL Wealth Management operating in Quebec and New Brunswick, and Desjardins Financial Security Investments for securities brokerage. The network offers life, disability, critical illness, health care, and travel insurance products alongside investment management services, all delivered through a network of approximately 1,500 independent advisors at financial centres across Canada.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Financial Planning Services Comprehensive financial planning services covering retirement planning, estate planning, business succession planning, and wealth management, delivered through a national network of independent advisors for individuals, families, and small businesses.
• Life Insurance Products Term and permanent life insurance coverage sourced from a multi-supplier network of over 20 insurance providers, distributed through independent advisors to individuals and small business owners.
• Disability Insurance Income protection insurance product covering loss of earning capacity due to disability, distributed through the DFSIN advisor network.
• Critical Illness Insurance Lump-sum payment insurance product covering specified critical illnesses such as heart attack, stroke, or cancer, offered through the advisor network.
• Health Care Insurance Health and dental insurance products for individuals and businesses distributed through the DFSIN advisor network.
• Long-Term Care Insurance Regular payment insurance product for institutional or at-home care due to loss of independence, offered through independent advisors.
• Travel Insurance Out-of-Canada travel insurance covering medical emergencies and healthcare costs while traveling, distributed through DFSIN advisors.
• Investment Products Mutual funds and securities brokerage products offered through an open product shelf with access to over 70 fund companies, distributed through investment advisors and mutual fund representatives in the DFSIN network.
• Business Succession Planning Planning service for business owners including buy/sell agreements, key stakeholder coverage, key person insurance, group benefits, and succession strategies, delivered through the DFSIN advisor network.
• Investor Hub (Online Client Portal) Online client portal allowing investors to access their portfolios and manage investments digitally, replacing the former Client Portal, accessible to clients of DFSIN advisors.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,500 independent advisors serving clients across Canada
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Desjardins GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDFSIN is part of Desjardins Group, the leading cooperative financial group in Canada. Desjardins provides brand strength, stability, and institutional support to the independent advisor network. DFSIN and SFL Wealth Management form one of the largest financial products and services distribution networks focused on wealth management.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Edward Jones Canada: Branch-based independent advisor network serving Canadian retail investors. Comparable in physical-financial-centre distribution and personalized advice delivery to mass-affluent households.
• Worldsource Wealth Management: Sister entity within the broader DFSIN ecosystem offering mutual fund and securities brokerage under the Desjardins Financial Security Investments brand. Directly comparable advisor-supported distribution business.
• Manulife Securities: Canadian independent advisor network offering wealth management and insurance products through affiliated advisors. Closely mirrors DFSIN's open-architecture distribution model and target customer segments.
• Quadrus Investment Services: Canadian mutual fund dealer supporting affiliated advisors in wealth and retirement planning. Closely comparable in operating an open-shelf distribution model under a major insurer.
• Raymond James Canada: Canadian arm of Raymond James Financial operating an independent advisor network. Comparable in offering open-architecture wealth and investment products to Canadian individuals and families.
• Investment Planning Counsel (IPC): Independent financial planning firm and dealer supporting a national network of advisors. Directly comparable in advisor-led wealth and insurance distribution and corporate ownership by a major Canadian financial group.
• Assante Wealth Management: Canadian wealth management network serving individuals, families, and business owners through independent financial advisors. Directly comparable distribution model and client segments.

Broad incumbents

• National Bank Financial: Bank-owned wealth management arm providing financial advisory, investment, and insurance solutions. Overlaps DFSIN's customer segments while leveraging a broader institutional banking and capital-markets platform.
• TD Wealth Financial Planning: Bank-owned wealth management division offering financial planning, investment, and insurance products. Comparable in serving the same customer segments but with captive product economics and broader institutional scale.
• CIBC Wood Gundy: Bank-owned full-service investment dealer within CIBC. Comparable in wealth advisory distribution to Canadian households and business owners but operates within a much broader banking franchise.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCnlaxgffj4HrcmEILi6L6sQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/dfsin
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/desjardins-financial-security-independent-network

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Desjardins Financial Security Independent Network