David Smith, PFP Hamilton Investment Advisor905-538-5324

Trevor Ireland, FMA, CIM, PFP

Halton Investment Advisor905-691-0468

Carolyn Humby, CFP, FMA, CIM, FCSI

NiagaraInvestment Advisor905-988-3562

John FraoneNiagara Investment Advisor289-219-4753

Jun Kim St. CatharinesInvestment Advisor289-257-0166 John Grasso, PFP Southwest Region Investment Advisor 226-377-0884

Philippe Hamon, CHS

Hamilton, HaldimandInsurance & Estate Advisor 905-574-5637

Richard Westberg, CFP, CLU, CH.F.C.

Hamilton, Halton Insurance & Estate Advisor289-439-7867

Maryuri Herrera, CLU

NiagaraInsurance & Estate Advisor289-257-0231

*Mutual Funds are offered through Credential Asset Management Inc. and *Mutual funds, other securities and financial planning are offered through Credential Securities Inc. Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with mutual fund investments. Please read the prospectus before investing. Unless otherwise stated, mutual funds, other securities and cash balances are not covered by the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation or by any other government deposit insurer that insures deposits in credit unions. Mutual funds and other securities are not guaranteed, their values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated. Credential Securities Inc. is a Member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund. ®Credential is a registered mark owned by Credential Financial Inc. and is used under licence. FirstOntario Insurance is a program provided by Credential Financial Strategies Inc. offering financial planning, life insurance and investments to members of credit unions and their communities. Trademark(s) of FirstOntario Insurance are used under licence.

Carey SmithChair, Board of Directors

Contact a Wealth Advisor today

ChatThe Value of Advice

Winter 2017

Ejaz Nadeem, MA, CFP, CLU

Vice President, Wealth Management

1-800-616-8878tFirstOntario.com contact@firstontario.com4

Another year has begun and on behalf of your Board of Directors I would like to wish you all a very Happy New Year. This past year has seen unprecedented growth for FirstOntario. We achieved another milestone in terms of assets under management, which reached over $4.4 billion. We also reached over $6 billion in funds under management. These numbers reflect the trust and commitment that you, our Members, have in FirstOntario and I thank you. FirstOntario is now over 110,000 Members strong and still growing.

FirstOntario grew branch-wise by opening a 5,000 square foot state-of-the-art branch this past September in North Oakville. This branch has been very successful and offers both wealth and business services. We also have plans to make our first foray into Milton with a new branch. Milton is the fastest growing town in the country and presents us with many business opportunities.

Similar to what we have done in St. Catharines, we are very pleased to have secured the naming rights to Hamilton Place. The new “FirstOntario Concert Hall” in Hamilton will be unveiled shortly. These investments into the arts and culture of these communities enriches and creates more cultural cohesion. One only has to drive by the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre in St. Catharines to see the revitalizing effect that these investments have on an area, as new restaurants and other hospitality-related businesses gain foothold.

As in Hamilton, our cooperative principles continue to guide us and FirstOntario remains a committed community partner. Your Board of Directors is extremely proud of our Blue Wave employee volunteers. Together they’ve spent more than 7,000 hours since inception helping at charities, organizations and events, embodying our commitment to helping our communities. In fact, FirstOntario was awarded for Outstanding Corporate Achievement at the Ontario Credit Union Foundation’s Annual General Meeting in April. The award recognized the Student Nutrition Program for FirstOntario’s financial support and the Blue Wave volunteers who power the program in each of our communities. FirstOntario’s investment of $750,000 over the last three years to the Student Nutrition Program has helped support over 78,000 students by providing access to healthy food and snacks.

In the fall, FirstOntario partnered with the Hamilton YWCA to offer 1stBiz, which is a comprehensive micro loan program. This micro loan program helps aspiring entrepreneurs in our communities with access to capital and expertise. The Hamilton YWCA provides educational resources to those who are looking to start up their own business and also provides support with hands-on coaching and guidance to those who are enrolled in the program and are looking for a loan. FirstOntario provides access to micro loans, up to $2,500. Our objective is to provide the financial support to help individuals to take an idea and develop it into a business that can provide for a consistent income and financial independence.

After five years in the Hamilton Region, the 1Awards expanded into the Niagara Region. These awards offer financial support and in-kind services and are FirstOntario’s way of helping promising small businesses expand. Recently, a survey by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business found that credit unions are rated better than the banks in providing service to small and mid-sized businesses, highlighting once gain the exceptional service credit unions provide.

Finally, I would like to give you an update on our upcoming Board of Directors election. January 26 through to March 13, 2017 marks the voting period for our election. This is your opportunity to vote for the four candidates you feel will best fill important roles on the Board of Directors. Election winners will be announced at our Annual General Meeting which will take place at Carmen’s Banquet Centre, 1520 Stone Church Road East in Hamilton on Wednesday, April 12, 2017 at 7 p.m. All FirstOntario Members are welcome.

As always, I’d like to hear from you – owner to owner - about anything; where we did well, where we stumbled, or just to say hello... please feel free to email me at Chair@FirstOntario.com.

Dealing with complex financial matters and planning for your future can be a daunting task - many people don’t know where to start because when it comes to your money, every situation is different. When it’s time to start planning, it’s a good idea to get advice from an experienced professional.

A good financial advisor usually follows a six-step financial planning approach:

1. Introduction—You’ll learn about your advisor’s areas of expertise and work together to figure out long-term goals and accomplishments.

2. Discovery—The advisor gathers detailed information about your personal finances to understand your goals and the risks you’re willing to take.

3. Analysis—The advisor analyzes the data to determine the gap between your current situation and your financial goals. They will consider your income, taxes, retirement expenses and investments and then they’ll look at alternative approaches to cover that gap.

4. Recommendation—Your advisor will give you a plan that includes recommendations and a to-do list to reach your targets.

5. Implementation—You will be ready to put the plan into action by selecting from a list of financial products recommended by your advisor.

6. Review—A semi-annual or annual review of your plan with your advisor will help you keep your eye on the ball and allow for any necessary changes along the way.

A good financial advisor can help you determine a budget for you and your family, teach you about investment options and help steer you on the right path. These professionals can assess your risk tolerance, purchase investment products for you, look at tax issues and manage your portfolio. It’s not about how much money is in your bank account, it’s about getting the most out of what you already have.

FirstOntario Credit Union has a great team of financial advisors specializing in various areas of wealth management including retirement, investment management, estate and successionplanning and individual financial risk management. These professionals are here to help our Members plan for the future and realize their financial dreams —their advice is included as part of the benefits of membership.

Please visit FirstOntarioInvestments.com to learn more and to reach out to our wealth team. Take control of your financial future — you’ll be glad you did.

Let us help you

realize your dreams and

start planning for your future.

FirstOntarioInvestments.com

EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENT! We will be welcoming guest speaker Bob Young, owner of the Hamilton Tiger Cats, to our Annual General Meeting, so don’t miss out!

2 3

Behind the Scenes: FirstOntario’s Member Solutions Centre

We’re here to help. Visit your local branch, call 1-800-616-8878, or go to www.FirstOntario.com.

The different ways to get the most out of your membershipFor your convenience, no matter which one works best for you, we provide our Members with a number of easy, convenient ways to access financial services at FirstOntario.

In Branch Mobile Online Phone PAT

FirstOntario.com contact@firstontario.com1-800-616-8878

Money On Trees, a financial literacy blog targeted towards young adults, was launched to create awareness around managing your finances and arming yourself with the knowledge and tools you need to make decisions about your money.

As part of November’s Financial Literacy Month, we put out a call for other people s stories. We’re turning the Money On Trees blog over to you to share your experiences when it comes to money. We are hoping you’ll share your secrets to your success, the money tips you’ve mastered or even when you’ve learned a hard lesson.

If your post is published, we’ll send you a $25 Tim Hortons gift card and, you’ll be eligible for the grand prize - two tickets to see Maroon 5 at FirstOntario Centre on March 1, 2017. We’re also going to buy you dinner before the show!

If you want to keep writing, every blog post you send will get you one more entry—so start typing! The contest is open until February 3, 2017. Look for full details at FirstOntario.com and don`t forget to check out MoneyOnTrees.ca.

YWCA Hamilton and FirstOntario launch 1stbiz ProgramFirstOntario has partnered with the Hamilton YWCA to offer 1stBiz - a comprehensive micro lending program designed to provide a foundation for sustainable self-employment through financial support, education, guidance and community relationships. The one-year pilot project, which is similar to the previous micro lending model, is delivered exclusively through the Hamilton YWCA.

There will be three separate 10-week intake periods where students will receive training and support from a business coach who will arm them with the tools and resources they need to complete a solid business plan. Upon completion of the training program and the business concept, students can be recommended for a micro loan through FirstOntario Credit Union.

During this process, members of FirstOntario’s Business Services team will also be offering support through in-class seminars as well as consultation once the students complete their business plan and are ready to apply for the loan. An important component of the updated model is the ongoing support students will receive after they’ve received the loan. Success will not only be defined by their business plans, but also in achieving self-sustainability and empowerment.

The first session is underway with a great group of students, For more details, visit FirstOntario.com

In the Community

Guest Writers wanted for Money On Trees Blog Contest

In October, the Blue Wave Committee celebrated and recognized the achievement of three volunteers who reached their 96-hour milestones.

Lisa Vescio from the Thorold branch, Ann Bothwell from Simcoe and Suzanne Oakes from our Brantford location have each surpassed milestones. They`ve supported a variety of events and organizations in our communities such as the Rankin Cancer Run, the Norfolk County Fair, gift wrapping and Out of the Cold. They also proudly support student nutrition programs in their communities.

In recognition of their achievements, they were given a 3-in-1 winter jacket with a $500 donation that was made on their behalf to a charity of their choice. Congratulations to Lisa, Ann and Suzanne - volunteer support helps FirstOntario continue to demonstrate the credit union difference and our mission to improve the lives of the people in our communities.

BlueWave Milestone Club Keeps Growing

It’s time to recognize the team who are on the other end of the phone lines, standing by with the answers our Members are looking for. This group of passionate FirstOntario staff work behind the scenes to make sure our Members are well taken care of.

With an average of more than 14,000 phone calls every month, they come up with solutions for our Members across all of our regions and they’re always ready to answer any questions or concerns. This team represents the Member Solutions Centre (formerly the Member Contact Centre) and they are located in our St. Catharines community. All of our Member Solutions Representatives are former branch staff who have moved to the solutions centre to address the needs of our Members.

They are usually the first point of contact and if they haven’t already taken care of the caller, they will make sure they get to where they need to go, whether it’s connecting them to a different department or one of our 32 locations. They are a huge support to our credit union.

FirstOntario staff came out in support of the JDRF Ride to Cure Diabetes in Hamilton

Oakville Mayor Rob Burton joined us

for the ribbon cutting ceremony in our

newest branch

Thanks to the FirstOntario Bulldogs for joining us in Oakville and for your continued support

Happy Holidays from FirstOntario