About the Team
Kacie M Linn
Director of Sound Life Solutions
People often ask why I chose to become an advisor. The truth is, I’m incredibly proud and grateful for the trust our clients place in me. Each day, I’m honored and humbled to support so many remarkable individuals and businesses on their journeys. My path wasn’t shaped by personal loss or adversity; instead, it was inspired by a legacy of resilience and empowerment. I grew up surrounded by formidable women and supportive men who demonstrated that anything is possible.
My Nana, a true role model, lost her husband at 42, becoming a single mother of four young children. She returned to school, became a librarian, and raised her children on her own, ensuring they valued education and success.
My Grandmothers journey from Germany to Canada with her young son, and her ability to thrive in a new land, left a lasting impression on me. My father, one of my greatest supporters, witnessed his mother’s determination firsthand. He and his brother pursued their passions, one attending university and the other mastering a trade.
From a young age, I knew I wanted to forge my own path as an entrepreneur and business owner, guided by my intuition and desire for independence. In my 20s, I realized the corporate world wasn’t for me. My passion lay in helping and connecting with people. I naturally began advising friends and family on everything from the best shoes to buy to securing discounts at stores. I discovered the joy of sharing information and helping others achieve their dreams. As an advisor, I focus on understanding my clients deeply. I learn about their current needs, retirement plans, and how they wish to pass on their assets. With over 13 years of experience, I’m committed to protecting your assets, business, and family from life’s uncertainties. While we offer products like life insurance, segregated funds, trusts, tax-free savings, and medical and disability insurance, my true focus is on you—the individual. This profession is a long-term relationship between myself, my team, and you. Together, we ensure that what you’ve built in life is protected and transferred to the next generation in the most tax-efficient way, so you can live your dreams knowing your home, family, and business are secure.
Shelley Leslie
Greetings! I am absolutely thrilled to be part of the Sound Life Solutions Team.
I was born in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, but at the age of 3, my family made the move to Ontario. Growing up, we lived on various military bases throughout Ontario, and I proudly wore the label of a “military brat” with a sense of adventure and adaptability. My upbringing was marked by a strict and structured environment. As the eldest daughter of three girls, my parents instilled in me a strong work ethic, loyalty, and an unwavering commitment to honesty.
Weekends were a time for dancing and skiing, and my parents made sure I engaged in various extracurricular activities that helped shape my interests and character. My love for baking was ignited by my mother. From a young age, I eagerly assisted her in the kitchen, especially during the holiday season when we would bake Christmas treats and other delectable goodies throughout the year. This early exposure to baking sparked a passion for the culinary arts, and I’ve continued to nurture that love, expanding my skills to create a diverse repertoire of recipes.
Given that my father worked at Downsview Air Base with the Department of National Defense, it felt natural for me to work there as a summer student. This is where I met my husband, Joe. After a couple of years, we exchanged vows and embarked on a new chapter, moving to the Peterborough area. Our family grew with the arrival of two children, a boy in 1991 and a girl in 1993. Shortly after, we relocated to Shelburne due to my husband’s change of employers. We spent 21 wonderful years there before making the move to Grey Bruce, where we acquired our dream property. Our lives are enriched by the presence of our two service dogs, Nanuq and Tuk.
Both my husband and I have a deep commitment to helping others. We dedicate a significant portion of our time to various spiritual fellowships, where we provide support to those grappling with serious emotional and mental disorders, including addiction and abuse. It is a privilege to assist these individuals on their journey towards recovery and transformation. When we’re not engaged in support calls or meetings, our time is devoted to tending to our property, nurturing vegetable gardens, hiking with our dogs and savoring the natural beauty that this area has to offer.
And now, my journey brings me to Sound Life Solutions, where I’m incredibly excited to be part of this exceptional team. With over 25 years of experience in the administration field and a diverse background in various business roles, I aim to bring my expertise to assist Kacie and contribute to our collective success.
Connect With Me
Rachel Desmarais
Rachel Desmarais delivers personalized and proactive financial planning that goes beyond numbers and takes into consideration not only your current life situation but challenges and possible crises in moving through later life cycles including insurance, investment, estate and health needs.
And, when appropriate, re-evaluate and suggest changes.
Rachel arrived at this approach over 25 years of helping people navigate their options in order to maximize the benefits of a sustainable financial plan.
In 1997 Rachel started in the Insurance and Financial Services with Met Life and eventually joined Don Johnston Financial Services as a broker in March of 1999. In 2007 she went out on her own and formed Desmarais Financial Services Inc.
Rachel’s field of expertise is all aspects of financial planning and estate, elder and succession planning.
Since the start of this new career, Rachel has successfully gained designations as:
CFP – Certified Financial Planner – 2001
EPC – Elder Planning Counselor 2004 – Charter Member
CHS – Certified Health Specialist – 2011
CLU – Chartered Life Underwriter – 2015
CCS – Certified Cash Flow Specialist –2018
CEA – Certified Executor Advisor – 2020.
Starting with no clients in 1997 to over 500 clients+ at present, from sole proprietor to brokerage, sales have grown year over year. Most new business is acquired through referrals from satisfied clients.
Rachel has the natural ability to put people at ease.
She greets her clients as friends with warm handshake or hug. Rachel is non-judgmental and approaches each client with utmost of professionalism and dedication. As well as being a good listener, Rachel is also a good communicator, and her many clients have indicated that when they had met her for the very first time, they knew that they wanted to do business with her.
Her constant support for her clients continues on long after the ‘deal is done’ and she is there to help them through their personal crises as well.
Rachel is a disciplined and balanced business woman, who always has a positive attitude and who says ‘That’s OK’ when the pressure is on when many others would choose much more “colorful” words.
Connect with Me
rachel@dfsfinancial.ca Let’s embark on a journey towards financial prosperity together!