When it comes to financial advice, 46 per cent of Canadians prefer to ask an advisor through their financial institution and 36 per cent turn to family and friends. Only 20 per cent of respondents prefer to go online, according to a new poll by CIBC.

"The internet may be a portal to vast amounts of information, but big decisions are personal. When there are choices in front of you, whether it's career moves or retirement planning, Canadians value the word of a person they trust," said Kathleen Woodard, senior vice president, CIBC Personal and Small Business Banking. "Similar to a family member or a close friend, a financial advisor takes on a role where they understand your needs, treat your goals as their own and provide advice to make your ambitions a reality."

Those who rely on a financial advisor seem to have greater confidence and knowledge about their money matters. Top reasons include feeling an advisor delivers the best financial advice (50 per cent), more comfort making financial decisions with the help of an expert (49 per cent) and a better understanding of how investments fit into overall financial health (35 per cent).

Canadians believe advisors offer sound advice

Additionally, Canadians who experienced key life events in the past year feel their advisor provided sound advice when they made large purchases(53 per cent), paid off or consolidated debt (57 per cent), embarked on retirement planning (50 per cent) and conducted wills and estate planning (50 per cent).

The survey also found that most Canadians don't turn to the web for money management or financial information. More than three-quarters say they have never used an online service that manages investments (robo-advisor), with 20 per cent unaware of these services altogether. Many (65 per cent) claim they do not use online search engines for questions about common financial products or matters.