Meet Kristi
Kristi is not your average broker
With 25+ years in the financial services industry, I am proud to serve as a mortgage broker in Saskatoon. I also help clients in Martensville, Warman, Regina, Corman Park, Humboldt. I am connected to help you anywhere in Canada. I believe securing a mortgage is more than a transaction. It is a significant step in shaping your financial future. Many past clients know me as Kristi Knippel. I have gone back to my maiden name, Tyacke, but I am still the same Kristi you know and trust.
My approach is all about you: your needs, your goals, and your peace of mind. I am well known for thinking “outside of the box” and offering honest, solutions-oriented guidance with creative, straightforward advice. I go far beyond simply “filling the order” for a mortgage. My in-depth expertise covers insurance, tax-deductible debt strategies, cash flow management, and comprehensive financial planning.
I am also proud to be an International Coaching Federation (ICF) Life Coach, a designation earned after completing an intensive program through Rhodes College in Vancouver. It was an incredibly rewarding experience that shapes how I conduct both my personal and professional life. My coaching designation gives me a unique tool to support you through life’s big decisions.
Whether you are a first-time homebuyer, purchasing a second property, renewing, refinancing your existing home or navigating the complexities of divorce, I am here to provide both expert advice and compassionate support. I will help you explore and understand all available mortgage options, empowering you to make confident, informed decisions without feeling overwhelmed.
My commitment is simple: I focus solely on what is best for my clients. I am dedicated to providing unbiased advice. Even if the best solution is outside my network, I will still point you in the right direction. I believe that when you do right by people, people will do right by you.
Integrity and honest communication are at the heart of everything I do.
My relationship with you does not end when your mortgage closes. You can count on my ongoing guidance, support, and honest answers to your questions for as long as needed. I often chat with clients I have worked with for over 20 years.
My advice and guidance also extend to your family and friends.
There is no greater compliment than your trust and referrals.
I look forward to the privilege of helping you with your first, next, and one day, your last mortgage.
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“It is not what you do, but how you do it.”
— John Wooden
What it is like to work with me.
With 25+ years in the financial services industry, as a financial advisor and as a mortgage specialist, I have seen a lot. And I have learned that the best advisors? They tell you the truth, even if it stings a little. They help you find clarity, confidence, and calm, even when the market feels wild.
I am not here to sell you anything. I am here to advise, educate, and empower you. I will help you understand your options, choose the right path, and connect the dots between your mortgage and your bigger financial goals. That might mean helping you figure out how a maternity leave could affect your payments, or working with your accountant on a tax-deductible debt strategy.
My process starts with a thorough and thoughtful pre-approval, so you can focus on finding the right property with confidence, knowing your financing is in place.
If appropriate, I will provide a property-specific comprehensive pre-approval letter to help strengthen your offer and stand out to sellers.
If your mortgage is up for renewal, I am here to help ensure you receive what you deserve, including the best rates and terms. Need to access the equity in your home for renovations, paying off debt, investing or lowering your payments? We can explore all of your options.
Curious about the pineapple?
You may have noticed a pineapple or two (or maybe a few hundred) around here. I would love to tell you why.
Several years ago, my family took a vacation to Hawaii. Like everyone who visits Hawaii, we fell in love. We rented a car and set out touring the island of Oahu, with the most amazing GPS guiding our way. As we drove, it told stories of Hawaiian history and culture. When it got to the pineapple, I was all ears.
I have loved pineapples for as long as I can remember. Just ask my family and friends. Long before that trip, anyone who visited my home knew my fruit bowl was rarely without a pineapple. It is practically a member of the family.
What I learned in Hawaii is that the pineapple is far more than a pretty, delicious fruit. For centuries, it has been the ultimate gesture of hospitality. One of my favourite pineapple traditions comes from sailors returning home from long voyages. They would place a pineapple at the front door to let friends and neighbours know they were home, and that visitors were welcome. It was an edible invitation!
It was that day, while touring Oahu, that I decided the pineapple would be the perfect icon to represent my business. My hope is that my pineapple reminds my family, friends and clients how welcome they are, and how appreciative I am to have them in my life. After all, helping you find your way home is what I do.
These days, I love to travel, and I make a point of trying the pineapple wherever I go. Consider it research. So far, Costa Rica wins. It has the best pineapple you will ever have!
Did you know?
The pineapple is a symbol of friendship and hospitality all around the world.
In the 1600s and 1700s, pineapples were so rare and so prized that a host would set one at the centre of the table to honour their guests.
Some pineapples were even rented out for the evening, just to be shown off at a party. No eating allowed!
Pineapple shapes are still carved into gateposts, doorways and porches as a sign of welcome. Keep an eye out and you will start seeing them everywhere.