Wealth Managers’ Forum 2024 – Montréal
Overview
Join us, dozens of speakers, and scores of fellow IAs and investors for this all-encompassing alts conference specifically designed for retail advisors and the client base they serve.
These forums will be held in person in Montréal, and Toronto featuring award-winning investment advisors, well-known asset managers, and other distinguished speakers. Program starts at 11AM in each city and includes lunch and a 4pm reception for all.
Register now for the event in the city/cities of your choice.
CAASA CE Centre
The content for this platform comes from CAASA webinars and podcast as well as panel sessions from a selection of our conferences.
In addition, certain members of CAASA have provided their webinars and podcast for inclusion.
Topics and investment opportunities featured in these courses focus on alternative investments such as hedge funds, liquid alternatives, private equity, private lending, real estate, infrastructure, cryptocurrency, venture capital, and other Alternative assets and strategies.
MSC Cruises Get-away Give-away
We are happy to partner with MSC Cruises for a super prize to be awarded to one of our event attendees (must attend and complete a ballot to be eligible).
The prize is a spectacular MSC Cruises 7-night Caribbean sailing for two in a prestigious Yacht Club cabin*. Prepare to be pampered onboard in the elite MSC Yacht Club with a 24-hour Butler Service, Premium Drink Service, Spa inclusions plus much more! An MSC Cruises Representative will be joining at each event to share all things MSC and the details of the fabulous prize offering. Draw will occur at our Summer Social event on July 17, 2024.
*Subject to travel restrictions, all details provided to the lucky winner upon receipt.
Where
KPMG Montréal
600 Maisonneuve Blvd W Suite 1500, Montreal, Quebec H3A 0A3
2024 Keynote Speakers
Wilson Tow
Managing Partner
Altrust Investment Solutions
Steve Allen
Head of Distribution, Financial Intermediaries (Canada)
Fiera Capital
Wilson Tow
Managing Partner
Altrust Investment Solutions
Wilson Tow is recognized as one of the most knowledgeable investment product design and product-compliance specialists in Canada. He has spent over 30 years working in wealth and asset management. As a Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Altrust, Mr. Tow advises on product structures, investment design, compliance, distribution requirements, and he works to educate investors on the benefits of alternative investment solutions.
Prior to co-founding Altrust Investment Solutions, Mr. Tow was Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Fern Capital Partners where he created and launched a unique alternative credit fund-of-funds mixing both private and public credit solutions. The novel structure offered retail investors access to assets traditionally available only to institutional investors.
Previously, Mr. Tow was Director of New Products and Complex Investments at Scotia Wealth where he oversaw the due diligence and approval process for all investment products offered on Scotia Wealth’s product shelf. This included a broad range of instruments ranging from GICs to non-brokered private placements and prospectus-exempt securities. Under Mr. Tow’s leadership, Scotia’s alternative offerings grew meaningfully, helping investment advisors and investors structure more robust investment portfolios.
Prior to Scotia Wealth, Mr. Tow was Head of Product Research at Manulife Securities where he was responsible for formulating, designing, and implementing the firm’s due diligence process.
Before moving to wealth management in 2006, Mr. Tow spent the previous twelve years in the asset management business, starting his career at Scudder Canada and its successor companies where he held senior roles in relationship management as well as product management and development. He also spent some time at Maple Financial where he was an analyst and allocator for its fund-of-hedge-funds product.
Mr. Tow is very active in the alternative asset industry in Canada and currently sits on the Member Advisory Panel of the Canadian Association of Alternative Strategies & Assets (“CAASA”). He also sits on the board of the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre Foundation. Mr. Tow holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Toronto, where he majored in Mathematics and Philosophy.
Steve Allen
Head of Distribution, Financial Intermediaries (Canada)
Fiera Capital
Steve’s role is to lead the distribution function for Fiera Capital’s Canadian Financial intermediary business. More specifically, his focus is to diversify the business by establishing new top-line growth via Canadian banks, independent dealers, and family offices by creating investment vehicles that allow them to access both Fiera’s private and public market strategies. Steve is also tasked with sourcing new sub-advisory relationships with large Canadian asset managers.
Over the past 26 years, Steve has had a number of roles in the industry. Notably:
- Director and Head of Structured Product Distribution, RBC Capital Markets
- Senior Vice President, Head of Canadian Distribution, Macquarie Global Investment
- Managing Director, Onex Credit Partners
- Founder, Executive Vice President, Evolve ETFs
- Partner, Senior Vice President, Brompton Funds
In addition to his work, he is a founding member of the Canadian Association of Urban Financial Professionals and a member of the Black Opportunity Fund, two organizations based in Toronto that focus on building the economic empowerment of the Black community and promoting the advancement of Black professionals. Steve’s community work is very important to his as it allows him to give back so that others can access opportunities that they might otherwise be denied due to their race, socio-economic background, gender, sexual orientation, or disability status. This passion has also led him to join Fiera’s DE&I Council to help promote a culture that is inclusive and welcoming for everyone.
Distinguished Speakers
Francis Sabourin
Portfolio Manager & Investment Advisor
Richardson Wealth
Andy Yan
Principal, Partner Solutions
Westcourt Capital Corporation
Tarik Serri
Senior Director, Hedge Funds & Alternative Investments
Trans-Canada Capital
Jean Chuang
Vice President, Portfolio Manager
MY Capital Management Corp.
Philippe Ducreux
Portfolio Manager & Investment Advisor
Richardson Wealth
Brendan Rogers
Senior Investment & Wealth Advisor
RBC Dominion Securities
Louis-Philippe Roy
Director of Investments
Private Family Office
Joe Bakish
Portfolio Manager, Wealth Advisor, Investment Advisor
Richardson Wealth
Adriana Arrillaga
President & Portfolio Manager
One Summit Capital Wealth Management Inc.
Rob Anton
President & Partner
Next Edge Capital
Fraser McEwen
Timbercreek
Francis Sabourin
Portfolio Manager & Investment Advisor
Richardson Wealth
Financial Planner and Portfolio Manager, Francis Sabourin, Director, Wealth Management at Richardson Wealth, was awarded the Distinguished Advisor Award (prix Conseiller émérite) for the year 2016 by the publication Finance et Investissement, highlighting the good performance of his portfolios, both equal to or higher than the benchmarks, while minimizing the risks, thereby focusing on good capital protection. The Advisor of the Year Award is designed to recognize an advisor with more than 20 years of experience, who has marked the financial industry with a unique and remarkable practice. Francis celebrated 30 years of practice on October 5, 2022.
Andy Yan
Principal, Partner Solutions
Westcourt Capital Corporation
As Principal, Partner Solutions, Andy is responsible for the growth and development of Westcourt’s Partners.
Andy previously worked at a large alternative equities manager focusing on long/short strategies where he facilitated the national roll-out of two new alternative mutual funds (both liquid alts) across Canada’s bank advisory and independent wealth management platforms. With his deep knowledge of alternative investments, Andy advised his clients on the roles that these strategies play in a well-diversified client portfolio.
Andy earned a Bachelor of Mathematics degree from the University of Waterloo and is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charterholder. He also completed the Canadian Securities Course (CSC) and is registered as a Dealing Representative.
Tarik Serri
Senior Director, Hedge Funds & Alternative Investments
Trans-Canada Capital
As senior director, hedge funds and alternative investments, Tarik Serri is responsible for the ongoing management, monitoring and research of all TCC’s hedge fund and private debt portfolios, which are part of a diversified alternatives program investing in global hedge funds and alternative strategies. He joined the firm in 2011 and has over 17 years of investment experience, having previously worked as an analyst and investment advisor at several financial institutions.
Serri holds a bachelor of commerce degree from Concordia University and a master of business administration from HEC Montréal. He has completed the Canadian Securities Course offered by the Canadian Securities Institute and is a CFA and CAIA charterholder. He is also a recipient of the NextGen 2019 nomination by CIO Magazine.
Jean Chuang
Vice President, Portfolio Manager
MY Capital Management Corp.
Jean Chuang is a Portfolio Manager at M.Y. Capital Management Corp. She manages the Saturnus Global Pools, a global macro investment strategy at M.Y. Capital Management Corp. Jean integrates discretionary portfolio management and wealth planning to customize strategies for the firm’s clients to accumulate long-term wealth.
She has more than 20 years of experience in the financial industry consisting of banking, lending, investment management and wealth planning; through key roles in Canada’s largest financial institutions.
Jean currently holds the (CIM) Chartered Investment Manager and the (FCSI) Fellow of the Canadian Securities Institute.
Philippe Ducreux
Portfolio Manager & Investment Advisor
Richardson Wealth
Philippe began his career in 1997 and has worked for several large financial institutions, first in retail advisory and then as a trader. In 2004, Philippe joined Richardson Wealth. In addition to his passion for investment, Philippe spends a great deal of time working with youth sports organizations.
Philippe holds a Bachelor’s degree in Finance from Laval University and is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and Portfolio Manager.
Brendan Rogers
Senior Investment & Wealth Advisor
RBC Dominion Securities
Brendan Rogers is a Senior Investment & Wealth Advisor for RBC Dominion Securities. Alongside his team, Rogers Wealth Management Group, Brendan is committed to providing focused and integrated financial services to high-net worth clients. A more than two-decade veteran of RBC, Brendan is dedicated to protecting, preserving, and growing the wealth of investors coast to coast who desire long-term, financial independence.
Now residing in Winnipeg, Brendan was born and raised in Vancouver before attending Eastern Washington University where he earned a Bachelor of Arts (Hons.) and achieved the title of Academic All American. He enjoyed nine years in the Canadian Football League and competed in four Grey Cup finals.
Brendan actively fundraises, supports, and volunteers with several causes including organizations that support diversity & inclusion and health & wellness of youth. His fundraising efforts have taken him to the top of mountains around the world and had him scaling down buildings a little closer to home.
Brendan proudly holds a Financial Management Advisor (FMA) designation and most recently earned his Family Enterprise Advisor designation in 2020.
Joe Bakish
Portfolio Manager, Wealth Advisor, Investment Advisor
Richardson Wealth
Joseph Bakish is a Portfolio Manager, Wealth Advisor, Investment Advisor at Bakish Wealth, at the firm Richardson Wealth Limited. Named Canada’s Top Under 40 Investment Advisors in 2020 by the Investment Industry Association Of Canada, Joseph Bakish has built his career by putting the best interests of his clients at the forefront of his objectives.
After initially building a solid practice at Investors Group, Joseph realized that as business and the industry was evolving, they needed a change. Bakish Wealth joined Richardson Wealth six years ago, which has opened the door to a wider universe of alternative assets that can add value and enhance portfolio diversification – from private equity and real estate to private debt. Clients have responded well to their unbiased access to investment solutions, which has led to a growing referral base and the expansion into their third client segment of high-net-worth investors.
Bakish Wealth’s book boasts $242 million in assets under management (AUM) across 490 households, as well as a large insurance component. Most of their clients are between 40 and 60 years old, and many are research-oriented physicians, medical researchers, and university professors. Their clients also include high-net-worth business owners and high-potential young professionals. For prospects with established careers, their minimum investment is $1 million.
Adriana Arrillaga
President & Portfolio Manager
One Summit Capital Wealth Management Inc.
Adriana is President and Portfolio Manager of One Summit Capital. Adriana’s extensive career in the investment management industry, includes 15 years as Senior Portfolio Manager in charge of institutional mandates for foreign pension funds.
During her career, Adriana has worked with institutional asset managers as well as major Canadian Financial Institutions. Adriana is an alumnus of John Molson School of Business, where she graduated with a B. Comm. Finance Major.
Adriana is a CFA charterholder and was conferred the FCSI designation (Fellow of the Canadian Securities Institute). Adriana is a member of CFA Montreal, Women in Investment Management Committee, where she leads the Scholarships Selection Committee. Adriana volunteers as a guest speaker at the Goodman Mentor Circle and as guest lecturer at JMSB.
Adriana values the importance of women’s financial education. In 2018, she established an annual scholarship with Concordia University to help encourage female finance students to pursue their CFA designation. Adriana is a founding member donor of Women Impact Montreal fund, a member of Tiger 21, and a voting member of Conservation Manitou.
Rob Anton
President & Partner
Next Edge Capital
Robert Anton is the President and founding partner of Next Edge Capital. Robert has been active in the financial services industry for over 30 years, beginning his career as an Investment Advisor where he worked at various Canadian Financial Institutions. Prior to the formation of Next Edge Capital via a management spin-out of the business, Robert was the Executive Vice President, Sales for Man Investments Canada, aiding in the set up of Man’s Canadian office. Prior to Man, he served as Executive Vice President, National Sales Manager of BluMont Capital, a Toronto-based hedge fund company, joining the company in 2001 as a start-up operation, and overseeing its asset growth until his departure to join Man in 2006.
Robert holds a Bachelor of Arts from Wilfred Laurier University in Waterloo, as well as the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) designation. From 2007 to 2009 he was an instructor for the Canadian Securities Institute teaching the Due Diligence on Hedge Funds course.
Fraser McEwen
Timbercreek
Fraser McEwen joined Timbercreek in the fall of 2023 where he is responsible for leveraging the broader Timbercreek platform to bring existing strategies and other unique alternative investment solutions to wealth management and family office channels.
Mr. McEwen has over 26 years of experience in the investment industry. Prior to joining Timbercreek, Mr. McEwen was Co-Founder and Partner of Slate Securities LP, an investment management firm dedicated to real estate investing. Before that he held the position of Director, Retail Capital Markets at GMP Securities where he was responsible for the origination, structuring and distribution of new issue offerings and prior to GMP he was Senior Vice President at HSBC Bank Canada where he led the structured derivatives solutions group. Mr. McEwen’s career began in portfolio management at SVC O’Donnell Mutual Funds.
Mr. McEwen holds a Bachelor of Science degree from University of Western Ontario and has earned the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) designation.
Agenda
Day 1
- March 26, 2024
- 10:30 am – 6:00 pm
- March 26, 2024
- 10:30 am – 6:00 pm
Day 1
10:30 am
Registration
11:00 am
NowTalk – Adding Alts to your book
Making the plunge into alts can be a dichotomy: it seems so obvious (risk mitigation, offering differentiation, client satisfaction) but the simple act of actually moving one’s client book to alts can be daunting. For one, the IA needs to convince themselves and then their client that it makes sense – and then that must occur on an ongoing basis. This talk will delve into how IAs should view alts, how to add them to one’s offering (both to new and current clients), and how to keep the faith when difficulties occur.
Jean Chuang, MY Capital Management Corp.
Brendan Rogers, RBC Dominion Securities
Philippe Ducreux, Richardson Wealth
11:45 am
NowTalk – SFOs and IAs: How advisors can appeal to ‘whales’
Many IAs target UHNW individuals as part of their marketing plan, and as an individual’s net worth increases, so does the likelihood of them having an in-house person to manage their affairs. This can be a boon for the IA, as they then have a market-person to interact with that might require less education on alts/their plan of action, but it can also mean an additional gatekeeper to convince. It could also mean stickier money if a transaction occurs, though, as the odds of having a more methodical and thought-out Investment Policy Statement can increase greatly. This talk will illustrate how IAs should best position themselves to gain access to this growing market.
Philippe Roy, Private Family Office
Adriana Arrillaga, One Summit Capital
12:15 pm
Lunch
12:30 pm
Lunch Keynote – The State of Alternatives in Canada
1:15 pm
Table Talks
Round table discussions hosted by our Sponsors.
This session is aimed at providing all event attendees with the ability to join in genuine knowledge exchange and discussion in a small group setting.
Choose from 2 x 25-minute round table discussions
2:15 pm
Alternative Credit: Still just an alternative, or required now?
Alt credit (aka private debt, private lending, and private credit) has started to shed its ‘private’ moniker – least of all because many managers are institutional-grade and open to transparency to their loan book and how they run their process. Allocators are interested in this area and investors require the diversification that these skill-based loans can bring – the effect of Central Banks’ interest rate movements can be ameliorated (paradoxically) by the credit risk introduced by non-government guaranteed debt. This panel will delve into how investors view the space and are taking advantage of its unique characteristics.
Tarik Serri, Trans-Canada Capital
Francis Sabourin, Richardson Wealth
Rob Anton, Next Edge Capital
Fraser McEwen, Timbercreek
3:15 pm
Alternatives in a Portfolio Setting
This panel will discuss how IAs and clients can benefit from the advantages of alternatives in a variety of ways: funds, funds of funds, structured notes, and other means are all delivery methods for the positive effect that alts can have on a portfolio – especially one dominated by beta (and doubly-that of ones that are industry-concentrated).
Andy Yan, Westcourt Capital
Joe Bakish, Richardson Wealth
James Burron, CAASA
3:45 pm
Reception
Opportunity to network over food and drinks!
6:00 pm
End of Wealth Managers’ Forum Montreal 2024
See you next year!
Registration
End Investor means pensions, foundations/endowments, sovereign wealth funds, and single family offices. Intermediary investors means Multi-family offices, investment advsiors/dealers, wealth managers, and investment consulting companies and +1 means the first delegate is gratis but each additional delegate attracts a small charge. Manager and service provider delegates must be CAASA members in good standing and pay the requisite per person fee for their appropriate sub-category. Core service providers include prime brokers, fund administrators, and accounting and legal firms.
CAASA Members
Members of CAASA
Registration closed. Please contact Paul at [email protected] to get on waitlist.
Event Registration Closed
Non-Members
Investment Advisor & Single Family Office
Registration closed. Please contact Paul at [email protected] to get on waitlist.
Event Registration Closed
Thank You to our 2024 Title Sponsor
Thank You to Our 2024 Gold Sponsor
Thank You to Our 2024 Silver Sponsors
