Up-and-coming wealthtech firm appoints Howard Atkinson as its chief strategic advisor
Pascal Financial has announced the appointment of investment industry leader Howard Atkinson as its chief strategic advisor.
Pascal is an emerging wealthtech firm launching the only fully integrated, AI-powered digital investment platform in Canada.
Recognized as an innovation leader within the investment industry for more than three decades, Atkinson most recently got regulatory approval to launch North America’s first major exchange listed Bitcoin fund as the Chairman of 3iQ. He also pioneered actively managed ETFs in Canada as former president of Horizons ETF Management and the introduction of iShare ETFs into Canada at Barclays Global Investors Canada.
Atkinson’s industry experience includes investment advisory and capital markets, positions at CI Funds and Mackenzie Investments and an advisor to Wealthbar. He is also the past founding chairman of the Canadian ETF Association, a past president of the CFA Society Toronto and has authored several of books on ETFs, including The New Investment Frontier: A Guide to Exchange Traded Funds for Canadians.
“Howard is a distinguished executive with a deep knowledge of investment advisors and wealth advisory firms,” said Frances Zomer, CEO of Pascal. “Howard’s appointment is a further validation of our game-changing technology and the team we’ve put in place to deliver the change. As an entrepreneurial leader, Howard will provide strategic direction to amplify Pascal’s growth and industry transformation as advisors who use technology will replace those who do not.”
Atkinson said: “In this new decade, the role of the advisor is changing to a focus on growing stronger, deeper and in-tuned client relationships. Advisors and wealth management firms are searching for a sophisticated and integrated technology platform that delivers a bespoke customer experience. Pascal’s technology adds value across the full spectrum of wealth stewards, from fee-only financial planners to the financial advisory channel, to the high-net worth private counsel practices.”
The Pascal platform was launched this quarter. In January, Pascal announced Sterling Mutuals, with more than 300 advisors and support staff and more than $4 billion in assets under administration (AUA), as its first client. Pascal is in discussions with numerous other MFDA, IIROC and ICPM registrants to license their technology platform.
