How past experiences have shaped Nicola Wealth advisor's approach to uncertainty
For Cassandra Cross, communication is always top of mind.
As the prospect of US President Donald Trump’s tariffs loom over the Canadian economy, the Wealth Advisor at Nicola Wealth says keeping that close connection with clients is as important now as it ever has been.
Cross says she utilizes her decade and a half of experience to navigate challenging economic outlooks, a useful skill in the face of today’s uncertainty.
“This can be relatable to other times in history, but the challenge is maintaining a long-term perspective amid the short-term noise,” she said. “What I preach to my clients is that rather than reacting to headlines, we really focus on what we can control.”
Cross pulls from her experience guiding clients through the tumultuous time of the COVID pandemic. She says the fundamental approach with client communication was the same then as now, with Trump’s proposed tariffs continuing to trouble investors.
“What most of us can relate to was the global pandemic. That was a very strange time in history, and it was something that we had never experienced before,” she said. “But what comes to mind is just having that regular open communication with my clients, continuing to revisit the strategy and safeguard and grow my clients’ wealth.”
Cross points to Nicola’s diversified portfolio, which she says allows the company to stand strong in the face of potential crisis and give clients some much-needed peace of mind. She said Nicola’s investments in alternative assets like private equity, real estate and infrastructure have been particularly useful in softening market volatility.
“Our clients at Nicola Wealth really do value that diversified approach that we take, which limits volatility, especially where we're limiting the public equity exposure. That’s where I'm able to provide a lot of value for my clients,” she said. “It's more important than ever to ensure that you do have that diversified investment strategy, not all of your eggs in one basket.”
Cross’ personal history is another aspect that shapes her close relationship with clients. From exiting university with student debt to buying her first home, Cross’ own life transitions have allow her to relate to the changes in her clients’ lives.
“Today I'm at 15 years in the industry, and I think what I'm proud of is the experience that I've had along the way, where I feel like I'm well equipped to provide those tools to my clients,” she said. “With financial planning the strategies, the integration of the plan does evolve over time as we go through life's transitions. It's a very rewarding role that I'm in, being able to understand clients’ values, what their goals are, and then to experience achieving those goals with them.”
Providing financial literacy, particularly for women, is something Cross has always been committed to. And this year, she is excited to be hosting a financial mastery workshop for women in Calgary, though the program will also be held in cities across Canada.
“In today's society, more women are becoming the financial stewards of their families, and there's a lot of opportunity there,” she said. “What I'm passionate about is educating.”
In the meantime, Cross is eagerly awaiting the melting of Calgary’s thick snowpack so she can step onto the golf course, a hobby she picked up during the pandemic.
