A total of 23 awards were handed out at yesterday’s virtual event, which celebrated the industry's best in class
The 2020 WP Awards celebrated the best in the industry yesterday during a virtual extravaganza of panel discussions and acceptance speeches.
WP handed out 23 awards as wealth professionals saluted some its brightest stars during what has been turbulent year, featuring an ongoing pandemic and a sharp market downturn in March. The full list of winners can be seen here.
It was quite a day for Darcie Crowe, of Cannaccord Genuity Wealth Management, who picked up two awards – the ICM Asset Management Award for Advisor of the Year – Alternative Investments and the Mackenzie Investments Award for Female Trailblazer of the Year.
Addressing the alternative category recognition, she said: “Alternative investments are an area of the business I'm incredibly passionate about, so I'm very honoured to receive this award. Alternative investments are hugely valuable tool for investors to make use of and there's so much information to be shared with the investing public. I look forward to continuing that conversation.”
One of the most anticipated awards is the Mandeville Private Client Inc. Award for Canadian Advisor of the Year, which this year was scooped by Marvin Schmidt, of The Schmidt Investment Group (CIBC Wood Gundy).
Schmidt said: “To be a finalist among so many great fellow industry colleagues is a real honour as I know they too are very deserving. I want to thank all my colleagues for nominating me for this award, and to everyone at the Schmidt Investment Group.
“To be recognized as an industry leader in the category of advisor of the year is humbling. Thank you to everyone on the wealth professional awards team for hosting this event. But more importantly for pushing us as an industry to be and do better every day.”
Another top award that is keenly awaited is the BlackRock Award for Portfolio/Discretionary Manager of the Year. A delighted Kevin Haakensen, of PWM Private Wealth Counsel (HollisWealth, a division of iA Securities), was delighted to be named winner.
He said: “It's a real honour to win the portfolio discretionary manager of the year award. Congratulations to all the other finalists who are more than worthy of also winning. I want to thank BlackRock for sponsoring this award, Wealth Professional Magazine and the [judging] committee for selecting myself.
“But most of all, I want to thank my awesome colleagues that I work with every day at PWM Private Wealth Counsel. This award is a testament to all their hard work.”
Individual awards
The Mandeville Private Client Inc. Award for Canadian Advisor of the Year
Marvin Schmidt - The Schmidt Investment Group (CIBC Wood Gundy)
Advisor of the Year – Responsible Investments
Ryan Colwell - C&C Planning Group (Aligned Capital Partners)
The ICM Asset Management Award for Advisor of the Year – Alternative Investments
Darcie Crowe - Canaccord Genuity Wealth Management
The Nour Private Wealth Award for Rising Star Advisor of the Year
Gloria Malek - The Malek Group (TD Wealth Private Investment Advice)
The Advocis Award For Young Achiever Of The Year
Kalee Boisvert - Kalee Boisvert Financial Services (Raymond James)
The IFSE Institute Award for Financial Literacy Champion
Alphil Guilaran - Financial Literacy Counsel
The BlackRock Award for Portfolio/Discretionary Manager of the Year
Kevin Haakensen - PWM Private Wealth Counsel (HollisWealth, a division of iA Securities)
The TMX Group Award for Best Active Manager – Exchange Traded Derivatives
Martin Gendron - Desjardins Gestion de Patrimoine
The Mackenzie Investments Award for Female Trailblazer of the Year
Darcie Crowe - Canaccord Genuity Wealth Management
BDM/Wholesaler of the Year
Alain Desbiens - BMO Global Asset Management
The Edward Jones Award for Excellence in Philanthropy and Community Service
Ainsley Mackie - White LeBlanc Wealth Planners (HollisWealth, a division of iA Securities)
Michael Dehal - Dehal Investment Partners (Raymond James)
Lifetime Achievement in the Financial Planning Industry
Helen Kearns, President and CEO at Bell Kearns & Associates Ltd
CEO of the Year
Barry McInerney - Mackenzie Investments
ETF Champion of the Year
Tammy Cash - Horizons ETFs
Organization awards
Advisory Team of the Year (Fewer than 10 Staff)
Kingsford and Associates (BMO Nesbitt Burns)
The Franklin Templeton Award for Advisory Team of the Year (10 Staff or more)
Northland Wealth Management
Multi-Service Advisory Team of the Year
Woodgate Financial Inc.
The AGF Award for Engagement, Loyalty & Client Care
The Schmidt Investment Group (CIBC Wood Gundy)
The Equitable Bank Award for Multi-Office Advisor Network/Brokerage of the Year
Edward Jones
The SIACharts Inc Award for Digital Innovator of the Year
Cidel Bank Canada
The Equisoft Award for Fund Provider of the Year
Dynamic Funds
Employer of Choice
National Bank Financial
The WP Readers' Choice Award for Service Provider of the Year
Croesus Finansoft
