Outstanding Winnipeg Businesses January-February

In today’s business environment, being wirelessly connected by voice alone may no longer be enough. With e-mail becoming the communication method of choice, being wirelessly connected to your e-mail and to the Internet is vital. The bottom line is that the businessperson who can respond the quickest, who can take advantage of opportunities first and who can be accessible to clients and colleagues the best – will be the most successful.

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For Kelly Morris, Lifestyle and Financial Advisor at The Morris Financial Group, the natural career path was self-evident: with 27 years to its name, The Morris Financial Group has, after all, always been a family affair. But what keeps him in the business, Kelly says, is the ongoing opportunity to work with such a great and diverse clientele. A proud Winnipegger and self-described “people person,” Kelly’s constant goal is to synchronize his clients’ lifestyle and financial objectives for both present and future. Where personal finance is concerned, “it’s all about the execution of a balanced approach, and keeping your eye on the big picture. Depend less on chance – instead, create and execute a sound financial plan.” Indeed, if there’s one thing Kelly has learned, it’s that you have to take an active approach to financial management based on time-tested investment strategies.

As a fee-based advisor, Kelly builds client relationships in a transparent and clear environment, where clients can feel confident with his recommendations. This approach, Kelly says, is truly unique and at the forefront of a changing financial industry. And in order to provide the highest level of service to families in Winnipeg and across the country, Kelly is currently working towards achieving a Chartered Financial Analyst designation.

When he’s not investing himself in his clients’ needs, Kelly is investing in the community through active involvement with Leadership Winnipeg, a broad-based community initiative aimed at shaping our community’s future leaders. Kelly is also the current chair of Winn$tock 2008, Winnipeg’s 4th annual financial services battle of the bands charity fundraiser, a premier event in Winnipeg to which he also lends his musical skills – by playing drums.

A practicing financial planner for over 25 years, a financial columnist, and the author of a training course for other financial advisors, David Christianson of Wellington West Total Wealth Management Inc. could easily say, “Trust me.” But he’d rather his conduct win client confidence. Unlike other companies that are paid indirectly by product
manufacturers, Total Wealth Management derives all income solely from client-paid fees; as David observes, “A lot of people call themselves advisors when they’re really salespeople.” Indeed, the company places  a great deal of importance upon building trust, especially since it specializes in serving clients who may be new to money management, from inheritance or business sales.

The ideal client, David says, is one who takes a realistic approach. David  and his team of four deal with only 80 client families, with $155 million in assets under administration. Structured around their Goal Achiever Process, Total Wealth Management focuses on financial planning, tax efficiency, estate and legacy planning and low-risk investment strategies.

The key, however, is to know as much about the client as possible. How much and to where do they want to travel? What rate of return do they need to achieve on their investments? How much time do they want to spend with their families? When clients can clearly define their desires and priorities, it is possible to identify their best possible financial options. As well, David says, “we find out what keeps them awake at night” so as to develop the best financial safeguarding strategies.

David is devoted to improving community life, as well: he was awarded the Governor General’s 125th Commemorative Medal in 1992 in recognition of volunteer leadership. For David, the greatest reward is the power to improve people’s lives: “I get joy from helping clients accomplish cherished life goals which may have been unattainable without our help.”

Made up of five highly experienced advisory teams here in Winnipeg, consisting of six individual advisors, two of whom are in a partnership, Richardson Partners Financial Limited seeks to grow to approximately 150 advisors strong nationwide.

Only the most seasoned and experienced advisors Canada has to offer are invited to join the firm, says First Vice President and Branch Manager Greg Bieber, adding that the target at present is to reach $25 billion in assets under administration. Where its clients are concerned, advisor Bruce Bennett says the goal is always to just listen carefully – whether it is to individuals, families, or business owners – and tailor solutions to match their specific financial needs. It is precisely this that attracted advisor Ken Martin to his present position: after starting a career in banking, Martin says he met a lot of clients who wanted to build their wealth while lacking the know-how to do so most effectively. Many people just fumble along for years, he says, without really tapping the expertise that could help them realize their wealth’s greatest potential. At Richardson Partners Financial, says Kim McCartney, Investment Advisors “go looking in the corners” for exclusive cutting-edge products – such as private equity through Richardson Capital and other strategic alliances – to do exactly that. Like a Mayo Clinic for wealth management, Bieber says that the firm delivers specialized expertise to clients through the Family Wealth Planning Group. The firm’s in-house team of consultants – whether they be lawyers, accountants, or estate planners – utilize refined methodology to develop and implement customized Wealth Plans, addressing clients’ personal tax, financial, estate, insurance and business succession planning issues. And it’s working, says Bieber: “The advisors are seeing the results in their work with the families they serve. And the opportunity to be a part of a firm such as this only comes along once or twice in the lifetime of an advisor’s career.” While this group of advisors may consist of different individuals  with different lives away from work (except when they’re going out for dinner together, that is), there is cohesion inside the office. “It’s unique in that it is a partnership culture, which is, if I may add proudly engrained throughout the organization,” says Martin.