FOSTER & ASSOCIATES FINANCIAL SERVICES - Key Persons
Aldo believes that every Canadian's financial affairs should be a source of comfort and security, not a source of stress. He is a passionate advocate of comprehensive financial planning paired with thoughtful investment strategy design, and has made these twin pillars of financial success the centerpiece of his "Financial Architecture" service model.
Aldo's Financial Architecture model consists of legacy, tax, estate, cash flow, insurance and philanthropic planning integrated with a highly-diversified, long-term investment strategy. Every plan is customized to each client's unique risk profile and objectives. He regularly liaises with his clients' accountants or other outside professionals to ensure that the Financial Architecture of every one of his clients portfolios is optimized, particularly when it comes to minimizing tax.
A key element of Aldo's offering is a strategic relationship with a private family office and portfolio management firm. This affords his clients exclusive access to institutional-quality discretionary portfolios which would otherwise be available only to the ultra-high net worth.
When it comes to a client's Financial Architecture, Aldo eschews the flavour-of-the-week or any big bet investment approaches that often prove damaging in the long run. He believes that "risk should be a decision, not a surprise." He serves his clients on either a transparent, fee-only basis, or a traditional transactional fee model, in order to best align him to serve their individual needs.
Anyone who knows Aldo, knows him as an enthusiastic Torontonian, where he has lived all his life, as a devoted father and as an ardent Toronto sports fan. Aldo graduated with honours from the University of Toronto in 1987 and has continued to enjoy helping his clients achieve their financial dreams, since his career in wealth management began in 1992.
Job Titles:
- Investment Representative
Alixandra's enthusiasm for technology and aptitude for finance is a welcome addition to our operations support team.
Alixandra brings a unique range of experiences to the firm, from fashion and web design to accounting and marketing. She has recently made quick work of her qualifying examinations and is now a full-fledged Investment Representative.
Alixandra holds a BA in Psychology & Sociology from Trent University.
Andrew has twenty-five years' experience navigating financial markets for clients. He focuses on dividend-paying securities with a special interest in those companies that grow their dividends predictably. The compounding growth of dividend distributions does much to grow capital.
He also takes an interest in special situations, particularly companies with unique characteristics or time-sensitive opportunities aiming to generate index-beating performance.
Andrew holds degrees in Economics and Commerce from Wilfrid Laurier University and the University of Windsor respectively. He is also a CIM charter holder and holds an options license.
Avery's successful career has spanned several economic cycles in his 25 plus years as an Investment Advisor. He specializes in formulating customized investment strategies with a main focus on capital preservation, growth and lower taxes.
Avery is committed to the ongoing monitoring of client accounts to maximize opportunities and ensure his clients objectives are met or surpassed. His many years of service and educational background makes him skilled at recognizing investment opportunities and market trends. This translates into a greater ability to focus on maximizing profits reducing tax while preserving capital.
Avery's level of dedication and top notch attention to his individual client's needs is unparalleled. He is very proactive and client centric; always striving to exceed client expectations.
As a dedicated husband and father, Avery knows what it means to be there for you in the long haul.
Bill McIver and Martin Lochran have joined together to manage their clients' wealth and investments using a team approach to ensure continuity of service, a great deal of experience and the ability to offer discretionary portfolios.
Bill's investment advisory career spans 35 years, which includes time he served as Vice President at TD Waterhouse and at CIBC World Markets.
An active member of his community, Bill has sat on gala banquet charity committees for the United Way Blossom Ball, the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, the Lupus Foundation of Canada and the University of Toronto Asia Pacific Ball. Bill has served on the Board of Directors of the Wongs' Association of Ontario as Chair of youth development. In 2006, Bill served as the Chief Financial Officer for the International Dragon Boat Federation World Competition held in Toronto. A graduate of Winchester public school in Toronto, Bill has been the benefactor of the William Wong Academic Award at Winchester school since 1986.
From 2013 to 2017, Bill served as a fundraiser for the Randolph Academy for the Performing Arts, a Canadian registered Private Career College. The Academy includes a private children's program for the performing arts. Bill helped raise money on an annual basis for underprivileged kids to join the program. Currently, Bill is involved with the Native Child & Family Services of Toronto in raising money to enhance its Summer Lake Grundy Camp Program for inner city indigenous children. In 2002, Bill received the Queen Elizabeth ll Golden Jubilee Medal, an award given to those individuals who made significant contributions to their fellow Canadians.
Bill received his Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Toronto, has two sons and lives in Toronto.
Job Titles:
- Employee
- Human Resources Generalist
Holding one of the broadest mandates of any employee at Foster, Candace serves all Foster employees on benefits, payroll, recruiting and onboarding. In addition, she works as a key member of our Support Team, serving advisors and clients on documentation, custody, tax, and regulatory matters.
Candace has a keen interest in training, learning & development and change management. She is a member of the Human Resources Professionals Association (HRPA) and the Institute of Performance and Learning (I4PL).
Outside of the office, she enjoys learning and teaching languages, music, and volunteering.
Job Titles:
- Investment Advisor, Funds & ETFs
Celeste is dedicated to helping clients achieve their financial goals through comprehensive financial planning and investments. She takes a holistic approach to financial planning, tailoring her services to meet each client's unique needs and situations.
Celeste's expertise encompasses a wide range of financial services, including budgeting, debt management, retirement planning, and investments. She is well-versed in insurance, covering life insurance, critical illness, disability, and health benefits, ensuring that her clients' finances are both growing and protected from unexpected challenges.
With a background as a Professional Project Manager and Professional Engineer, Celeste excels in creating and executing long-term financial visions. She values client input and focuses on their priorities throughout the planning process. Additionally, her experience as a Certified competitive swimming and triathlon coach has provided her with valuable insights into health and wellness, as well as setting and achieving long-term goals.
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive Officer
- Portfolio Manager
- CIM
Christopher Foster is a Portfolio Manager and the Chief Executive Officer at Foster.
After a decade at a boutique commodity and currency trading firm, and another decade as a successful investment advisor at a big bank-owned investment firm, Christopher founded alternative investment firm Blackheath Fund Management Inc. Blackheath is now one of Foster's sister companies.
In 2016, Christopher took the helm at Foster, where he is moving the company founded by his father forward into the future.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Investment Advisor
- Senior Vice President
- Member of the Isaac Walton Fly Fishing Club
Having a broad ground-floor knowledge of all facets of the securities industry, coupled with 30+ years focused on advisor/client relationships, has earned Cliff valuable insight into meeting the needs of his clients, and building portfolios to accommodate the vast range of individual financial circumstances.
Outside of running his practice, Cliff is an active member of the Isaac Walton Fly Fishing Club and the Beaver Valley Ski Club. He leads an active outdoor lifestyle, enjoying sea kayaking, mountain biking and hiking.
David knows that today's financial markets can be overwhelmingly complex for clients, presenting them with a seemingly endless offering of products, strategies and opinions. By carefully researching and selecting the best options for clients, David cuts through the noise and presents them with a plan to help protect and grow their hard-earned savings.
Top-down asset allocation is at the core of his approach. Participating in global markets using a mix of equities, ETFs, preferred shares, investment grade and high-yield bonds, and private investments is essential to achieving a properly diversified portfolio.
David believes that options strategies can be terrific tools and are often overlooked. Helping clients understand and implement these strategies can reduce emotional decision-making, and can reduce risk.
David is graduate of the University of Guelph in Economics. He is very active in community-based mental health organizations and serves as VP Education of a local Toastmasters Club. When he's not doing that, he's busy training for his upcoming Ironman competition.
Gareth brings more than 15 years of experience from institutional equities research, where he covered numerous companies across sectors as diverse as Consumer Staples, Industrials, Information Technology, and Real Estate. In addition to his skills as a fundamental analyst, he has built and refined a quantitative model that he uses to find investment opportunities from more than 2,000 North American stocks across multiple sectors.
Gareth's background includes brand management (Unilever and PepsiCo Foods), as well as experience as an officer and director of an early-stage e-learning company where he was responsible for daily operations, financial planning and analysis, and raising capital.
Gareth earned an MBA degree from the Schulich School of Business and is a Chartered Financial Analyst. When not working on investment ideas, you will find him performing ‘80s New Wave hits across southern Ontario.
Job Titles:
- Senior Wealth Management Advisor
With more than 25 years of directing individuals and corporations on financial issues, Howard's first priority is to clearly understand both your current financial situation and your intended financial destination.
Howard's value to you is not only his ability to work hand-in-hand with you to build that financial bridge between today and your future… but also to create a money management strategy that allows you to feel good about your finances.
By creating plans around your cash sources and uses, Howard helps you achieve greater flexibility to make your money available when you need it.
Job Titles:
- Vice President, Operations
With over 25 years in financial services, Karen has a deep understanding of the financial services business. She has an eye for detail, is passionate about delivering a superior client experience and has always earned the trust and respect of colleagues and clients.
A proud mother of a teenage son, Karen loves the outdoors, family, friends, music and new experiences.
Bill has been an Investment Advisor for 40 years. Martin has been a Portfolio Manager for 14 years, entering the industry after a successful career as an executive of a multinational corporation. Collaboratively, Bill and Martin build and manage portfolios for a loyal group of clients who have diverse needs. Lori Quirke manages the administration of their practice, ensuring expedient resolution to all matters. No matter the position you find yourself in financially, the McIver Lochran Group has the experience to offer you clarity and a solution for your financial needs and goals.
Job Titles:
- Chief Compliance Officer
- Director
- & Associates As Branch Manager
Matthew Laffrade joined Foster & Associates as Branch Manager in 2019, and became Chief Compliance Officer in 2020. With over a decade of financial industry experience, he is part of the management team, and responsible for the day-to-day supervision and managing of the sales force. He is also fully licensed to trade equities and options.
The depth and scope of Matthew's professional experience provides Foster & Associates with a valuable perspective. Having held previous positions that include Account Manager, Investment Representative, Senior Branch Manager, and Compliance Supervisor, Matthew's knowledge of our industry and holistic approach to solutions is a welcome asset to Foster & Associates.
Job Titles:
- Chief Financial Officer
- Risk Manager
- Treasurer
Nishant has been the Chief Financial Officer for Foster since March 2017.
Nishant is also the Treasurer and Risk Manager at Foster's sister company, Blackheath Fund Management Inc. Prior to joining Blackheath in October 2011, Nishant was part of the volatility arbitrage team at Wealth Management Alliance for two years as an Analyst.
A graduate of the Sauder School of Business at the University of British Columbia with a Masters in Business Administration in Finance (2009), he also received a Bachelor degree in Mechanical Engineering from University of Pune (India) in 2002.
Paul sees his role as a loyal captain of his client's financial affairs. More than just selecting individual stocks and bonds, Paul is committed to discovering unique and inventive solutions to address the individual requirements of his clients.
Philip believes in individually tailored portfolio management. Every client's wealth management needs are unique, and Philip takes a diligent approach to ensure each client's portfolio reflects their objectives and meets their expectations. This goes beyond picking stocks. Philip performs a comprehensive assessment of all his client needs, including retirement planning and insurance.
Managing the investment portfolios - through bull and bear markets, for high-net-worth individuals, families, and businesses, in Canada and worldwide - is what Raj does passionately!
Steve brings over 23 years of investment experience to assist you in achieving your investment goals and objectives. Backed by the expertise of the Foster team, and combined with his extensive training and personal experience, Steve is able to offer you exceptional service as they strive to achieve above average returns.
Job Titles:
- Portfolio Manager, Financial Planner
Victor is a financial services professional who brings a wealth of practical and academic knowledge to his Financial Planner role at Foster. As an experienced investment advisor, he draws from his diverse life experience to help clients tackle their most complex situations and meet their financial goals.
As an advocate of financial literacy, Victor teaches financial planning courses at Centennial College in Toronto. He also volunteers with Junior Achievement Canada, promoting financial literacy among youth, and at Rise Asset Development, a Toronto not-for-profit organization providing guidance and financing to entrepreneurs overcoming mental health and addiction challenges.
Victor holds an MA in Economics from the University of Toronto.