Industry moves this week

Each week, we summarize notable moves across the financial industry.

• Keeley Simpson has become chief executive officer, chief compliance officer and portfolio manager for her new independent wealth firm, Aretec Wealth Inc., based in Toronto. She’s joined in the venture by Will Simpson, president, and Greg Wise, vice-president. All three worked for BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc. — Keeley for 16 years, Will for 14 and Wise for six. The new firm has partnered with providers such as Fidelity Clearing Canada ULC and Conquest Planning Inc., and according to a release, wants to help “reshape the wealth management landscape in Canada.” Both Will and Wise reflected positively on their time with the bank, but Wise said in the release, “Aretec Wealth is for people who don’t want a ‘good enough’ experience with their money, but an experience that’s the best it can possibly be.”
• Summit Wealth Partners has joined CG Wealth Management’s Calgary office. The group includes senior portfolio managers and investment advisors Alex Senkiw, Mike Pickard, David Hunt and Jacob Baranowski, who collectively manage $400 million in client assets, a release said. The team, which moved from Richardson Wealth, said in an announcement that it appreciated the depth and holistic nature of CG Wealth’s resources and technology. Their transition follows the news of BPS Wealth Management moving to CG Wealth, from CIBC Wood Gundy, last month.
• Jay Rittinger, who’s been an advisor for the past two decades across several institutions, has joined Anchor Pacific Investments (which uses Aligned Capital Partners Inc.’s platform) in Vancouver. He’s part of a team of four that also includes Jon Eaton and Steven Adang, who focus on portfolio management and investments, and Catherine Bradley serving clients.
• David Palmer, who spent 16 years working with IG Wealth Management in Calgary, has also joined a new group. He’s now an investment advisor with Palmer Swystun and Associates, registered with Harbourfront Wealth Management Inc.
• Cailyn Wolski, a wealth advisor associate, has exclusively joined Sybil Verch‘s Wealthy Life Group that’s based in Victoria. Wolski’s been an advisor with Raymond James Ltd. for the past three years, saying in her announcement online that she’s worked across various areas within the firm’s total wealth solutions team. The Wealthy Life Group was recently launched.
• Tanya Rowntree has joined Cboe Canada as senior director and head of listings, coming from TMX Group Inc., where she was most recently vice-president plus global head of client success. She said in an online post that she looks forward to helping build “a vibrant marketplace for Canadian public and private companies,” while Cboe Canada cited her “wealth of experience” and “impressive track record of client successes.” Rowntree has worked in the industry for more than 25 years.
• David Azor Elfort is now director of risk management with National Bank Investments. He’s worked with the bank since 2019.
• Aseem Bhatnagar is now vice-president, financial crimes, with Toronto-Dominion Bank. He’s worked with the bank for nearly 13 years and has been in Canada’s financial services industry for more than 20. His work will include building out the crime unit for the bank — following a period where the institution has been in the headlines for fines south of the border.
• Andrea Frossard has been named chief commercial officer with global life insurer Foresters Financial. She’ll oversee U.S. and Canada sales, product management and enterprise marketing, reporting directly to president and CEO Matt Berman. She comes from working with Canada Life, most recently serving as senior vice-president, par insurance solutions.

If you know of other people moves in the financial industry and/or would like us to consider your announcement, email Katie Keir at katie@newcom.ca.