Company History

1993

  • Top investment advisor Charlie Spiring leaves Midland Walwyn to open independent investment advisory boutique in Winnipeg. Four advisors with a total of eight employees and $200 million in AUA. Business strategy: to form a top quality locally focused investment advisory boutique.

1996

  • Added financial planning capability to complement full-service brokerage.
  • Named one of the 50 Best Managed Companies in Canada, sponsored by Deloitte, CIBC Commercial Banking, National Post and Queen’s School of Business.

2000

  • Achieved $500 million in AUA. Set goal to expand into Western Canada with a target of $1 billion AUA by December 2002.

2002

  • Achieved $1 billion in AUA seven months ahead of goal with solid presence in Western Canada established.

2003

  • Achieved $2 billion in AUA. Set goal to expand nationally with a target of $3 billion AUA by December 2004.

2004

  • Achieved $3 billion AUA 10 months ahead of goal with coast-to-coast presence established.
  • Ranked #1 in Investment Executive Brokerage Report Card.

2005

  • Achieved $5 billion AUA.
  • Added capital markets capability to complement retail strength.
  • Ranked #1 for second consecutive year in Investment Executive Brokerage Report Card.

2006

  • Achieved $7 billion AUA.
  • Launched affinity program with leading universities in Canada.
  • Ranked #1 for third consecutive year in Investment Executive Brokerage Report Card.
  • A decade of qualifying as one of the 50 Best Managed Companies in Canada.
  • Ranked #2 Best Employer in Canada and #1 in Medium-Sized Firm category in the 2006 Hewitt Associates / Report on Business Magazine 50 Best Employers survey.

2007

  • Achieved $9 billion in AUA and set 2010 strategy.
  • Commenced IPO readiness strategy, retained CIBC World Markets and KPMG as advisors.
  • Ranked #1 for fourth consecutive year in Investment Executive Brokerage Report Card.
  • Ranked #1 Best Employer in Canada in 2007 Hewitt Associates / Report on Business Magazine 50 Best Employers survey.
  • Requalified as one of the 50 Best Managed Companies in Canada.
  • Named by Canadian Business Magazine’s Profit 100 as one of Canada’s fastest growing companies with revenue growth of 823 per cent since 2001.
  • Awarded #2 in our category and eigth overall in the 2006 Financial Post / Starmine Top Analyst Awards.

2008

  • Ranked as #2 Best Employer in Canada in the 2008 Hewitt Associates / Report on Business 50 Best Employers survey.
  • Requalified as one of the 50 Best Managed Companies in Canada.
  • Ranked as #3 Brokerage Firm in Canada, ahead of all bank-owned brokerages, by the 2008 Investment Executive Broker Report Card.