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SBW Wealth Management & Employee Benefits Team
Our team addresses two important financial areas: wealth management, and employee benefits.
Wealth Management Team:
Roger Sinclair, CFP
Roger is one of the founders of SBW Wealth Management & Employee Benefits. He’s spent 30 years providing practical financial wisdom to clients throughout Atlantic Canada and is truly recognized as a national leader by the industry.
Born and raised in Prince Edward Island, Roger is a graduate and former member of the Board of Governors of the University of Prince Edward Island. He has also been (and continues to be) an active member of Advocis and CALU – two important advocacy groups representing the financial services industry to several areas of federal and provincial government.
Both for his clients and his profession, Roger steps up to lead when people need to get clear and take action to tackle a problem. It’s not uncommon to hear him say, “we’ve lived hundreds of lives” when he talks about the work he does. Through the years, his clients have brought all manner of financial opportunity, challenge and complexity – he really has seen it all. And Roger’s response is invariably consistent and reliable. He brings a clear approach to understanding the priorities of his client, develops approaches to address them, helps them implement it and then continues to work with them through a program of ongoing review and adjustment.
And perhaps that’s the reason Roger is so active with community volunteer groups – he knows how to understand the challenge and then create a clear path of action. Roger currently serves on the board of Brigadoon Children’s Camp Society, is Chair of their Capital Campaign, and is a former member of the National Board of Directors of the Canadian Cancer Society and past Chair of the National Planned Giving Committee. Last year Roger was recognized as the recipient of the prestigious Jack Hopwood Memorial Award, which is presented bi-annually to a Great-West Life financial advisor who has played an outstanding volunteer role in his community.
He has also been active in other organizations, such as:
- Past president of the Halifax Unit of the Canadian Cancer Society
- Past member of the Board of Governors, University of Prince Edward Island
- Current member of Halifax Estate Planning Council
- Current member of Advocis
- Current member of the Conference for Advanced Life Underwriting ( CALU)
- Current member of Canadian Association of Family Enterprises (CAFÉ)
- Current president of the Clan Sinclair Society of Nova Scotia
Roger is skilled and passionate in his work, and his contributions to his community and industry.
Andrew MacKinnon, CFP, CLU
Andrew has been around businesses his entire life. He's seen how great it can be, how trying it can be and how important it is to make the best use of a business structure to protect and grow the wealth that's being created.
He's a Certified Financial Planner and Chartered Life Underwriter and takes a very deliberate and considerate approach to his client work. A Commerce graduate from Saint Mary's University, Andrew previously worked as the Regional Manager of Life Insurance Marketing with Great-West Life and has over twelve years of applied expertise working in the financial services industry.
As a partner at SBW Financial, Andrew works directly with business owners, and their families. He helps them to think outside of the business by looking at the areas of tax planning and estate planning, retirement planning, income protection, and life insurance analysis.
He has been a continuous member of Advocis (the national industry association) since entering the industry in 1999, and he gives back to his community through his work with the Halifax Progress Club. He actively coaches soccer and hockey in Halifax, and was previously the Chair of the Board of Directors for the Kings Meadow Home in Windsor, Nova Scotia.
Holly MacNeil, ACS, A.I.A.A.
Holly is our office administrator and plays a key role in the business. For over 20 years, she has been responsible for the smooth operation of the very detailed work we do.
As you might imagine, the paperwork in a wealth management firm is plentiful and requires a high attention to detail and accuracy. Holly stewards this responsibility carefully and takes great pride in the quality work that is delivered.
Kevin Shanks, BBA, ACS, A.I.A.A.
When you meet Kevin, it’s hard not to notice his immediate desire to help. A business graduate of South Thames University England, Kevin has held advisory and leadership roles in the financial services industry for over 20 years. In that time he has developed a strong capacity to recognize what needs to happen, and then get it done. He provides ongoing support to the firm in the areas of business development, client service and marketing support.
Expect attentive support from Kevin, you won’t be disappointed.
Patrick Edwards, C.A.
As a Chartered Accountant, Pat has been a private wealth counselor with Private Wealth & Estate Services since September 2000. Pat provides advice and direction to clients as they plan for the eventual transition of their wealth. Patrick works predominantly with business owners, professionals and high net worth families. He focuses on the technical and relationship issues surrounding business exit planning, life-long wealth management and the transition of wealth between generations.
Cy Korun, CFA
A CFA Charterholder, Cy Korun is an active member of the CFA institute, an internationally recognized organization committed to providing the highest level of investment standards. A graduate in Commerce from the University of Alberta, Cy has over twenty year's financial industry experience.
He is a specialist in the analysis and design of client investment portfolios with a key emphasis on the appropriate asset mix, tax efficiency, portfolio risk and performance potential.
Employee Benefits Team:
Rob Weld
Rob is one of the founding partners at SBW Wealth Management & Employee Benefits and brings a true wealth of knowledge to the firm. He’s a man who understands how to recognize the dynamics that are at play and then chart a path forward to create a meaningful result. It’s probably not a surprise that he’s an avid sailor.
Before starting SBW with Roger Sinclair and Peter Weld, Rob was a Regional Account Executive, Group Marketing, with The Mutual Group and, before that served as an Assistant Vice-President with Morneau Sobeco – the employee benefit and actuarial consulting firm. He has presented at various industry events including Advocis, CEBS and AIMS to share his health plan related expertise.
Rob is an alumnus of Acadia University and is active with a number of community volunteer organizations including the Nova Scotia Hearing and Speech Clinic, and Feed Nova Scotia.
Peter Billard
Peter Billard has been in the Group Benefits field since 1981. His career evolved into being a member of the senior management team for several different insurance companies, before becoming a founding partner of SBW Wealth Management & Employee Benefits. He has been active in supporting the communities in which he’s lived, including serving as Vice-President of the Halifax Chamber of Commerce, Vice-President of the St. John’s Jaycees and Vice-President of the St. John’s Progress Club. The energy he brings to his commitment for his clients and his community is undeniable and heart felt.
Elizabeth Dodge, CEBS
Elizabeth has a considerable expertise in group health and pension plans. Before joining SBW in 2005, she had worked in both the consulting and actuarial disciplines for an international actuarial group in South Africa, and more recently with PriceWaterhouseCoopers in the United States.
As a benefits consultant and graduate of the CEBS program, she brings perspective, experience and actuarial insight to her client projects.
Heather Reeves
Heather has developed a professional knowledge base that is a true asset to the team, and to our clients. Earlier in her career she worked with PriceWaterhouseCoopers in Canada and the UK in HR Management, HR Project and Consultant roles. Her areas of expertise include change management, performance management, training, orientation, communication plans, resourcing, payroll and flexible benefits. She is certified in Prosci Change Management and brings the full scope of her abilities to client engagements as needed.
Jamie Spence
While Jamie is new to our team, he’s not new to business. After graduating from Saint Mary’s University he spent the following 15 years working in the financial services industry. During that time, he’s built and impressive skill-set and reputation for being one of those positive leaders that gets things done.
He’s excellent at taking the time to really understand and address risks that might be present and then recommending solid solutions that are based on what his clients want, not anyone else.
Jamie is upbeat, fast-paced and results-focused; a great addition to any team (and we’re thrilled he’s on ours!).
Tricia Stewart, ACS, A.I.A.A.
Tricia joined the SBW team in June, 2008. She brings over 12 years experience in client service and has earned the AIAA designation, showing her dedication to education and self-development. She maintains a high standard of confidentiality and believes that communications and service excellence are keys to maintaining successful business relationships.
Tricia’s focus is to provide marketing support in our office as well as service to our valuable group clients at all stages of their involvement with SBW Wealth Management & Employee Benefits.
Peter Thompson brings over twenty years experience in employee benefits consulting to the team. He has extensive experience the offshore and related industries and the special needs of clients with employees working in international jurisdictions.
A graduate of Acadia University, Peter is active with various community organizations and his church.
Connie Tobin
Connie joined the Newfoundland office of SBW in August 2002. She has over 20 years’ experience in the insurance industry and has built a high level of experience while working as Client Services Representative with both a major insurance company and an independent employee benefit and financial advisory firm.
Connie firmly believes that the key to success in the Group Insurance Industry lies in loyalty and dedication to serving the unique needs of our clients. Connie is committed to building long-term relationships of mutual trust and respect, and will ensure that all inquiries and benefit deliveries are dealt with promptly, courteously and effectively.
Sue Henley
Sue Henley brings 30 years of experience in the group insurance industry. Sue has an extensive background in claims adjudication, disability management and benefits consulting. Before coming to SBW Sue spent 15 years in claims adjudication at Maritime Medical Care, 3 years at Canada Life in disability management and 8 years with RBC Insurance in Benefits Consulting. Sue always provides the highest level of service to her valued clients. Sue works with business owners to attract and retain excellent employees through innovative cost effective employee benefit programs.
Contact us to find out how you can think outside your business!