Chris Ball, CFP, FCSI, CIM

CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER

Chris is a Certified Financial Planner and has one of the highest designations in the industry (FCSI – Fellow of the Canadian Securities Institute). Chris has been providing financial planning advice to Canadians for over 20 years. Chris' strength is his ability to simplify financial planning and provide clear and concise advice and plans that his clients understand and commit to. He breaks down your financial plan into a set of smaller, easier to implement plans focused on those specific goals that make up your short and long term objectives. "I focus on being a great communicator, maintaining quality of life goals, having measurable performance and being honest with 100% transparency on fees, etc." A strong believer in giving back to the community and staying active within it, Chris has worked with various children's foundations and has aligned with the Make a Wish Foundation of Canada.

Kaileigh van den Berg, CFA

Associate Financial Advisor

At Assante, we are passionate about providing an exceptional customer experience through listening to your individual needs and objectives to provide a plan tailored to you. We take a team approach and will work with your current accountant, lawyer, insurance provider or can leverage our in-house investment management team and wealth planning group to create a holistic financial plan to suit your needs. I joined the financial planning industry for the rewarding feeling of helping clients achieve their financial goals and life milestones and look forward to partnering with you to achieve yours. 

I received a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Toronto, with a Specialist in Finance and Economics, allowing me to help clients navigate the investment industry with ease. It is important that clients understand their portfolio in relation to current market conditions and financial strategies in a way that is easy to digest. With an interest in continued learning, I hold a Chartered Financial Analyst® designation, the highest distinction in the investment management profession, and continue to pursue additional Canadian Securities Institute courses. 

In my spare time, I love cooking, and can often be found getting ready to host a dinner party for friends or reading a good cookbook. I enjoy spending time outdoors, and exploring all that Nova Scotia has to offer. 

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Graham Long, CPA, CGA, CFP, TEP

Regional Wealth Planner

As  a  Regional  Wealth  Planner,  Graham  Long  facilitates  the  delivery  of  wealth  planning  reports.  Using  a  needs-based  approach, Graham works with our clients to not only gather pertinent  financial  information,  but  more  importantly,  to  identify issues and to help our clients articulate and document their goals in order to build a plan that meets their complex needs.  Working  with  the  support  of  the  wealth  planning  team,  Graham  delivers  a  plan  that  addresses  retirement  planning, cash flow management, risk management, business planning and estate planning. 

Graham became part of CI Assante Private Client in 2013. His experience in wealth planning and asset management spans over  20  years.  It  includes  holding  senior  positions  with  two  large  Canadian  asset  management  companies  and  working  with two of the major Canadian banks. Before joining us, he was  with  Atlantic  Canada’s  largest  independent  chartered  accounting firm. 

Graham  is  a  Chartered  Professional  Accountant  (CPA,  CGA)  with   a   Bachelor   of   Commerce   degree   from   Dalhousie   University. In addition, he holds both his Certified Financial Planner®  (CFP®)  and    Trust  and  Estate  Practitioner  (TEP)  designations. 

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Chris Thomson , BA, LL.B, TEP

Regional Vice-President, Wealth Planning

As Regional Vice-President, Wealth Planning, Chris Thomson works  closely  with  our  high  net  worth  clients  to  identify  issues and provide complex, tactical wealth planning support that  complements  their  wealth  plans.  Chris  has  a  particular  focus   on   tax   and   estate   planning   for   business   owners,   professionals, and other affluent individuals and families. 

Chris joined CI Assante Private Client in 2008, after working in private  practice  serving  businesses  and  families  throughout  Eastern  Canada,  specializing  in  both  personal  and  business  estate  and  tax  planning.  His  overall  professional  experience  in wealth planning exceeds 25 years.  

Chris is a lawyer with a Bachelor of Law degree from Osgoode Hall Law School. He is a member of the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society,  and  the  Society  of  Trust  and  Estate  Practitioners.  Chris  has  completed  both  the  CICA  In-Depth  Tax  Course  and  the  CICA  Advanced  Tax  Issues  for  the  Owner-Managed  Business course. 

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Duane Snow, CFP, CLU®, CH.F.C., CEBS

Regional Vice-President, Estate Planning

As a Regional Vice-President, Estate Planning Duane Snow is well-positioned to deal with the technical aspects of our clients’ more complex situations. He works to mitigate risk, protect assets, and provide tax deferral strategies and solutions that allow a smooth transition of estate or business assets to the beneficiaries or surviving partners. He provides in-depth information on various insurance products and services that compliment the overall wealth management for our clients.

He has a diverse insurance background, having worked as a life, health and pension specialist with a major insurance company, an employee benefits consultant and an insurance company wholesaler. Prior to joining Assante Estate and Insurance Services Inc. in March 2006, he has also worked as an Estate Planning Advisor with a national investment firm.

Duane has a BA Economics from the University of Western Ontario and a business degree from Wilfrid Laurier University. He has also earned the Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU), Certified Financial Planner (CFP), Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) and Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS) designations. Duane is based in Halifax and services Eastern Canada. 

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