Darryl Smith

Senior Financial Advisor

Making strong connections with clients in order to fully understand their financial needs, Darryl Smith’s main objective is helping them achieve their goals and dreams. Knowing each of his clients has unique perspectives and priorities, Darryl ensures they have access to all options, products, and ideas so nothing is overlooked.

After receiving a Bachelor of Commerce from St. Mary’s University Darryl opened an income tax company and spent the next two years doing tax returns and bookkeeping for a variety of small businesses. Over the years Darryl strengthened his knowledge by completing a series of licensing requirements and industry sponsored courses including the mutual funds license, life and disability license, and the Canadian Securities Course. Darryl started his career as a financial planner at Investors Group, before moving on to Assante (then known as The Financial Planning Group) in 1997.

Darryl’s strong belief in giving back and supporting the community prompted an initiative to ask clients to make a donation to a charity or not for profit association in lieu of payment for his tax return* services.  A different charity is chosen each year and in the past he’s supported, NS Mental Health, NS SPCA, Alzheimer Society of NS, Halifax Minor Baseball and the Diabetes Association.  He has raised over $13,000 thus far for these charities.

Darryl is very involved in supporting his children’s sporting activities, and is where he spends a lot of his free time.

*Certain employees of Darryl Smith Tax Preparation Services maintain a relationship with Assante Capital Management Ltd. (“Assante”) through which they sell investment products. The relationship that they have with Assante does not include tax preparation services which Darryl Smith Tax Preparation Services is solely responsible. Darryl Smith Tax Preparation Services is not associated in any way with Assante, and Assante has no responsibility for the tax preparation services offered by Darryl Smith Tax Preparation Services.

Jody Boudreau

Executive Assistant

As Darryl Smith’s Executive Assistant, Jody strives to create a positive experience for their clients. She enjoys getting to know them and their families, and supports them with the daily management of their administrative needs. Her extensive knowledge of the industry and unique background makes her an essential part of their team. What clients may not know is that she was an entrepreneur for four years. Jody was extremely hands on - she built and ran the business from the ground up. It’s not all work for Jody, though! She loves spending time with her family and close friends, and travelling down South to chase the sun during our long winters.

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Alfred Lam

Senior Vice-President and Chief Investment Officer, CI GAM | Multi-Asset Management

Alfred Lam joined the Investment Consulting team at CI Global Asset Management (CI GAM) in 2004 and is actively involved in manager selection and oversight, product development, asset allocation and currency management of CI GAM’s managed solutions. He leads a team of investment experts who monitor the portfolio managers and the funds’ portfolios to ensure they are adhering to their mandates and performing within expectations and oversees approximately 32 billion of assets invested in customized managed portfolio solutions* for our clients. Alfred previously held the role of Senior Manager of the Investment Management Team at CIBC Securities. He has an MBA from York University and holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation. Alfred is a member of the CFA Institute and the Toronto CFA Society.  

* With access to a wealth of tools and resources, Assante advisors and their clients are supported by the expertise of an investment management team and wealth planning group available through our sister company, CI Global Asset Management, and CI Assante Private Client, a division of CI Private Counsel LP. 

Brent Steele, B.Comm., CPA, CA, CFP®

Vice-President, Wealth Planning

As Vice-President, Wealth Planning, Brent Steele works closely with our high net worth clients to identify issues and provide complex, tactical wealth planning support that complements their wealth plans. Brent has a particular focus on tax and estate planning strategies for business owners, professionals, and other affluent individuals and families.Brent joined CI Assante Private Client in 2001 after holding a senior accountant position with BDO Dunwoody Chartered Accountants. At BDO Brent provided both personal and corporate tax planning advice and compliance to a wide variety of clients. Upon joining Assante, Brent spent his first year as a Private Client Tax Reporting Officer in Winnipeg. Subsequent to this, he transferred to Ottawa where he worked as a Private Client Manager in eastern Ontario for four years. In 2006, Brent transitioned into his role as Regional Vice-President, Wealth Planning and as of 2013 is the Vice-President, Wealth Planning overseeing the delivery of our wealth planning services across Canada by our regional teams. His overall professional experience in wealth planning exceeds 20 years.Brent is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA) with a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Manitoba. In addition, he obtained his Certified Financial Planner® (CFP®) designation and completed both the CICA In-Depth Tax Course and the CICA Advanced Tax Issues for the Owner-Managed Business course. He is a member of the Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario and the Canadian Tax Foundation.

Duane Snow CFP®, CLU, ChFC, 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 Wilfred 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. With access to a wealth of tools and resources, Assante advisors are supported by the insurance specialists at Assante Estate and Insurance Services Inc.

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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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