Richard Widdifield, CFP

Senior Financial Planner

Rich has been a Financial Advisor since 1998. His entire career has been with Assante Capital Management Ltd. Rich is a CFP professional licensed to provide investments (including securities and mutual funds) and life and living benefits insurance.

He began his career working with his father on Vancouver Island. Rich was fortunate to learn from an advisor with over 30 years experience, and they still discuss financial planning frequently. Having access to that experience is incredibly valuable.

In 2000, Rich moved to Vancouver and started his own practice. In those early years of difficult markets, Rich began to see the value in personal financial planning and giving clients a plan that focuses on much more than their investments, in areas they can control.

Rich works primarily with high income earners in their maximum earning years. Much of his client base is made up of business owners, high income professionals, and professional athletes with complex needs, wishing to maximize savings and minimize tax. Rich takes pride in helping clients develop a clear plan of what they need to do to successfully navigate the transition to retirement – all while enjoying life today.

Rich grew up in the Okanagan and on Vancouver Island. After high school he moved to Ottawa and attended Carleton University, where he studied Commerce.

After university, he worked for a radio station and then as a manager for a very successful small business. In 1993, he moved to Victoria where he was with a food distribution company. It was in those 3 positions that Rich had the opportunity to work with and observe a number of small businesses – both successful and struggling.  Having seen all that a business owner or successful professional has to deal with, has enabled Rich focus on making financial planning clear and flexible with easy to implement strategies.

Rich’s objective is to put clients in control of their finances and their financial future. He gives them the tools and information to make educated decisions that help them to achieve their goals. Without a huge time commitment, this allows clients to know where they stand and where they are going, as well as providing peace of mind, knowing that this important area is taken care of.

Rich has a vast knowledge in the areas of investments, risk management, tax planning and personal finance, specifically in debt and cash flow management. This provides him the prospect of locating opportunities for clients to consistently increase their net worth without sacrificing their present lifestyle.

Rich resides in Tsawwassen, BC with his wife Andrea and their two dogs. His stepdaughter, Kaela recently graduated from Acadia University and lives in London, England.

Outside of work, Rich loves to watch and play sports. He and Andrea enjoy golfing with friends and family at Beach Grove Golf Club in Tsawwassen and curling at the Tunnel Town Curling Club. Rich plays hockey and he and Andrea have season tickets to the Canucks. They also enjoy traveling, cooking, and learning about (and tasting!!) wine. Rich has also run 4 marathons, including Chicago, New York and Boston.

 

Insurance products and services are provided through Assante Estate and Insurance Services Inc.

Cheryl Norton , CPA, CA, CFP

Regional Vice President, Wealth Planning

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

Cheryl joined CI Assante Private Client in 2018 after delivering tax planning services primarily in two multi-national public accounting  firms,  as  well  as  holding  senior  tax  and  estate  planning  positions  in  the  financial  services  and  insurance  industry.  Cheryl’s  expertise  includes  tax,  estate  and  trust  planning,  business  succession  planning,  intergenerational  wealth  transfer  strategies,  risk  management,  philanthropy  and charitable giving.  Her overall professional experience in tax and wealth planning exceeds 17 years.  

Cheryl  is  a  Chartered  Professional  Accountant  (CPA,  CA)  with  a  Bachelor  of  Commerce  degree  from  the  University  of  Windsor.    She  has  also  obtained  her  Certified  Financial  Planner®   (CFP®)   designation.   In   addition,   Cheryl   is   a  member of the Chartered Professional Accountants of British Columbia (CPABC) and has completed the CICA In-Depth Tax Course and has acted as a group leader for this course.

Sean Tokach, BA, FMA, FCSI, CIM

Investment Counsellor

As   an   Investment   Counsellor,   Sean Tokach   provides   portfolio   management services to our high-net-worth clients in the CI Assante Private  Client  program.  In  this  role,  in  consultation  with  our  team’s knowledge of our clients’ circumstances, he determines an appropriate asset allocation to best meet their objectives. He also provides ongoing review of client portfolios and works closely with our  Wealth  Planning  team  to  ensure  that  our  clients’  investment  plans continue to meet their needs. 

Sean brings over 20 years of experience to CI Assante Private Client, having started his career in financial services in 1999 in Vancouver. He has worked in a variety of roles within the investment industry, from sales and trading to financial planning and advising clients at GMP Private Client LP and RBC Dominion Securities. Prior to joining CI Assante Private Client in 2020, Sean worked for an independent investment  management  firm  based  in  Calgary  as  a  Portfolio  Manager, and was an active member of the investment committee, while  managing  investment  portfolios  for  affluent  individuals,  trusts,  corporations  and  foundations  on  a  discretionary  basis  in  Alberta and Saskatchewan.  

Sean received his Bachelor of Arts from Saint Mary’s University and has obtained the FMA, FCSI, and CIM® designations, as well as completing numerous courses from Options Supervisor to Professional Financial Planning, to better serve high-net-worth clients. 

Dennis Kondratev , MBA, CFP, CLU®, TEP

Regional Wealth Planner

As a Regional Wealth Planner, Dennis Kondratev facilitates the delivery of wealth planning reports. Using a needs based approach, Dennis 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, Dennis delivers a plan that addresses retirement planning, cash flow management, risk management, business planning and estate planning.
Dennis became part of CI Assante Private Client in 2019. Prior to this he held the role of Specialist, Estate and Financial Planning Services at Sun Life Financial, providing comprehensive financial planning to affluent families, professionals, and business owners.
Dennis has an MBA from Smith School of Business, Queens University. In addition, he holds his Certified Financial Planner® (CFP®), Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) and Trust and Estate Practitioner (TEP) designations

Tasia Marescaux, PFP

Marketing & Service Associate

Tasia has over 25 years experience in management within the banking and financial services industry. She has completed various financial industry qualifications including the completion of the Investment Funds in Canada (IFC), the Canadian Securities Course (CSC), the Branch Compliance Officers Course (ICB), and the Personal Financial Planner (PFP).

In her spare time, she enjoys travel, the outdoors and spending quality time with her family, friends and her two dogs.

Vincianne Tricand

Assistant

Vincianne joined Assante in February 2016. She is a valued assistant to Richard Widdifield and is committed to providing excellent service to their clients.

Vincianne has extensive experience in administration, as well as within the banking and financial services industry.  She graduated from the University of Ottawa with a Bachelor of Social Science with a Concentration in Economics. Following graduation, Vincianne spent eight years teaching in South Korea. She continues to study in order to meet and exceed industry standards.

Vincianne and her husband live in Vancouver. In her spare time, she enjoys participating in sprint triathlons, kayaking, skiing and travelling. 

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