Wellington West Total Wealth Management wins Independent Financial Advisor
Team of the Year by the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners

David Christianson and the Wellington West Total Wealth Management Team recognized as the
Independent Financial Advisor Team of the Year

WINNIPEG, Oct. 26 /CNW/ - Wellington West, a Winnipeg-based, independent full-service wealth management firm, today announced that their Total Wealth Management team, led by David Christianson, has been named as the Independent Financial Advisor Team of the Year by the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP).

"I am thrilled," says Christianson, "I am honoured that our team has been recognized as a top provider of financial advice.  Our team is creative, disciplined and always provides our clients with the most up to date and effective total wealth management advice."

The award was announced at a gala dinner in London, UK on October 19, 2010 and presented by STEP; the leading worldwide professional body for practitioners in the fields of trusts, estates and related issues with over 14,500 members in 66 countries worldwide.

The Independent Financial Advisor Team of the Year Award is presented to the team who best integrates independent financial advice into the wider estate planning strategy of their clients; shows that it understands the needs of private clients; demonstrates innovation in the proposition they offer to trustee clients; partners and develops professional connections and; demonstrates commitment to developing their legal and taxation knowledge.

"We are ecstatic that David and his team have been recognized for who they are - world class providers of financial advice," says Charlie Spiring, Founder, CEO and Chairman of Wellington West Holdings Inc.  "The Wellington West Total Wealth Management team, under David's leadership, continues to provide best in class counsel to their clients on a vast array of complex financial issues."

David joined Wellington West in 2001 and in addition to building a world class total wealth management team, he has been a pivotal sparkplug in Wellington West's unique culture. 

"David is an integral part of our firm and our culture," says Kish Kapoor, President, Wellington West Holdings Inc.  "He is an expert at financial advice, he has never forgotten to have fun and he constantly encourages us to live our dreams and our lives to the fullest!"

About Wellington West

The Wellington West group of companies provides full-service brokerage, financial planning, asset management and capital markets services. In over 17 years since its inception, the employee-owned Wellington West has become one of the largest and fastest-growing independent full-service wealth management firms in Canada with approximately $9 billion in assets under administration.

Among its many corporate achievements, Wellington West has been ranked in the top quartile of the 50 Best Employers in Canada for the past six consecutive years, named one of Canada's Fastest Growing Companies in 2007, and recognized as one of Canada's 50 Best Managed Companies for four consecutive years and a total of ten times since 1996. In addition, Wellington West ranked in the top 3 in the 2010 Brokerage Report Card survey for the seventh consecutive year. Its Founder and CEO, Charlie Spiring, won the top honour in the professional/financial services category of the Ernst & Young 2009 Entrepreneur of the Year Awards for the Prairies region.

About the awards program and STEP

The Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) is the leading worldwide professional body for practitioners in the fields of trusts, estates and related issues. STEP members help families plan their long-term financial future, facilitating good stewardship and financial planning across future generations.  STEP members also help families comply with the often complex law and tax rules surrounding trusts, estates and inheritance.

STEP has more than 14,500 members in 66 countries, ranging from Canada and the UK to New Zealand and Mauritius. STEP supports a wide-ranging education and training program and more than 3,500 students worldwide are currently studying for STEP qualifications.  STEP members are subject to a rigorous code of professional conduct.  For more information, please visit www.step.org.

The Independent Financial Advisor Team of the Year Award is presented to the team who best: integrates independent financial advice into the wider estate planning strategy of their clients; shows that it understands the needs of private clients; demonstrates innovation in the proposition they offer to trustee clients; partner and develop professional connections and; demonstrate commitment to developing their legal and taxation knowledge.

Nominees are reviewed by an international judging panel, composed of distinguished leaders within the STEP membership.

For further information:

Media Contacts:
Kish Kapoor
[phone] or [email protected]