Mark Kriznic, CIM^®

In my view, the two most important aspects of a person’s well-being are their health and their money. I was never enthusiastic about science class but enjoyed math and accounting. Dental school was the dream my father had for me but neither dentistry nor medicine were fields that interested me. I always had an interest in money and finances. Looking back, I was most likely inspired by watching my parents build a successful small business and make good financial decisions for our family. While at university, I signed up for membership in a studentrun investment club and that’s when I found my calling. What started out as an interest in business and investing evolved into an interest in wealth management. Wealth management was where I felt my skills and interests could help me make a meaningful impact on people’s lives.

I work with families, professionals, business owners, corporations and non-profit organizations to help them achieve their vision of success when it comes to their money and finances. My primary specialty is investment portfolio construction and management. Most of my clients don’t want to be involved in the day-to-day decision-making process of choosing the right investments for their portfolio. We set boundaries for me to operate within and they rely on me to choose suitable investments for them within those boundaries. In addition, I work with my clients to assess their overall financial health through planning and financial projections. We address many topics such as planning for retirement, income planning in retirement, estate planning, tax planning, succession planning for business owners and philanthropic planning to name a few of the broader topics. Every situation is unique and always keeps the work interesting.

I graduated from Western with an Honours degree in Political Science in 1997 and, during my final term before earning my degree, I completed the Canadian Securities Course. This helped me land my first job out of school as a teller at a major financial institution and, aȅer only a few months, I quickly moved into the investment advice division of that company which gave me the foundational skills and experience that I still use today. I built upon my university education by completing countless industry-related courses and certifications. Most notably, I earned the Chartered Investment Manager designation from the Canadian Securities Institute which has allowed me to become licensed as a Portfolio Manager. I’ve also obtained my licensing to trade options which seems to be getting rarer among investment advisors in the industry these days. This allows me to offer some unique strategies and opportunities that can’t be replicated by most other advisors.

When not at work, my family is my priority. I have two young boys which keep me going and have really changed my perspective on life, for the better. I enjoy playing sports and I’m a very patient Blue Jays fan. Most recently, I’ve developed a passion for barbecue and smoking meat. I think the satisfaction I get witnessing the joy people experience eating good food comes from the same place as the satisfaction I get when I’ve helped a client address an issue or achieve a financial goal they’ve set for themselves.