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Financial strategy – your financial strategy begins with Black-Stratton.

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About Scotia Wealth Management About ScotiaMcLeod

Meet Our Team

Our team has the expertise to resolve clients unique challenges and delivers their service at the highest level of professional quality.

The Black Stratton Group helps our clients achieve their long-term goals by covering and managing the investment, insurance, and estate planning aspects of their individual situations.

We will work closely with our team of seasoned professionals and specialists to provide you with the total financial solutions you require to help reach your overall financial objectives and personal and business needs.

Become a client

Growing up in a family of entrepreneurs, Michael always had a passion and a natural aptitude for business. He joined Scotia McLeod in 1997 and built his wealth advisory practice based on hard work, discipline, and an entrepreneurial spirit. As one of the founding partners of the Black-Stratton Group, Michael draws on over 26 years of industry experience. He is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP), Chartered Investment Manager (CIM), and is a Fellow of the Canadian Securities Institute (FCSI).  As a licensed Portfolio Manager, Michael leads the Group’s discretionary portfolio management platform and oversees the management of investment portfolios. With a deep understanding of the businesses and financial markets, Michael focuses on creating customized portfolios for clients.  He focuses on developing our investment strategy to help clients navigate the complexities of today’s financial landscape and to improve their overall wellbeing. Michael enjoys educating clients and is lauded for his ability to explain complex financial matters in a way that is easy to understand, and for delivering the highest level of investment management and client service.

Outside of work, Michael is an avid golfer, and enjoys skiing, traveling, and spending time with his wife and their three children. Michael and his wife Catherine are highly active in their community and have been involved with various fundraising initiatives to support ScotiaMcLeod’s Share the Wealth Charity as well as the United Way.

ScotiaMcLeod®, a division of Scotia Capital Inc.

Neil’s passion for the stock markets began at an early age ever since he was first exposed to a stock market simulation activity in his high school economics class. After completing his degree in Economics from the University of Toronto, Neil decided to pursue his passion and interest in the markets by becoming an investment advisor. Having been with ScotiaMcLeod since 1996, Neil has consistently been recognized as one of the top performing advisors in the firm, as evidenced by his 15+ years of participation in ScotiaMcLeod’s prestigious Chairman’s and President’s Council, and his high referral rates from existing clients. He is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP), Chartered Investment Manager (CIM), and is a Fellow of the Canadian Securities Institute (FCSI) – which is recognized as the highest honour in the financial services industry.

As a licensed portfolio manager and one of the founding partners of the Black-Stratton Group, Neil provides strategic leadership to our team, as he is responsible for the overall direction of the business and our investment strategy. Neil is well known to be a highly analytical and strategic thinker, with sharp intellect and the ability to solve complex issues. He takes an innovative and thoughtful approach when advising clients on wealth planning strategies to ensure that their needs are met with the most optimal solutions. Neil’s analytical mind and innate curiosity is a major asset to our investment team, as he has an insatiable desire to constantly uncover unique investment opportunities.

Drawing upon his extensive industry knowledge and his dedication to the integrity of the firm, Neil served as the Chairman of the ScotiaMcLeod Advisory Board for 3 years, where he was responsible for providing strategic advice towards enhancing the management and organization of ScotiaMcLeod. Not only does Neil enjoy getting involved at a micro level, but he also believes in giving back to his community. Having lived in Newmarket for the past 15 years, Neil is involved is various community roles with the Southlake Regional Health Centre, the Newmarket Chamber of Commerce, and the Newmarket Awesome Foundation. Neil values having work-life balance: outside of the office, he can often be found on the golf course, at the cottage, and/or spending time with his family.

ScotiaMcLeod®, a division of Scotia Capital Inc.

Since joining the Black-Stratton Group in 2002, Robert has played an instrumental role in our team’s success and our ability to deliver an unparalleled client experience. Given his strong enthusiasm for his work and unquestionable dedication to his clients, Robert has distinguished himself as a trusted advisor to high-net-worth individuals, foundations and corporations crafting personalized investment strategies with his skilled team.

Robert brings with him significant knowledge and expertise to the development of client investment strategy and financial planning. As a graduate of York University, Robert holds an undergraduate degree in finance with distinction. In addition to being a licensed Portfolio Manager, he holds designations as a Certified Financial Planner (CFP), Chartered Investment Manager (CIM), Fellow of the Canadian Securities Institute and Life Insurance Licensed in Ontario.

Drawing from more than 20 years of wealth management experience, Robert takes a pragmatic, cost-effective and solutions-oriented approach to wealth management. He places a strong focus on delivering a diversified and bespoke investment program that allows his clients to preserve and grow their wealth over time while minimizing risk. He takes pride in the strong relationships that he has built over the years and the valuable contributions he has been able to make towards them.

Robert resides in Aurora with his wife Jessica and two children and is an active member of his community. He previously served on the Board of Directors for Hospice Vaughan and in his spare time Robert also enjoys a bad game of golf.

ScotiaMcLeod®, a division of Scotia Capital Inc.

With over two decades of experience in the wealth management industry, Brian has been with The Black-Stratton Group since 2006.  He has proven to be a highly patient and conscientious relationship manager and has a unique ability to bring a sense of calm and confidence to his clients’ financial well-being.  In addition to being a Fellow of the Canadian Securities Institute (FCSI), Brian’s other credentials include Professional Financial Planner (PFP), licensed Registered Representative (IIROC), licensed Options & Derivatives trader and holds a degree in Business Administration from the University of Western Ontario.

Brian has established himself as a trusted advisor and delivers customized, holistic wealth management solutions.  He takes a collaborative approach to investing and total wealth planning by gaining a deep understanding of the client’s entire financial picture, immediate needs and their goals for the future.  He works with his clients and team of specialists to deliver a comprehensive financial plan and strategy to help clients achieve their goals.

Brian is a long-time Markham resident and active member of the community.  Outside of the office Brian likes to travel with his wife and kids and enjoys any other free time on the golf course!

ScotiaMcLeod®, a division of Scotia Capital Inc.

With a background in economics, a fascination with human psychology, and a natural aptitude for connecting with people – Cathy provides a fresh and energetic approach to wealth management that is centered on building deep relationships and helping clients through every stage of their lives.

As a Certified Financial Planner (CFP), Cathy is passionate about educating and empowering clients (especially women) to feel confident and peace of mind about their financial affairs. She takes a holistic and consultative approach to wealth management that begins with taking the time to listen and to understand each clients’ unique situation and what truly matters to them. She enjoys working together with clients to strategize and to develop tailored financial plans that encompass every facet of a client’s financial situation – including their investments, retirement, tax, insurance, philanthropic and estate plans. The financial plan then dovetails into the development of an investment strategy that focuses on protecting assets, reducing risk, enhancing income, and wealth generation for clients. She believes that having a solid financial plan, and sticking to it, is the cornerstone of a successful investment strategy which enables clients to enjoy their lives to the fullest.

Cathy is major proponent of continuing education to further her professional development and expertise in holistic wealth management and financial planning. In addition to being a Certified Financial Planner (CFP), she also holds her Chartered Investment Manager (CIM) designation, Life Insurance License in Ontario, and is an Associate Portfolio Manager.

Outside of work, Cathy values having a balanced and active lifestyle and enjoys challenging herself to take on new hobbies and to learn new skills – some of which including running, cycling, golf, hiking, yoga, and painting. In addition to spending quality time with family and friends, she loves off-the-beaten-path travel experiences and exploring different cultures through food, art, and history.

ScotiaMcLeod®, a division of Scotia Capital Inc.

Ron began his career with Scotiabank in 2003 as a Financial Advisor after completing his degree in Economics from the University of Toronto. Ron is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) and brings over 20 years of experience in the financial services industry and a technical edge when it comes to portfolio management. In addition to being a Certified Financial Planner (CFP), he also holds his Chartered Investment Manager (CIM) designation and is a licensed Portfolio Manager. Ron is also fluent in Cantonese.

Ron specializes in customizing and delivering comprehensive wealth solutions to high-net-worth clients to help them achieve their goals. Leveraging his strong knowledge and expertise in finance – Ron has always had a keen interest in the stock markets and particularly enjoys conducting research and fundamental/technical analysis on individual companies. He takes a thorough and holistic approach to wealth management that involves detailed financial planning to ensure that his clients are on track to achieve their own unique goals and that they are properly invested according to their risks and objectives. Clients especially appreciate Ron’s candor, attention to detail, and emphasis on timeliness.

Ron grew up and still resides locally in Markham with his wife and two kids. In addition to spending quality time and travelling with his family, he is a major sports fanatic (specifically, a huge Raptors fan), and participates in several basketball and hockey leagues in the community.

ScotiaMcLeod®, a division of Scotia Capital Inc.

Frank is an Investment Associate with ScotiaMcLeod and has over 17 years of experience performing financial analysis, research and providing strategic guidance on structuring portfolios to high net worth families, Charities, and Corporations. Frank is a Certified Financial Planner with the Financial Planners Standards Council of Canada and a Licensed Life Underwriter (Level II). Frank has also been rewarded with the distinction of member of ScotiaMcleod’s Executive Council.

Frank lives in the Durham Region with his wife and son and is an active member in his community. He enjoys golf, travelling, and really great wine.

ScotiaMcLeod®, a division of Scotia Capital Inc.

Nashila was raised in a family where business was a way of life, and from a young age, she has been instilled with a  strong work ethic and a deep understanding of the business world.  She ran a retail business while in university, which taught her valuable lessons in customer service. Upon completion of her Bachelor of Business Administration honours degree in Finance from York University’s Schulich School of Business, she commenced her career in the financial services industry.

Nashila is fully licensed in securities and insurance. With 30 years of industry experience, she has accumulated a wealth of knowledge which plays a vital role in helping her clients achieve their financial goals.  She is authentic, patient, and compassionate, and can make her clients feel comfortable with sharing their personal financial journeys with her.  She helped develop a financial strategy for her clients by working together with Scotia Wealth Management’s team of specialists, including Investment Management, Insurance, Estate and Trust Services, Private Banking, and Business and Family Advisory Services. Once a solution is determined, she focuses on developing the client relationship and conducting regular portfolio reviews.

In addition, she assists with the team’s discretionary portfolio management platform – where she is responsible for portfolio modelling, re-balancing, and executing block trades.

Nashila believes in the importance of contributing to a purpose greater than oneself and is an active volunteer in her community. She volunteers her time mentoring young women and helps to provide them with the skills and confidence to be the best versions of themselves. She actively engages in the World Partnership Walk, a charitable organization committed to combatting global poverty. Additionally, she is a devoted mother to two young adults who are currently making their mark in the world. Having resided in four different countries, she possesses a diverse cultural background and is proficient in multiple languages. Moreover, she finds great joy in exploring the world alongside her loved ones, embracing travel as a means to create lasting memories with her family and friends

ScotiaMcLeod®, a division of Scotia Capital Inc.

Brian joined Scotia Wealth Management in 2023, and brings over 7 years of financial planning experience, with a focus on assisting professionals, business owners, and their families. While studying Accounting and Financial Management at the University of Waterloo, Brian discovered his passion for holistic wealth planning through a personal financial planning course. To further enhance his knowledge and repertoire of wealth management strategies, Brian also obtained his Certified Financial Planner (CFP), and Registered Retirement Consultant (RRC) designations, and became a licensed Life Insurance holder in Ontario.

Brian’s financial planning philosophy is grounded in three guiding principles: education, accountability, and transparency. By creating a customized, written financial plan for each client’s goals and objectives, Brian is dedicated to empowering clients with a comprehensive understanding of their financial situation and keeping them informed about all available opportunities. The plan ensures that all actions taken are transparent, mutually understood, and agreed upon, which holds him accountable for prioritizing clients’ needs.

In his personal life, Brian is an avid snowboarder, frequent moviegoer, and appreciator of all things related to food. He enjoys cooking almost as much as eating and never refuses a good cup of coffee. If you have any restaurant recommendations, feel free to send them his way.

ScotiaMcLeod®, a division of Scotia Capital Inc.

Maria has over 20 years of experience in the financial services industry, and has been with the Black-Stratton Group since the inception of our team. She is highly skilled and experienced in handling all administrative matters at every stage of the client process, and plays a key role in supporting our team operations. Maria works closely with Michael Black to deliver a high-end client experience, and takes pride in her ability to build deep and long-lasting relationships that are rooted in trust and loyalty. ­Our clients value Maria’s charismatic nature and natural ability to resonate with people. Her tenure with our team is a true testament to her commitment to, and her passion for helping clients achieve their financial goals. Maria has also completed the Canadian Securities Course (CSC) and Conduct and Practices Handbook (CPH) courses.

In addition to spending time with her family outside of work, Maria participates in kickboxing classes and hopes to compete one day. She enjoys the fast-paced and challenging nature of kickboxing, and strives to push herself to new limits. Outside of her personal interests in the arts and sciences, Maria is passionate about being able to give back to her community.

ScotiaMcLeod®, a division of Scotia Capital Inc.

Since joining The Black-Stratton Group in 2020, Tiffany has helped structure the client experience from the first stage of contact to the day-to-day management. After obtaining a Bachelor of Arts degree in music from the University of Western Ontario, she pursued further education by completing a business diploma at Seneca College, thereby augmenting her repertoire of skills and knowledge. She makes it her priority to ensure client processes are smooth and seamless which upholds The Black-Stratton Group’s goals of ensuring the best client experience. Her personable approach engages clients and her commitment to the team ensures everything is organized and ready for approval. Tiffany also assumes the vital role of coordinating and overseeing the planning and execution of client and team events with meticulous attention to detail and efficiency. Moreover, she has successfully completed the Canadian Securities Course (CSC) and the Conduct Practices Handbook (CPH) course, exemplifying her drive for professional growth and anticipation of future achievements.

Outside of work, Tiffany has a passion and love for animals, especially her beloved long-haired German Sheppard, Rambo. He may not be the brightest Sheppard out there, but he does bring back the ball… most of the time. In addition to her cherished companionship with animals, Tiffany derives great pleasure from exploring diverse culinary establishments and savoring a wide array of “foodie” experiences.

ScotiaMcLeod®, a division of Scotia Capital Inc.

Vicki has been with ScotiaMcLeod for the entirety of her career, and is highly experienced in providing exceptional service to clients since entering the industry in 1985. As an Administrative Support Assistant, Vicki works closely with Neil Stratton and other members of the administrative team to process all account opening documentation and to support our clients. Given her industry experience and tenure on our team, Vicki provides expertise and a strong understanding of compliance and administrative processes. She constantly strives to ensure that her work is of the highest standards, and clients especially value her diligence and courteous nature.

Outside of work, Vicki enjoys spending time with her husband Guy, her two children, and two dogs Mocha and Shiloh. Vicki is actively involved every year in the Meghan’s Walk in support of brain tumors at the Hospital for Sick Kids.

ScotiaMcLeod®, a division of Scotia Capital Inc.

Rose has worked in the financial industry for over 26 years. After taking a break from her career to focus on her family, she joined The Black-Stratton Group at Scotia Wealth Management in 2023 as a Business Development Associate. Rose brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the team. Throughout her career, she has focused on managing and coaching advisors and ensuring client satisfaction is at the core of everything she does. Rose is goal-oriented, possesses strong leadership skills, and is a valuable member of the team.

Rose has completed many industry-related courses, including Canadian Securities Course, Canadian Options Course, Branch Managers Course, Portfolio Management Techniques, and Options Supervision Course.

In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and cooking but her true passion is gardening. Last year, her garden was recognized by Pickering Blooms as the winner of the Garden of Distinction award.

Our services

The Black-Stratton Group focuses heavily on providing comprehensive wealth solutions while other wealth management teams offer strictly investment advice.

We focus on providing full financial planning services as well as portfolio management services. We are one of the advisor teams capable of utilizing a discretionary management process where we execute day-to-day transactions on a client’s behalf based on specific criteria selected by the client.

We have a disciplined investment philosophy and process that is rooted by real world knowledge and experience.

Services provided

We provide clients with comprehensive portfolio management utilizing a customized approach to their portfolio construction in accordance with their individual needs, tax situation, and risk tolerance. We can operate accounts in a collaborative or a discretionary platform, under a fee-based platform.

We are experts in the retirement planning field, bringing together all of the various assumptions required to guide a client toward the appropriate savings rates as they approach retirement, and spending rates when they’re retired.

Insurance is a part of any well thought out financial plan. Protecting one’s assets is an essential part of a holistic wealth management approach through the utilization of various life, disability, critical illness, and long-term care policies.

This service is provided by Scotia Wealth Insurance Services Inc.

Maximizing ones estate through tax minimization, and the ease at which it transfers to the next generation is front of mind for many clients. We provide guidance around how to best accomplish this.

This service is provided by Scotiatrust.

One of the largest expenses of having children, we can certainly help plan for the funding of post-secondary education costs.

For those looking to create a meaningful difference via philanthropy, we would like to introduce you to the Aqueduct Foundation, which empowers individuals to create a positive impact with ease.

 The Aqueduct Foundation: Facilitating Personal Philanthropy

The Aqueduct Foundation is a Canadian public charitable foundation dedicated to facilitating significant personal philanthropy. Founded in 2006, Aqueduct has an independent board of directors and is managed by Scotiatrust, which is part of Scotia Wealth Management. Based in Vancouver, Aqueduct has donors from across Canada. We at The Black-Stratton Group would be pleased to assist you in establishing a legacy with administration ease.

Resources

Our process

We utilize a discretionary management process in order to provide clients with intelligent, high impact financial solutions that minimize risk and maximize return on investment.

Our process begins with careful analysis of our clients’ long-term vision and results in a thorough, effective plan that evolves as they do. Using a six-step process, we are able to deliver carefully considered financial solutions. This conscientiously designed process allows our advisors to provide excellent client service and optimized recommendations.

Following this approach, our advisors make informed investment decisions based on specific criteria provided by the client, executing day-to-day transactions on their behalf. We use a disciplined investment philosophy that is rooted in knowledge and experience, and manage each portfolio with exceptional attention to detail.

Contact us

How to Get in Touch With Our Team

Finding the solution to your financial needs is our foremost focus.

Below you will find the contact information of our team of skilled Wealth Advisors and associates. We take great pride in providing expedient replies to all inquiries.

To learn more about who we we are, please click any of our individual profiles below.

We look forward to speaking with you!

Our address

Get Directions from Google Maps

675 Cochrane Drive, Suite 115
Markham, Ontario
L3R 0B8, Canada

+1 866.255.7755
905.479.8248

Contacts
NamePositionPhone
Michael BlackSenior Wealth Advisor, Portfolio Manager905.479.8236
Neil StrattonSenior Wealth Advisor, Portfolio Manager905-479-8244
Robert CaldarolaSenior Wealth Advisor905.479.8252
Brian CooperInvestment Associate905.479.8250
Cathy QuachInvestment Associate, Associate Portfolio Manager905.479.8255
Ronald MiuInvestment Associate, Associate Portfolio Manager905.479.8262
Frank LoPrestiInvestment Associate905.479.8251
Nashila MalickInvestment Associate905.479.8249
Brian ChanSenior Financial Planning Associate905.948.4767
Maria KaravasAdministrative Associate905-948-4761
Tiffany HsuAdministrative Associate905.479.8237
Vicki LaforgeAdministrative Support Assistant905-479-8246
Rose AricoBusiness Development Associate905.479.8242