We believe investors should not have to sacrifice their core values to meet their financial goals, so we created the Blue Heron ESG Leader Portfolios to offer Responsible Investing to our clients.
The flexibility of the AMA discretionary managed portfolio system has allowed us to be innovative in our thinking and launch these portfolios that focus on sustainable investing. In a dynamic, interconnected world, there is no “simply getting rid of stocks, bonds or investment funds that are unethical or morally ambiguous,” We developed tough screening criteria – our Blue Heron Investment Principles – which constitute a methodology to remove subjectivity from our Environmental Social and Governance (ESG) screening and create a reasonable, objective, and repeatable means to identify better companies and build better portfolios.
Our financial planning approach starts by listening. We want to achieve a full understanding of where you are, and where you would like to go. We work with our clients to develop a meaningful plan for them. We listen, to identify key issues and help you to understand the options available. From this we guide you through the process to make better informed decisions.
We have the scale, flexibility and independence to tailor solutions just for you.
Author of the book Making Your Dreams a Reality; Taking the Mystery out of Financial Planning and not the Magic. Award Winning, World Class Speaker, Betty-Anne has a passion for making information accessible, interesting, relevant and enjoyable.
She has been a Financial Life Planner for over twenty years and been a member of the RIA for most of those years.
Currently Betty-Anne is focussing on Philanthropic Planning, magnifying donors gifts to charities, enhancing their impact, to make as big a difference in the world as possible This is a part of her vision and values www.bettyanne.net. All of which go together nicely with her commitment to Responsible Investing.
Janice is a trusted Investment Advisor to high net worth conservative investors, small businesses, corporations, institutions, estates and foundations. She currently manages a multi-million dollar client base, customizing investment and financial planning strategies to meet the individual needs for each of her clients.
Janice believes that each investor’s needs are unique and investment and financial planning must reflect that reality. In addition, she understands that preservation of capital is of paramount concern and can be best obtained with a well structured, diversified portfolio.
The process leading to financial independence usually begins with a complete review of current and future life goals. Everyone is different, with individual expectations and objectives. With goals based investing, these goals drive every decision made in regards to managing wealth.
It is important to develop a customized investment strategy, matching expectations with what is realistic and comfortable for each client in terms of risk. Janice often works in collaboration with a wide range of professionals in the legal, accounting and financial planning fields to meet her clients’ specific needs and goals.
I grew up on a horse farm and lived in Alberta until attending the University of Western Ontario. My wife, Helen, and I now live in Caledon with our twin son and daughter. I enjoy many things in life including: humour; reading; music; food; photography; skiing; cycling; hiking; and coaching my son’s baseball team. I have a strong interest in environmental issues and social responsibility.
I began my career in financial services in 1991 and have worked to achieve designations such as: Certified Financial Planner (CFP) and Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU). I enjoy talking with members about responsible investing and charitable giving. I am able to put members at ease and bring simplicity to our conversations, especially when discussing the sometimes complex world of investments and financial planning.
Situated in the heart of this Nation’s capital, John Hastings provides responsible and impact investing services to both private and institutional clients. His proprietary process enables him to build investment portfolios tailored to the specific needs and wishes of all of his clients. His current client’s include Inuit organizations, foundations, non-profit organizations, high net worth families, business owners, and professional athletes.
As a former member of the Canadian National Kayak team, and an alternate on the 2012 Olympic Team, John witnessed first-hand the impact of climate change on the rivers he raced, and the communities he had the privilege to visit. John’s new passion consists in finding solutions to climate change and the many other challenges facing our society.
John earned his MBA from the Telfer School of Management, and is a CFA Charter holder. He is on the Impact Investment Committee at the Ottawa Community Foundation, a member of the Investment Committee at the Hnatyshyn Foundation, a board member for the Canadian Athletes Now Fund. He guest lectures on responsible investing at the University of Ottawa and is a student mentor at the Sprott School of Business.
Alan joined ScotiaMcleod in 1987 after completing a M.B.A. at York University. He has been awarded the J.G. Weir Award for excellence in Client Service and was nominated for the Investment Dealers Association Award of Distinction. He was made a Director in 1994 and became a Portfolio Manager in 2011. Alan has been an 11 time member of ScotiaMcLeod’s “Chairman’s Council”.
Alan has been involved in socially responsible investing and impact investing since the late 1980’s. He was a founding member of the Social Investment Organization (later the Responsible Investment Organization) and sat on their inaugural Board of Directors. He is an original client and partner of Jantzi Research Associates (later Sustainalytics) and was a judge for the mutual fund industry’s “Socially Responsible Fund of the Year” award.
Alan has been featured on television and all of Canada’s national newspapers in regards to socially responsible investing, fossil free portfolios and impact investing. Alan has audited 13 year performance returns for his socially responsible investment portfolios.
Alan’s passion is the environment. In the early 1990s he hosted public seminars on environmental investing featuring leading environmentalist of the day. In 2000 he had his office “zero-footprinted” and “bullfrog powered”. He was a campaign manager for the Green Party of Canada and has sat on a variety of environmental not-for-profit boards including the Environmental Industry Association and Small Change Fund. Recently Alan helped craft Ontario’s first community solar energy project under the Green Energy Act (nominated for a Green Toronto award), which has since been used by 23 churches in Toronto.
Alan has played an active role in many social change organizations in Toronto. He recently sat on the boards of Variety Village and Bereaved Families of Ontario. He is the founder and President of the Alma Children’s Education Foundation (www.almafoundation.ca).
Investment Philosophy and Process
It has been Alan’s experience that applying a socially responsible screen to portfolios not only aligns one’s investments with their values but provides for lower volatility and higher returns.
Service Approach
Alan has a limited and particular client base (socially responsible investors) so he is able to provide excellent client service. Alan has a minimum account size of $1,000,000. Eleanor Martin has been his administrative assistant for 30 years and enjoys a stellar reputation within the firm and amongst his clients.
I have over 30 years of experience in the financial services industry. I hold a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Manitoba along with the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), and Chartered Market Technician (CMT) designations.
Professionally, I am a member of CFA Institute and the CMT Association. My volunteer roles with CFA Institute include past president of CFA Vancouver, past President’s Council Representative (PCR) for Canada on the global Board of CFA Institute, Exam Grading, Standard Setting, the Nominating Committee and the Disciplinary Review Committee. For the CMT Association, I am a past member of the Curriculum Committee.
I was a proud volunteer for the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics serving as the timer for the Figure Skating events. This role arose from a 25-year volunteer career in Figure Skating as an internationally ranked judge. In my community, I am currently a citizen member of the District of West Vancouver finance committed and a board member on the West Vancouver Community Centres Society. I am involved in volunteer activities at the school our children attend and the sports that they play.
One of the accomplishments in my life that I am most proud of is training and running a marathon in the year that I turned 50. I have always been athletic but never a runner (I am still not a runner) but was able to make a few lifestyle choices and learned how to make this happen! I am proud finisher of the New York Marathon and a few half marathons and 10K’s since then!
We are independent Financial Planners. We work to achieve the best retirement for you with a view to passing on as much as possible to your beneficiaries. We do Holistic Retirement Planning and Estate Planning. We use various tools including Charitable Giving, Tax Reduction strategies and Insurance strategies.
Over the past 28 years, Sara has built her practice as investment advisor and financial planner, guided by her core business values of integrity, transparency, trust and respect.
From social entrepreneur in the 1980’s to financial advisor since 1993, Sara has long believed in the power of business to contribute to positive change in society.
She is passionate about responsible investing, and helping people meet their financial goals, in concert with their personal values.
For many years, Sara was an Executive member of the Ethical Investment Group (EIG), an investment club in Montreal, dedicated to proving that investors can do well while doing good! Also a lover of the arts, Sara acted as President of the board of directors at Youtheatre for over 15 years, and remains an active supporter.
Along with my husband, Nathan, and our three wonderful daughters, I am an active member of St. Jacobs Mennonite Church. In my spare time you’ll find me enjoying my family, and playing slo-pitch in the summer months.
I love my job! I started my career at Kindred in 2006 after graduating from the University of Manitoba. I have filled various roles and gained extensive knowledge in many areas of financial services. I value the opportunity to meet members, build long-term relationships, and work together with other staff to assist members in making knowledgeable and informed decisions about their investments and future savings. I’m motivated in my work, knowing that members place their trust in me and have given me the opportunity to share my knowledge with them as I participate in planning for their future. I always follow up with members to make sure they receive excellent service!