About Us

Ahmed brings a world of experience to his position at Educators – literally. After studying economics in Lausanne, Switzerland, and living in Dubai, Qatar and Egypt, he decided to build his future in Canada. With the Canadian Securities Course, Personal Financial Planner designation, and 7 years working with RBC under his belt, he now helps others create their futures as well. “Canada welcomed me almost 10 years ago and ever since I’ve tried to give back, providing advice to help Canadians grow their assets, maximize their retirement income and achieve their lifetime goals.” Ahmed’s grandfather was the Dean of a college, giving him an insider’s perspective of the education community. He is also fully bilingual in French and English. Ahmed appreciates Educators’ focus on the community and how it provides valuable, in-depth advice around issues unique to the education community, such as understanding the Ontario Teachers Pension Plan and OMERS pension, and navigating pension income gaps.

Alana’s career shows the value of pushing yourself to do and learn more. During her career with TD Bank and RBC as a Financial Advisor, Financial Planning Associate, and Real Estate Associate in Commercial Banking, she not only launched new products, ran Financial Planning campaigns, and developed training programs … she also hosted and produced a Canada-wide employee podcast!

She recently completed the MBA Essentials course at the Rotman School of Management, and has achieved accreditations with CSC, CPH and WME. She also completed the 90-day training for trading.

In terms of ‘why’ she pushes herself, it’s to be able to help people with her expertise. “Banking, investing and finance are complex topics, with many variables,” she says. “Nothing beats the satisfaction I get when a client tells me about the impact I’ve made on them and their loved ones.”

She enjoys working with Educators Financial Group. “I’m working with the most dedicated group of individuals, helping another set of the most dedicated group of individuals. It’s a beautiful thing.”

Alex is an experienced investment professional who has worked as an Investment Associate at Aligned Capital Partners and as an Investment Specialist at BMO Investment Centre. In these positions he acquired experience in financial planning and portfolio analysis, and advised clients on both registered and non-registered investments.

He graduated from the University of Guelph with a Bachelor of Commerce specializing in Economics and Finance. Since then, he has completed the Canadian Securities Course, and become a Registered Investment Sales Representative. He takes satisfaction in providing helpful advice. “I enjoy providing guidance to clients in the areas of investments, investment accounts, and the markets,” he says.

An avid golfer when not working, on the job it’s ‘par for the course’ for Alex to be assisting his Educators clients with achieving their goals, whether it’s a retirement plan or simply general advice when it comes to their investment decisions.

There’s a lot to managing ones finances today – from establishing convenient and economical day to day finances, to understanding debt, to choosing investments to save for your future. With his diverse experience, Bill can help Educators Financial Group clients with it all. At the Bank of Montreal, Bill started as a teller and worked his way up to become Financial Services Manager, acquiring his mutual fund license along the way. He has helped clients build their portfolios with investments such as GICs and mutual funds. “I am looking forward to helping education members with their financial needs at every stage in their careers – from just starting out, to preparing for retirement”, says Bill.

After graduating from Sheridan College with a Business Administration – Marketing Diploma, Brad quickly established the financial industry as where he wanted to be. Starting as a teller at BMO nearly 2 decades ago, he quickly progressed through various roles of Lender, Compliance Officer, Private Banker, and Branch Manager, until he became a Financial Planner and found his true calling. Along the way, he obtained his Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) and Responsible Investment Specialist (RIS) designations.

Brad finds great satisfaction in being part of people’s financial journey through life, as an advisor, mentor, and partner. He especially enjoys working with teachers, saying, “I have huge respect for them. A teacher was the one who inspired me to reach for the stars. And, like teachers, I have a passion for educating others and empowering them with the right tools and resources to make smart financial decisions.”

Outside of work, Brad’s passions include sports – golfing, skiing, and rooting for the Toronto Maple Leafs – and his 4 kids.

Education members working with Chris Knoch truly have the best of both worlds. As he worked as a teacher for 32 years, Chris knows first-hand about an educator’s financial challenges, and the importance of financial literacy. “As a teacher I witnessed the gaping void in educating our youth in the area of financial literacy, therefore my favourite aspect of working in the financial field is educating clients of all ages in the intricacies of the financial world”, he says. Now, as an Accredited Mortgage Professional (AMP) and experienced Mortgage Agent, he combines this personal insight into educators’ needs with an in-depth and specialized education in mortgages and the real estate market. Working at Educators, Chris has found that there is a “team atmosphere, which creates an atmosphere of ease and camaraderie as we all strive to assist our clients.”

Chris Tamber brings to Educators more than 20 years’ experience in the financial services industry. Prior to joining the Educators team, Chris spent many years working for Phillips Hager and North, RBC Global Asset Management as an Investment Funds Advisor, working with both private and non-profit clients providing financial and investment advice and solutions to guide them on the path to financial success. Chris earned an Honours Business Administration Diploma from Seneca College and is working towards becoming a CFP® (Certified Financial Planner). He also holds a financial planning certificate from George Brown College. Chris explains why he was drawn to Educators: “Advisors and teachers share a sense of service. They both want to make a clear, tangible difference in the lives of others.”

One look at Corrinne’s accreditations and you know that she clearly values education and lifelong learning. In the 20 years that she’s worked for major banks such as TD Wealth, CIBC, TD Canada Trust, and Canada Trust, she’s achieved her CFP (Certified Financial Planner), RRC (Registered Retirement Consultant), and RIS (Responsible Investing Specialist) accreditations. As the daughter of a teacher and parent of 3 grown children, she knows firsthand that “teachers educate, shape and influence how our children see the world, setting the tone for how they will become contributing members in our society.”

Corrinne embraces the fact that Educators truly promotes financial literacy via workshops, webinars and personal client meetings. “By increasing our clients’ financial literacy, we give them peace of mind about their future, which in turn lets them focus on what they do best – teach. It also gives them essential financial knowledge which they can teach their students.”

Corrinne is always excited to make a difference and share her knowledge. Give her a call today.

With 15 years of experience in the financial industry, Darryl brings specialized knowledge in the realms of pension and retirement plans, in addition to his proven ability to offer sound, strategic advice on a wide range of other financial planning areas. Darryl has a diploma in Business Administration from Algonquin College in Ottawa, a Registered Retirement Consultant (RRC^®) designation from the Canadian Institute of Financial Planning, as well as a Life Insurance License from the Financial Services Commission of Ontario. He also recently achieved his Certified Financial Planner^® designation. As for what he enjoys most about working with the education community, “I would have to say it’s educating the educators… helping them to clarify and prioritize their financial goals, then implement a plan of action.” Darryl can answer your needs in both French and English.

After receiving his Financial Services-Business Management Diploma from Humber College, Dennis embarked on a career in financial services by taking a position with the Bank of Montreal as a Customer Service Representative, working his way up to Personal Banker over 4 years. During that time he attained his IFIC certificate, and realized he found it very rewarding to help friends, family members and clients grow by increasing their financial literacy.

Now at Educators Financial Group, Dennis is studying for his Personal Financial Planner (PFP®) certification. He is excited about working with the education community. “Educators bring a tremendous value to our society, and play a vital role in shaping the future,” he says. “Empowering teachers with the knowledge and skills to navigate their personal finances will help them thrive both personally and professionally, and become the positive role models they are destined to be.”

Outside of work hours, Dennis enjoys playing soccer and basketball, and spending time in the great outdoors camping and fishing.

A resident of Orleans, Ottawa, Ed comes to Educators Financial Group from BMO Nesbitt Burns. After 20 years of helping people from all walks of life achieve their financial goals, he’s enjoying working specifically with education members. “It’s an opportunity to apply my skills to a unique group, which I believe is underserved by the financial community”, he says. A believer in ongoing education, he has his Financial Planner 1 and 2, Personal Financial Planner certification, Canadian Securities Course, and is taking his Certified Financial Planner certification. A father of two, Ed says, “serving the education community is a way to say thanks for their service to our children and communities.”

With a passion for putting financial plans into action, it’s no surprise that Certified Financial Planner professional Franc Oliveri is a big fan of Warren Buffet quotes. One of his favourites is “In the world of business, the people who are most successful are those who are doing what they love.” Before joining Educators, Franc put his love of the financial field to work at Scotiabank, providing proactive planning and advice so individuals and families could put their finances on autopilot and focus on other aspects of their lives. He is pleased to be at Educators, because he believes it provides incomparable service to education members who work so hard in the formation and development of others.

When it comes to knowing educators firsthand, Jim Wanamaker has an advantage—he comes from a family of educators. Jim brings many years of experience in financial planning, retirement counselling, and investment advice. Prior to joining our team, he was a Financial Services Manager at one of the largest banks in Canada and has also worked for a leading insurance company. Jim holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Windsor, a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Guelph and the Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) designation. What advantages does he bring to his clients? “It’s the fact I understand the financial concerns of our client. This enables me to recognize their needs, and assist them in attaining their personal financial goals.”

Lisa’s love for knowledge and comprehensive background in the finance and investment sector enables her to provide educators with the sound financial solutions they’re looking for with the right combination of smarts, and heart. The ‘smarts’ comes from 15 years experience in several roles within the financial services sector. Having graduated from the University of Toronto with a Bachelor of Economics, Lisa has also obtained her Certified Financial Planner (CFP), Financial Management Advisor (FMA), and Fellow of the Canadian Securities Institute (FCSI) designations. She completed the Registered Retirement Consultant designation through the Canadian Institute of Financial Planning. Lisa’s love for knowledge and dedication to learning motivated her to join the Junior Achievement Program.

Malavika graduated from the University of Windsor with a Bachelor of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies degree. During her three years working in the financial field, she achieved her certification in Mutual Funds (IFIC) and rose through the ranks at TD Canada Trust to the position of Financial Advisor.

She is excited to work with Educators Financial Group as it allows her to sit down with her clients and curate an in-depth and personalized financial plan to reach their personal goals. “Coming from a family with generations of educators, I am eager to help understand what the members of the education community need to help reach their financial goals,” she says.

Marjan’s background combines post-secondary studies in business, working with one of Canada’s major banks, and a personal commitment to helping educators – making her the perfect addition to Educators Financial Group!

After graduating from Ottawa’s Carleton university with an MBA degree, she developed a solid understanding of financial products and services as a financial advisor at the Royal Bank of Canada for 4 years.

Marjan’s interest in educators is personal. She has two teachers in her family and admires them for their efforts to increase levels of education and culture in our society. Because of this, she says, “I want to live in a world where educators have no financial concerns … where teachers are in good financial standing, especially when they retire.”

To ensure she helps Educators’ clients achieve their personal financial goals, she is committed to continuing to increase her own financial knowledge and keep up-to-date. To this end, she will complete her PFP designation in the near future.

Matthew’s strong interest in investments and finances began in his early years. He graduated from the University of Toronto with a major in both Statistics and Economics. His passion for educating others in finance started with tutoring at a young age and translated successfully into a position at TD Bank, and consequently as Senior Financial Advisor at Educators Financial Group.

Matthew is thankful for the guidance of his mentors in leadership roles who helped him achieve his career goals. Today, at Educators, Matthew delivers the same positive experience to his clients by providing the utmost care and attention in helping them make informed financial decisions. By offering detailed explanations and honest guidance, he hopes to alleviate all the complexities that come with financial planning. “I’m here to make your life easier, that way you can start focusing on your life goals.” says Matthew.

Matthew has completed CFA Level 1, the Certificate in Advance Financial Advice with CSI (Canadian Securities Institute) and is working towards becoming a CFP® (Certified Financial Planner).

Michael started his career in the financial services industry in 2010. Before joining Educators Financial Group, Michael worked as a Wealth Planning Specialist with a large Canadian wealth management firm providing portfolio analysis and investment planning services. Michael also worked as an Investment Analyst and Manager, Marketing & Communications with a boutique discretionary portfolio management and fund management company, and as a Financial Advisor with one of the major retail banks in Canada.

In addition to his Advanced Diploma from St Lawrence College in Business Administration, Michael holds the Chartered Investment Manager (CIM) designation, is a Fellow of the Canadian Securities Institute (FCSI) and holds the Certified Financial Planner® (CFP) designation.

Michael’s passion is helping clients navigate the often complex and sometimes frustrating world of money management. “I like working with the education community to ensure they get advice tailored to their unique needs. Educators Financial Group provides a reliable resource not typically available to this niche group,” he says.

When he’s not advising or guiding clients, you will find him spending time with his two children, playing pick-up basketball, or working on his ROUGH carpentry skills in his garage to the delight of his wife.

Michail Tsirikos is all about focusing on goals. In his spare time, he’s an avid soccer player and coach who shows his team how to score. And professionally, for the past 9 years at Educators Financial Group, he’s honed his skills as a Customer Service Rep, Account Manager, and now Senior Financial Advisor, to help his clients reach their financial goals. Certified as a Personal Financial Planner, his own goals include completing the CFP® certification, and then moving on to become a Chartered Financial Analyst. Michail believes that being a member-driven institution helps to make Educators unique. “Being part of a community and looking out for one another is great”, he says. He looks forward to continuing to make a difference in his clients’ lives and knowing they are on the right path.

Nadeen acquired her true passion for financial planning early in her career when she started to see the impact her advice and guidance had on her clients.  She has since obtained her Personal Financial Planner (PFP^®), Qualified Association Financial Planner (QAFP^TM), and Certified Financial Planner (CFP^®) designations.

Before joining the team at Educators Financial Group, Nadeen has spent over a decade in banking including a position as an Assistant Branch Manager at RBC, where she also volunteered for community events. She is excited about how Educators is dedicated to helping the education community with their financial needs.  “Teachers are my super-heroes,” she says. “They’ve made a huge impact on who I am today, and I am proud to give back to this incredible community.”

Natalie enjoys helping her clients feel at ease. In fact, one of the things she enjoys most about working in the financial field is the challenge of helping others achieve peace of mind about their finances. “Especially during volatile times, you have to stay on top of market updates, and be able to educate your clients in plain language about how their hard-earned income is being impacted.”

And she’s been doing just that over the last few years. Shortly after receiving her Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Guelph, Natalie worked at TD Bank for over 4 years where she gained experience in Asset Management. She also has experience in project management for commercial real estate and has successfully obtained her Investment Funds in Canada (IFC) certification from the Canadian Securities Institute.

When asked about why she chose to come to Educators Financial Group, she said, “It’s very rewarding to help the education community, to give back to those shaping our kids and young adults today.” She feels that Educators Financial Group is unique, because its specialists “speak the same language” as their clients in the education community, making it easier for clients to feel more comfortable in making life-impacting decisions about financial planning, investments, and lending services.

Outside of work, Natalie enjoys spending her time at dog volunteering and fostering events, finding forever homes for dogs.

“As a coach, you need two things – you need to understand your subject, and you need to understand people,” says Nick Rao. Coaching and relationship building are Nick’s passions. As a mortgage specialist for the Royal Bank of Canada for 7 years, he helped hundreds of clients achieve their short- and long-term goals. Then, as a lending consultant at Canada Life for 3 years, he coached a team of financial planners on how to help their clients achieve their financial goals by utilizing their lending solutions.

At Educators Financial Group, Nick brings these passions – along with his Bachelor of Commerce degree – to help members of the education community with their finances. “I am proud to be at Educators Financial Group and find it extremely rewarding to help the people who are shaping the future of our nation,” he says.

Nigel has a diverse range of experience in the financial industry, including positions as an Investment Specialist (providing expert investment advice) and as an Associate Advisor (providing holistic financial planning, including estate and tax). But he’s the first to say that, although his resume states that he provides expert investment advice and holistic financial planning, the reality is that he crafts meaningful relationships.

Nigel graduated from Wilfrid Laurier University with a Bachelor of Arts, and followed that by studying Professional Financial Services at Fanshawe College. He has since achieved his CFP (Certified Financial Planner) and RIS (Responsible Investment Specialist) designations.

In addition to developing relationships, he believes that a large part of his role is teaching his clients about finances so they can build positive habits that will set them on the path to increasing their financial health. He is looking forward to working with the education community because they lead complex and demanding lives, and that by providing tailored advice, he will be able to save them time and money as well as give them more peace of mind in the future.

Phil’s wealth of experience includes working with several of Canada’s largest financial institutions, including RBC for 15 years, BMO for 1 year, and Scotiabank for 4 years. After receiving a degree from Seneca College in Golf Course Management, he took the Canadian Securities Course and received his accreditation as a Personal Financial Planner (PFP®).

Outside of work, Phil stays active by playing many sports, including hockey, golf, and practising Taekwondo.

He is looking forward to working with Educators Financial Group’s clients because “some of Educators’ clients are so focused on their career that dealing with finances can be daunting and sometimes confusing. I look forward to helping educate them on finances and planning for their future.

Shannon knows how to make a dream become a reality. Growing up, she had two dreams: becoming a teacher, and working in the business world. Today, she has achieved both, through a career where she teaches clients about the business of finances. She has her CFP® (Certified Financial Planner) and RRC® (Registered Retirement Consultant) designations and aims to ultimately become a CFA® (Chartered Financial Analyst).

Working as a Financial Advisor at Scotiabank, she developed in depth knowledge of borrowing and investing. She has chosen to work with Educators Financial Group because, “Some of the most influential people in my life have been my teachers. Working for a company that has the teaching community’s best interests at heart really drew me in.” Shannon looks forward to helping her clients at Educators achieve their dreams.

Shubam’s admiration of analytical thinking has held him in good stead, from his post-graduate studies to his career in the financial field. He studied Electronics and Communication Engineering and Electromechanical Engineering Technology in India and Canada, but his career took him another direction, into the financial industry. In his 5-year association with RBC as a Client Advisor and Investment Representative, he applied himself to achieve the Canadian Securities Course, Conduct and Practices Handbook, Derivatives Fundamentals and Options Licensing Course (DFOL). And that’s in addition to being a Certified Scrum Master and Certified Associate in Project Management. Currently, he is working towards the Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) designation.

One of the aspects of Educators Financial Group that Shubam finds most satisfying is increasing the financial literacy of our clients. “By helping members of the education community increase their financial literacy,” Shubam says, “we not only help them achieve their own financial stability and security… but through them we create brighter futures for learners around the world.”

Siddhesh’s two primary interests are numbers and people. And while these interests may seem worlds apart, his career in financial services lets him work with both.  He says, “I’m an actuary at heart, and love to see the impact of numbers and probabilistic thinking on people’s lives. Finance lies at the perfect intersection of numbers and people.”

Siddhesh has a Bachelor’s degree in Statistics, as well as a post-graduation diploma in Marketing Management (financial services). In addition, he has studied Actuarial Sciences, has taken the Canadian Securities Course, and is working towards his Personal Financial Planner (PFP®) accreditation.

Before coming to Educators Financial Group, Siddhesh worked as a financial advisor at a Fintech startup company. One of the things he enjoys about Educators is its clients and the care the company takes of them. “Educators takes special care of its employees, customers, and all stakeholders in general. I find interacting with the education community satisfying because they are high-quality people. I couldn’t have asked for a better clientele group.”