WP Awards 2026: what this year's winners say sets them apart

On June 4th, the 2026 Wealth Professional Awards brought together some of Canada's most accomplished financial advisors, wealth managers, and investment industry leaders, to celebrate excellence across the profession. Wealth Professional spoke with a number of winners on the night to ask them the same question: what sets you apart?

Their answers pointed to a common refusal to be passive, whether in portfolio management, client relationships, or the way they think about their role in Canadian society.

What ‘holistic’ means to winners

Christy Bartram, Senior Investment Advisor and Associate Portfolio Manager at TD Wealth Private Investment Advice in Toronto, took home one of the top prizes: The Equiton Award for Canadian Advisor of the Year. She credited her win to a year where she deliberately broadened her practice beyond investment management.

" I did a lot of education for clients and the public this year, really wanting to talk about not just the investment side of things, but also the overall holistic approach," Bartram said. "So looking at estate planning, tax planning strategies and retirement planning."

Her message to the industry is one of focus. "I hope that people take the time to educate their clients and really focus on making sure that they're looking at a total wealth planning strategy," she said. "Really looking above and beyond just the investments, but looking at what really matters to clients on a day to day basis — what is it that keeps them up at night and how can you really help them achieve what is important to them specifically? By taking the time to do that, you're really bringing that peace of mind and security to them, which is ultimately what matters most for clients."

For Mark Bertoli, Senior Investment Advisor at Generation Private Wealth, his team’s win in the Holistic Advisory Team of the Year category meant he took home his fourth WP award. He attributed those victories to a commitment to comprehensive client service.

"We have the six pillars of Generation Private Wealth that takes care of every aspect of our clients' lives," Bertoli said.

One of those pillars, he explained, is a programme that encourages clients to pursue executive health screening. "When you have no health, it doesn't matter how much money you have," he said. "So start and find out about things long before they become dangerous."

Asked to define what holistic wealth management should actually mean, Bertoli offered a clear standard. "Uniquely, we have a relationship with our clients that goes deeper than any other professional," he said. "When I talk about holistic, I mean solving the complexity of blended marriages in estate planning. I'm talking about having them not worry about their investments when they're retiring, doing pre-screening for health planning to make sure that they don't get surprised by a health issue in their retirement. It has to do with tax planning early in their careers."

Active conviction and staying in your lane

Not every winner this year was focused on broadening scope. For some, distinction came from depth and discipline in a single area.

Francis Sabourin, Senior Investment Advisor and Senior portfolio manager at Francis Sabourin Wealth Management of Richardson Wealth, took home the The Avenue Living Award for Portfolio/Discretionary Manager of the Year. He made a direct case for conviction. Active portfolio management still delivers, he said, pointing to a 17-year track record as evidence.

"We still think that active has a better risk profile performance for our clients," he said. "We prove it for the last 17 years. A million dollars invested in our strategy 17 years ago, we're close to $7 million right now, gross of fees. So it's discipline and commitment."

The example he hopes to set is equally straightforward. "Dedication to do the best for our clients. Because they pay us and they deserve to have service," he said. "There's no turnkey approach that works as far as I'm concerned. You need to adapt, and more and more people need us. So you have to bring your A game every single day to your clients."

RPIA won the award for Mutual Fund Provider of the Year in 2026 and Clay Sequeira, Business Development Manager at RPIA, attributed that win to the firm’s specialization and dedication. Their firm has grown to $21 billion in assets under management by specialising in public credit and investment grade fixed income.

"We've always stuck to what we know, which is public credit," said Sequeira. "We've never tried to deviate from our core competencies, which has always been investment grade credit. We do that stuff well. We invest in our investment team. We have a team of dedicated credit research professionals, investment team specialists. We invest in our software, we invest in our quant team. And that's given us an advantage in the space."

Team, grit, and the harder parts of the job

Chad Larson took home the Focal AI Award for Advisory Team of the Year (10 staff or more), on behalf of his team: MLD Wealth Management. He credited his win to the people around him rather than any single strategy.

"I have an incredible team that punches above their weight class," Larson said. "I've been so lucky to attract incredible people that care, that know what it takes and never stop."

When asked about the metrics that define team success, beyond AUM growth or client service numbers, his answer was precise: "Loyalty, grit, resilience, and discipline."

He also offered a candid reflection on why events like the WP Awards matter. "The job is harder than people think," he said. "We deal in people's fears and emotions, and it's challenging. It's not numbers, it's emotions, and it's real."

That sentiment is one the broader industry could take to heart. As Canada's wealth management industry navigates rising complexity — from the great wealth transfer to the growing role of financial literacy — the professionals recognised at this year's WP Awards appear united by one belief: that doing this work well requires going far beyond the basics.

Leading on behalf of Canadians

Som Seif, Founder & CEO of Purpose Unlimited, won for CEO of the Year. He spoke to a responsibility the profession carries that extends beyond individual client relationships.

"I just continue to try to be excellent at what I do every day and the craft that we do, and lead on behalf of Canadians," Seif said.

Asked what bravery in this industry means, he added: "Standing up for what is really important on behalf of Canadians every single day. Let's stop being passengers, be bold, and let's try to win so that ultimately Canadians are better off."

Shannon Lee Simmons, a financial planner and founder of the New School of Finance in Toronto, won the Financial Literacy Champion award, a recognition she described as deeply validating.

"It's nice to be recognised among your peers that you did something special that mattered," Simmons said. "Canadian debt levels are rising, money is tight for most families, the middle class is being squeezed, financial literacy has never been more important. Knowing how to navigate what's good information and bad information, watching for scams in a digital world, it's never been more important for the next generation and also for everyday Canadians."

Her message to other advisors reflects where the industry's future clients are headed. "I hope that other advisors see financial literacy as a way to reach the next generation, to build their book over time there for the great wealth transfer," Simmons said. "It's a way to connect with the next generation and also really help your current clients."

The full list of 2026 WP Award winners, along with coverage of the event, is available here.