Patrick Ross, CFA, CFP®
Patrick started investing at age 12 with the savings from his 3 paper routes. He promptly invested in a local gold miner; a coveted company headquartered in his native Nova Scotia. Shortly thereafter the shares wiped out the bulk of his penny-a-paper proceeds. In studying what went wrong, Patrick discovered Warren Buffett and became an avid student of value investing, which he practices today with his team at CIBC Private Wealth.
Patrick studied finance at Saint Mary’s University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, earning his 4-year degree in 3 years. Patrick was a Fund Manager with the university’s student-run IMPACT Investment Fund. Upon graduation Patrick worked in mergers and acquisitions investment banking before building his practice in wealth management.
In addition to investing across global financial markets, Patrick particularly enjoys implementing tax-efficient investment strategies to help ease overall tax burdens. Patrick earned his CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® designation, and completed the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA®) Program Level I, Level II, and Level III examinations on his first attempt.
Andrew McCall
Andrew joined our team as a Wealth Advisor in July 2024, marking his fourth decade in the investment industry. He is also insurance-licensed, allowing him to use all aspects of investing to assist his clients with wealth management, saving, and estate or tax-efficient investment planning.
Andrew develops strong relationships with individuals and families through detailed, strategic planning, enabling him to assist generations of clients in maintaining their life dreams.
When not in the office, Andrew enjoys traveling, playing golf and tennis, and cheering on his favorite sports teams.
Lawrence Chu
Kelvin Kam
Max Dodig
Max joined the team in April 2026 after entering the wealth business through a rotational program in October 2025, where he gained exposure to a number of different teams. Prior to joining CIBC Wood Gundy, he worked in cash management and other client-facing roles. He graduated from Wilfrid Laurier University with a degree in Economics. Born and raised in Toronto, Max also spent a brief period living in England and attended St. Michael's College School and Philip Pocock Catholic Secondary School. A lifelong athlete, he played competitive hockey at a high level, including in the OHL, and continued playing while completing his university studies.
Outside of work, he enjoys playing sports, especially tennis, travelling, and spending time with friends and family.
Sophie Malenfant
Sophie joined the team in June 2026 with a strong interest in the stock market and a genuine commitment to building long-term relationships. Prior to joining CIBC, she worked in commercial banking at another Canadian banking institution as a Relationship Manager for a year and a half. She graduated from Saint Mary's University with a degree in Finance and is currently working toward the CIM® and CFP® designations.
Outside of work, she enjoys golf, spending time with friends, and travelling.
Ron Vexler
Ron joined the team in December 2025 as an Administrative Associate. Prior to joining Private Wealth, he built his experience in retail and B2B sales, where he developed a strong passion for building relationships and delivering lasting value to clients. He holds an Honours Business Marketing diploma from Seneca Polytechnic, and continues to expand his knowledge and education by completing industry requirements. He is also highly interested in optimization and is always looking for ways to improve processes, efficiency, and results.
Outside of work, Ron has pursued acting and has appeared in several television productions. He also enjoys going to the gym and staying active.
Avery Nerad
Avery joined the team in 2026 as an Administrative Assistant. Prior to joining the team, she spent a year supporting the Toronto King team as a Branch Assistant. She studied at Western University, where she completed a Bachelor of Management and Organizational Studies with a Specialization in Finance. Avery takes pride in delivering a strong client experience, is highly detail-oriented, and is currently working towards furthering her industry knowledge and education.
Outside of work, she enjoys trying new restaurants with friends, cooking, and spending time in the gym.
Advisory board
Jamie Golombek, CPA, CA, CFP®, CLU, TEP, FCPA
Managing Director Tax and Estate Planning
As CIBC’s tax expert, Jamie supports CIBC Wood Gundy investment advisors in delivering integrated financial planning and advisory solutions to our high-net-worth clients. Jamie is quoted frequently in the national media and writes a weekly National Post column called Tax Expert.
Benjamin Tal
Deputy Chief Economist, CIBC
Benjamin Tal is responsible for analyzing economic developments and their implications for North American fixed income, equity, foreign exchange and commodities markets. He also acts in an advisory capacity to bank officers on issues related to wealth management, household/corporate credit and risk. Benjamin is a regular commentator on financial and economic trends in the Canadian and American media.
Michael Teng, CIM®, CFP®
Financial Planning Specialist
Michael’s financial planning philosophy stems from more than just learning about your financial goals. It is about understanding you; your values, concerns and aspirations. With years of experience developing diverse comprehensive financial plans for high and ultra-high net worth clients, Michael is able to paint a clear financial picture of your situation and create a roadmap to help you achieve your goals. He is equipped to provide sophisticated advice on various facets of financial planning including tax, retirement, business and estate planning. Having earned his Certified Financial Planner and Chartered Investment Manager designations, Michael has built his career on advising clients for over a decade.
Jamie Golombek, CPA, CA, CFP®, CLU, TEP, FCPA
As CIBC’s tax expert, Jamie supports CIBC Wood Gundy investment advisors in delivering integrated financial planning and advisory solutions to our high-net-worth clients. Jamie is quoted frequently in the national media and writes a weekly National Post column called Tax Expert.
Benjamin Tal
Benjamin Tal is responsible for analyzing economic developments and their implications for North American fixed income, equity, foreign exchange and commodities markets. He also acts in an advisory capacity to bank officers on issues related to wealth management, household/corporate credit and risk. Benjamin is a regular commentator on financial and economic trends in the Canadian and American media.
Michael Teng, CIM®, CFP®
Michael’s financial planning philosophy stems from more than just learning about your financial goals. It is about understanding you; your values, concerns and aspirations. With years of experience developing diverse comprehensive financial plans for high and ultra-high net worth clients, Michael is able to paint a clear financial picture of your situation and create a roadmap to help you achieve your goals. He is equipped to provide sophisticated advice on various facets of financial planning including tax, retirement, business and estate planning. Having earned his Certified Financial Planner and Chartered Investment Manager designations, Michael has built his career on advising clients for over a decade.