Interview with Ted

The Velikonja Investment Group's been around for over 30 years. There's 2 things that are unique and the first one is that myself being the senior portfolio manager. The client has direct contact with their portfolio manager as opposed to being at arm's length. The second is the investment plan is goal based.

First thing we do and we meet is establish the families short term and long term goals on a quarter by quarter basis. It doesn't mean anything to the client whether the portfolio is up 3.3 percent or up 2.7. What matters to the client? Are we on track for my lifetime goal? It puts the client at ease. They can see the progression over time rather than focusing on the short term noise. I have to deal with the ups and downs of the markets daily, but we shield our clients from that.

We'll help the client stick to the plan through thick and thin, year after year. It's a satisfying feeling knowing that we set these goals up. The goal might have been a college education, might have been a vacation home, but also just retirement income. A certain level of income that that will satisfy their lifestyle when we hit those goals or we're achieving those goals. That satisfaction for me.

I think it's important for our clients to have a holistic plan so that we're all on the same page. The benefit of being Wood Gundy within CIBC is that we have access to the trust department, insurance department, private wealth and commercial banking.

What clients really like about working with our team is the service. Because we're dealing with a small group of high net worth clients there's always someone available to them to meet their needs. And I think what they also appreciate is dealing with their own personal portfolio manager.

As a portfolio manager, my strategy has always been valuation based. It's not enough to look at an investment, say that's a good investment. It depends on the price you pay. Your long term return will be determined by your initial price. And what we're trying to do is buy dollars for 50 cents.

The benefit of my 30 years experience is that I have experienced the downside. I have experienced the 87 crash and the tech bubble and the financial crisis. And so it's not just managing through the good times. But how do you manage through the tougher times? And I think that's where we shine.

Interview with Ted

The Velikonja Investment Group's been around for over 30 years. There's 2 things that are unique and the first one is that myself being the senior portfolio manager. The client has direct contact with their portfolio manager as opposed to being at arm's length. The second is the investment plan is goal based.

First thing we do and we meet is establish the families short term and long term goals on a quarter by quarter basis. It doesn't mean anything to the client whether the portfolio is up 3.3 percent or up 2.7. What matters to the client? Are we on track for my lifetime goal? It puts the client at ease. They can see the progression over time rather than focusing on the short term noise. I have to deal with the ups and downs of the markets daily, but we shield our clients from that.

We'll help the client stick to the plan through thick and thin, year after year. It's a satisfying feeling knowing that we set these goals up. The goal might have been a college education, might have been a vacation home, but also just retirement income. A certain level of income that that will satisfy their lifestyle when we hit those goals or we're achieving those goals. That satisfaction for me.

I think it's important for our clients to have a holistic plan so that we're all on the same page. The benefit of being Wood Gundy within CIBC is that we have access to the trust department, insurance department, private wealth and commercial banking.

What clients really like about working with our team is the service. Because we're dealing with a small group of high net worth clients there's always someone available to them to meet their needs. And I think what they also appreciate is dealing with their own personal portfolio manager.

As a portfolio manager, my strategy has always been valuation based. It's not enough to look at an investment, say that's a good investment. It depends on the price you pay. Your long term return will be determined by your initial price. And what we're trying to do is buy dollars for 50 cents.

The benefit of my 30 years experience is that I have experienced the downside. I have experienced the 87 crash and the tech bubble and the financial crisis. And so it's not just managing through the good times. But how do you manage through the tougher times? And I think that's where we shine.

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