Our investment management approach combines disciplined fundamental research, institutional-grade risk management, and a meaningful global perspective on the markets to deliver fresh, valuable, and relevant product and advice to our clients. We operate with several core pillars in mind: strategic asset allocation, an actively managed approach, bespoke security selection based on careful fundamental analysis, Sharpe ratio and risk-adjusted return focus, meaningful diversification, governance, transparency, and robust compliance processes. We favour individual stocks, bonds, and some ETFs for maximum transparency and to enable the lowest cost for our clients. We run our portfolios completely in-house, aside from any third-party management that occurs within the ETFs or funds that are incorporated. We believe a traditional predominantly stock and bond portfolio provides clarity and accountability with our clients. It also creates a direct correlation between investment management fees and investment management decisions. As we are hired to provide advice and meaningful correlating product recommendations, we believe being directly behind ‘the levers’ provides the most sincerity, integrity, and commitment to our clients.

          Identifying the appropriate asset mix for client portfolios is one of the most important steps in the investment planning process, a cornerstone of long-term portfolio success. This defines the mix of equities, fixed income, cash, and alternative assets that are best-aligned with the organization/client’s mission statement, spending requirements, and risk tolerance and capacity. Maintaining the asset mix in a disciplined and structured way allows us to manage clients’ investments without behavioural or emotional biases. This strategic asset allocation is the primary driver of long-term performance. Proper management of the client’s asset allocation, and amending it as their circumstances evolve, leads to a purpose-driven portfolio that strikes the correct balance for the client to meet their objectives and feel comfortable with the level of volatility.

          We believe in active portfolio management – specifically, to manage risk through a combination of diversified and disciplined tactical approaches. We believe in proactively evaluating the overall market and specific company earnings, to identify opportunities and weaknesses that directly affect our portfolio decisions. We combine our own judgment, instinct, experience, and research with that of internal CIBC partners and leading third party industry professionals to execute meaningful decisions within the client’s portfolio. Active portfolio management offers advantages for large charitable organizations whose priorities often include capital preservation, dependable income, long term viability and sustainability of capital, and robust risk oversight. Active management allows the portfolio to adapt to shifting macroeconomic conditions, interest rate cycles, credit trends, geopolitical developments, and sector rotations. This agility brings results and ensures our clients are achieving their objectives in all market conditions: up, down, and sideways directions. This does not mean we trade client portfolios on a daily basis, but it does mean we are constantly evaluating all metrics to make informed decisions for our clients in a fast-moving world. Our proactive approach provides consistent and reliable communication, essential for boards and financial committees with fiduciary responsibilities.

          The Vickers Wealth Advisory Group identifies risk-adjusted return opportunities that help improve return consistency and improve overall portfolio Sharpe ratio. This Sharpe Ratio focus is absolutely central to our team’s investment philosophy and portfolio curation. This ratio measures the excess return a portfolio generates for each unit of risk taken. It is the portfolio’s absolute return, minus the risk free rate, and divided by the portfolio’s volatility. Two portfolios may produce similar absolute returns, however if one experiences far greater volatility or drawdown to achieve it, it is meaningfully less attractive. Risk-adjusted returns evaluate the consistency of returns, the volatility required to achieve them, resilience during adverse market conditions, and demonstrates the alignment of risk with the client’s objectives and governance limits. We strive to avoid excessive volatility or inconsistent results and prevent clients from taking on undue risk or reckless concentration, especially when it is to achieve unnecessary results. For example, achieving “market-like” returns with above market risk, is an indication of ineffective portfolio management.

          Investing with a diversified approach is essential for proper risk-management of a portfolio. Diversification reduces reliance on any single driver of returns, smooths volatility across market cycles, and strengthens the portfolio’s ability to preserve capital while still capturing meaningful growth opportunities. Markets do not move in lockstep. Economic cycles, interest rates, currency dynamics and policy environments will vary significantly across geographies. A meaningful focus on geographic diversification reduces country-specific risk and provides opportunities for capital growth outside of more limiting or concentrated markets. A distinguishing strength of our practice is our active research into European companies, which contributes meaningfully as clients unlock traditionally undervalued markets, access to high quality growth companies, find improved portfolio negative correlation, and broaden opportunity. This enhances the durability of returns across market cycles. This globally informed approach ensures our portfolios are positioned not only to withstand market volatility and drawdown, but to capitalize on differentiated sources of return all over the world. Diversification across industries and sectors mitigates sector-specific downturns and allows for the blending of defensive and growth-oriented approaches. This allows our team to align the portfolio with multiple economic themes without undue risk. When one sector experiences headwinds (interest rate driven as an example) other sectors may remain stable or even benefit from those same conditions. Allocating client capital across a broad range of industries, but also with an active and tactical approach as discussed above, is what contributes markedly to delivering these high-quality risk-adjusted returns for our clients.

          Rigorous compliance and strong governance are essential for charitable organizations entrusted with stewarding donor and/or community capital, meeting regulatory obligations, and upholding public trust. Our practice operates within one of Canada’s most robust oversight environments, ensuring investment decisions are executed with transparency, discipline, care, and regular checks and balances. The Vickers Wealth Advisory group operates under a comprehensive regulatory structure. We follow strict adherence to Know-Your-Client and suitability standards. We have real-time oversight of discretionary mandates, transparent fee structures, documented processes, and meaningful supervisory review of all advice, trades, and portfolio changes. This ensures the portfolio is managed with integrity, consistency, and regulatory alignment. Every portfolio action is grounded in proper due diligence and we follow consistent cross-checks to client’s constraints, parameters, and objectives. The more we know about our client the better, and this is not a static objective-regular and consistent reviews and discussions with our clients bring us the information needed to provide the right advice. Charitable organizations face unique governance duties which include but are not limited to: board oversight, community visibility, and audit requirements. The Vickers Wealth Advisory Group supports and enhances these by providing clear Investment Policy (IPS) alignment, structured monthly reporting, quarterly review meetings, and plain language communication for boards and committees. This ensures our clients can demonstrate equally strong governance to stakeholders, donors, auditors, and regulators.

          James Vickers is a Branch Manager who manages and oversees the Kingston office, with a firm belief in compliance, supervision, and ethics. Additionally, CIBC Wood Gundy’s compliance, legal, and risk-management teams provide a key layer of institutional oversight, encompassing trade supervision, product KYP and due diligence, privacy and data protection, controls around conflicts of interest, as well as client best-interest adherences. This contributes to an environment that protects the client and its beneficiaries consistently. Strong compliance and governance is not an add-on feature of our practice or our firm. They are embedded into the way we manage client’s capital and something we take extremely seriously.