Bruce L. Towler, FCPA, FCA, CIM, FCSI, CFP®
Investment Advisor
Portfolio Manager
Bruce's career has spanned over thirty years in the professional services industry. The first part of his career was spent as a Chartered Accountant and security valuation specialist with Clarkson Gordon (later Ernst & Young) in Halifax. For over the past twenty years he has specialized in portfolio management and estate planning focusing on the financial and investment needs of high net worth families, trusts and foundations. Risk management is an overarching aspect of this overall investment management strategy.
Bruce is a business graduate of Dalhousie University and an active member of the community. He has served as the Chair of the Board of the QEII Health Sciences Centre Foundation, the Treasurer of the Dalhousie University Board of Governors, Elder and Chair of the St. Andrew's Church Board, President of the Dalhousie Alumni Association, Treasurer of the Phoenix House Shelter for Youth, President of the Halifax Help Line and Youth Line and a fundraiser for Ronald McDonald House, IWK Children’s Health Centre, the United Way, the Salvation Army, Symphony Nova Scotia and Cystic Fibrosis Canada. He perennially is one of the top donors across the country in CIBC’s Children’s Miracle Day campaign.
In addition to his community activities, his professional volunteerism includes serving as President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nova Scotia and Chair of the CIBC Wood Gundy National Advisory Board. He has also lectured for the Atlantic School of Chartered Accountancy in the areas of finance, security valuation and taxation.
Bruce is the Senior Portfolio Manager on the team responsible along with Sven Stammberger for the overall investment policy and portfolio design for all client accounts. He is assisted in the communication of any portfolio changes and client updates by Laura MacMillan.
Sven Stammberger, MBA, CFA
Associate Investment Advisor
Sven works with Bruce designing portfolios and communicating with clients on changes to portfolios. He also oversees portfolio manager and security research for the team. Sven is a graduate of the Corporate Residency MBA program at Dalhousie University with a focus in Finance. While captain of the Dalhousie varsity basketball team he was an Academic All-Canadian and national award winner for community leadership. He is also a CFA® charter holder having passed all three levels of the exam in successive attempts, scoring within the top 10% globally on all three exams.
Laura MacMillan, B.Comm., CFP®, CIM®
Associate Investment Advisor
Laura works with Bruce and Sven designing portfolios and communicating with clients. She also oversees the financial planning component of the practice. With over seventeen years in the industry, she has focused exclusively on wealth management for private business owners, professionals and retirees for the latter half of her career, holding progressively more senior roles over time. She is a graduate of the Sobey School of Business at Saint Mary’s University, where she majored in Finance. Additionally, she holds the Certified Financial Planning (CFP) and Chartered Investment Manager (CIM) designations
Olivia Smith, CPA
Associate Investment Advisor
Olivia is an Associate Investment Advisor, working closely with Bruce, Sven, and Laura to support the development and implementation of investment strategies and communicating regularly with clients to deliver informed updates. After graduating on the Dean’s List from the Manning School of Business Administration at Acadia University, Olivia earned her Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) designation with the Deloitte Halifax office. While at Deloitte she assumed roles of increasing responsibility in the audit and assurance practice and gained invaluable experience working with a multitude of public and private businesses in Atlantic Canada before transitioning to CIBC Wood Gundy. A six-time junior club champion at Brightwood Golf Club, Olivia’s discipline and focus extends beyond the workplace, showcasing her competitive spirit and drive for excellence.
Megan Brundige (Taggart)
Financial Associate
Megan is the team’s practice manager, overseeing and supporting daily operations. She is passionate about providing bespoke, white glove service to our clients. Megan has worked in wealth management since graduating from the Nova Scotia Community College in 2012. She is industry registered as an Investment Representative and holds various financial credentials from the Canadian Securities Institute. Megan has worked with the Halifax office of CIBC Wood Gundy for over ten years working in roles with ever increasing responsibility.
Grace Zheng, MFIN
Client Associate
Grace is responsible for providing customized performance and tax reporting to personal and corporate clients and their accountants. She is registered with CIRO in securities trading, options and derivatives. Grace is a Master of Finance graduate of the Sobeys School of Business at Saint Mary’s University. She has also completed Level 1 of the Chartered Financial Analyst program.
Nicholas Allen, B.Comm.
Client Associate
Nick works closely with Sven on modeling and financial analyses. He is responsible for trade execution and also supports vital team functions such as tax reporting and client requests. Nick is a graduate of the Sobey School of Business at Saint Mary’s University where he was also captain of the varsity rugby team. He joined us in 2022 from an international financial services firm where he spent the prior five years working with clients around the globe.
Emma Ashford, B.Comm.
Client Associate
Emma joins us after working with the Halifax Operations team at CIBC Wood Gundy for several years. She is responsible for processing a variety of client requests such as cash transfers and file updates. Emma is a graduate of the Sobey School of Business at Saint Mary’s University where she obtained her Bachelor of Commerce degree with a major in Finance.
Pattie Swinimer
Administrative Assistant
Pattie is responsible for the oversight of all recurring cash flow in the practice as well as client file updates and many other support functions. Pattie has over 20 years of experience in financial services, over 10 of which were spent as the assistant manager for a major CIBC Banking centre. Most recently Pattie joins us after working with the Halifax Operations team for several years. Pattie is deeply rooted in her community and frequently participates in the CIBC Run for the Cure, volunteers with the Phoenix Youth Centre and Participates in United Way events.
Bruce L. Towler, FCPA, FCA, CIM, FCSI, CFP®
Bruce's career has spanned over thirty years in the professional services industry. The first part of his career was spent as a Chartered Accountant and security valuation specialist with Clarkson Gordon (later Ernst & Young) in Halifax. For over the past twenty years he has specialized in portfolio management and estate planning focusing on the financial and investment needs of high net worth families, trusts and foundations. Risk management is an overarching aspect of this overall investment management strategy.
Bruce is a business graduate of Dalhousie University and an active member of the community. He has served as the Chair of the Board of the QEII Health Sciences Centre Foundation, the Treasurer of the Dalhousie University Board of Governors, Elder and Chair of the St. Andrew's Church Board, President of the Dalhousie Alumni Association, Treasurer of the Phoenix House Shelter for Youth, President of the Halifax Help Line and Youth Line and a fundraiser for Ronald McDonald House, IWK Children’s Health Centre, the United Way, the Salvation Army, Symphony Nova Scotia and Cystic Fibrosis Canada. He perennially is one of the top donors across the country in CIBC’s Children’s Miracle Day campaign.
In addition to his community activities, his professional volunteerism includes serving as President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nova Scotia and Chair of the CIBC Wood Gundy National Advisory Board. He has also lectured for the Atlantic School of Chartered Accountancy in the areas of finance, security valuation and taxation.
Bruce is the Senior Portfolio Manager on the team responsible along with Sven Stammberger for the overall investment policy and portfolio design for all client accounts. He is assisted in the communication of any portfolio changes and client updates by Laura MacMillan.
Sven Stammberger, MBA, CFA
Sven works with Bruce designing portfolios and communicating with clients on changes to portfolios. He also oversees portfolio manager and security research for the team. Sven is a graduate of the Corporate Residency MBA program at Dalhousie University with a focus in Finance. While captain of the Dalhousie varsity basketball team he was an Academic All-Canadian and national award winner for community leadership. He is also a CFA® charter holder having passed all three levels of the exam in successive attempts, scoring within the top 10% globally on all three exams.
Laura MacMillan, B.Comm., CFP®, CIM®
Laura works with Bruce and Sven designing portfolios and communicating with clients. She also oversees the financial planning component of the practice. With over seventeen years in the industry, she has focused exclusively on wealth management for private business owners, professionals and retirees for the latter half of her career, holding progressively more senior roles over time. She is a graduate of the Sobey School of Business at Saint Mary’s University, where she majored in Finance. Additionally, she holds the Certified Financial Planning (CFP) and Chartered Investment Manager (CIM) designations