Meet Our Team

Chairman & CEO | Investment Counsellor/Portfolio Manager

Ken began his investment career with Canada Permanent Trust in Toronto. In 1968, he moved to Waterloo and worked for Mutual Life and Dominion Life managing large multi-million-dollar portfolios. In 1985, Ken founded and subsequently sold Advantage Investment Counsel, commonly known as AIC. In 1988, he founded Kenneth Rae Investment Counsel Inc, which later was renamed Rae and Lipskie Investment Counsel Inc. Ken’s investment acumen via this 25-year period allowed him to hone his skills and fine tune his insights on the broad universe of the investment industry and the investment process.  In his current role as Chairman of The RaeLipskie Partnership, Ken counsels on the firm’s big picture, strategies and provides the calm and sage advice so critically sought in today’s noisy landscape. 

With Norah, his loving spouse of over 50 years, Ken chooses to spend his leisure time travelling, skiing, biking, curling and most of all semi-obsessing over tennis.  No sudoku puzzle is safe in his presence either.  He spends the majority of his philanthropic and charitable time at The KW Art Gallery, KW Symphony, CBA and Gyro.  His prowess at choosing great red wines and making gazpacho is apparently indomitable.

Contact:

519-578-6849 ext. 325

President & Chief Operations Officer | Investment Counsellor/Portfolio Manager

Brian joined Ken Rae in 1989. His investment career began in 1985 with Wood Gundy in Private Client investment management. Brian graduated from the University of Waterloo with a BA in Honours Economics in 1985 and attained his Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation in 1990. In addition to actively participating in research and portfolio management at The RaeLipskie Partnership, Brian directs the operations of the Company and is Chief Operations Officer.

Brian was previously on the board of directors of Junior Achievement of Waterloo Region and is past president of the Waterloo Wellington Estate Planning Council.  He is currently a member of the finance and Investment Committee for the University of Waterloo as well as chair of the Investment Committee for the Sisters of St. Joseph of Canada as well as the Congregation of the Resurrection of Ontario.

He and his wife, Shelley, enjoy golf and curling and reside with their three children in Waterloo.

Contact:

519-578-6849 ext. 324

Deputy Chief Operations Officer

Throughout her working life, Sheila has found herself drawn toward the customer service functions of her employment and this is where she finds her greatest reward at The RaeLipskie Partnership. Working with our clients to help make their lives easier is a source of pride for her. 

Sheila has been working with The RaeLipskie partnership since 1994 and has evolved from fulfilling administrative responsibilities such as firm registration and securities trading to managing the administrative team and championing our business development and marketing endeavours. In 2018, she took on the role of Deputy Chief Operations Officer. She is well versed in and an invaluable resource for all aspects of our service. Her academic achievements include completion of the Canadian Securities Course and she has earned certificates from Conestoga College in Ontario Management Development in both Business Management Skills and Leadership Skills. She is an avid reader of business management literature.

Sheila enjoys attending and participating in a variety of community events. One of her great joys is volunteering at running race events close to home and far away. She and her husband, Rob, live in Kitchener and have raised two lovely daughters here. Together, they enjoy running marathons, skiing, hiking and spending time with family and friends.

Contact:

519-578-6849 ext. 229

Vice-President & Portfolio Manager

Dave joined our firm in October, 2016 after spending the last nine years at CIBC Wood Gundy, primarily as an Associate Investment Advisor. In addition to being a Chartered Financial Analyst Charter holder (CFA), Dave is also a Chartered Financial Planner (CFP), having attained the designation in 2009. At The RaeLipskie Partnership, Dave contributes to the firm’s investment research, financial planning, and management of client portfolios.

Dave was born and raised in Cambridge, Ontario and graduated from the University of Waterloo. In his spare time, he enjoys running, travelling and is a long-suffering fan of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Contact:

519-578-6849 ext. 338

Vice-President & Portfolio Manager

David began his investment career in 1987 by joining Mu-Cana Investment Counselling. In 1996, he became a principal in the successor company, Perigee Investment Counsel, dealing with large pension funds and institutional clients. David joined The RaeLipskie Partnership in 2004 and holds the Certified Investment Management (CIM) designation. He contributes to the firm’s investment research activities and manages client portfolios.

David is a past board member of Kids Ability Foundation and was on the board of Trustees at his church. David and his family enjoy time at the cottage on Lake Huron as well as golfing, sailing and skiing.

Contact:

519-578-6849 ext. 339

Vice-President & Portfolio Manager

Andréa joined The RaeLipskie Partnership in 2002. In her previous role as Financial Advisor with CIBC Wood Gundy, Andréa gained valuable Private Client Wealth Management experience where she focused on developing strong financial, retirement and estate planning knowledge.  In 2001, she earned her Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation and maintains a leadership role with the Kitchener-Waterloo chapter of the Toronto CFA Society, which supports professional development and educational programs. 

Andréa currently manages investment portfolios for families, Charitable Organizations, The RaeLipskie Partnership’s flagship private pooled fund and the firm’s Foreign Equity Fund.  She is a member of RaeLipskie’s Investment Committee and holds a number of research responsibilities.  Andréa also oversees the company’s Burlington office location.

Andréa stays active in the Community as a (past) Director for the Optimist Club of Puslinch, a service club involved in a number of endeavors supporting local youth.  She is a longstanding Professional Advisory Committee member for the Financial Planning Program, School of Business at Conestoga College.  Andréa has been an active volunteer soccer coach and more recently Team Manager for a Competitive Team of the Puslinch Minor Soccer Club.  She is also an active WCDSB School Council member.  Andréa is dedicated to the lifelong pursuit of continuing investment education and in her spare time is a Bootcamp devotee who enjoys yoga, skiing, cycling, the spa and travelling with her family.

Contact:

519-578-6849 ext. 327

Vice-President & Portfolio Manager

Prior to joining the RaeLipskie Partnership in 2004, Derek acquired ten years of broad-based business management experience overseeing the Windsor operations of a building restoration firm headquartered out of Maple, Ontario. In 2011 he earned the Chartered Investment Management (CIM) designation. He currently manages several of RaeLipskie’s largest clients, is responsible for the daily oversight of more than $250 million dollars of our assets under management and contributes to the investment research committee.

Derek is a semi-active member and past president of the Rotary Club of Waterloo and in 2014 was recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow by Rotary International. He enjoys playing multiple musical instruments in his leisure time and is an avid golfer.

After the sudden passing of his wife, Lisa, Derek is a single parent to two wonderful daughters, Mackenzie and Jessie, and their five, furry, four-legged siblings. The family resides in Waterloo and they keep themselves busy with a vibrant home life, university, hobbies and friends.

Contact:

519-578-6849 ext. 340

Portfolio Manager

Robin joined The RaeLipskie Partnership in 2018. He has extensive experience working with institutional and individual investors to help them achieve their various investment objectives in the public and private markets.

In his prior role as Vice-President at CBRE Caledon Management, Robin worked with the firm’s clients to help them develop and implement their investment programs, while also focusing on marketing strategies to develop new business opportunities. Previously, Robin was Vice President of Investments at AGF Investments where he delivered investment solutions for existing and prospective clients and their advisors in select regions and constituencies in North America.

Robin graduated from the University of Toronto and is a CFA Charterholder. Robin is an active volunteer in our local community and serves as a member of the Investment/Pension Committees for the Kitchener-Waterloo Community Foundation, Wilfrid Laurier University and Grand River Hospital.

Robin is an avid cyclist and occasional skier and golfer and resides in Kitchener with his wife and daughter.

Contact:

519-578-6849 ext. 331

Business Advisor & Strategist

Jim’s main responsibilities are to develop and help increase the client base and ensure that The RaeLipskie Partnership continues to provide some of the highest level of personal and client-focused service.

Jim retired from BDO Canada in 2011, after forty years in public accounting providing business advisory services to businesses in Waterloo Region. At BDO he had served in various management positions including Chair of the National Policy Board and Waterloo Region Managing Partner.

Jim is, and has been, very involved in our community, serving on boards such as The Waterloo Wellington Local Health Integration Network, Westmount Golf and Country Club, The St. Mary’s Hospital Foundation and Board of Trustees, The Cambridge & North Dumfries Community Foundation, The Sandra Schmirler Foundation of Canada, Junior Achievement of Waterloo Region, The University of Waterloo and The Greater KW Chamber of Commerce among many others.

To relax, Jim enjoys golfing, reading political and history books, travelling, enjoying his cottage in Muskoka and spending time with his wife, Pauline, his two grown children and his grandchildren.

Contact:

519-578-6849

Executive Assistant to the President

Becky is the Executive Assistant to our President, Brian Lipskie. She has been with RaeLipskie since 2017 and brings nearly twenty years of office management and client service experience with her. She is passionate about organization and making your experience with RaeLipskie a positive one.  Becky believes that a company’s growth relies on trust and dependability – two values that she is highly dedicated to. On any given day, she can be found facilitating many of RaeLipskie’s background operations and ensuring that they run smoothly. Becky coordinates and oversees many of RaeLipskie’s social events, including our annual December Client Reception.

Becky was born and raised in Kitchener, where she still resides, with her husband, Geoff, daughter, son and two dogs. Her two young children keep her busy, but when she does have spare time, she enjoys painting, cooking and spending quality time with friends and family on the patio.

Contact:

519-578-6849 ext. 240

Senior Client Services & Portfolio Management Assistant

Heather has over twenty years’ experience in the investment business, being with Rae & Lipskie since 1996.  She has completed the Canadian Securities Course, Conduct and Practices Handbook, Investment Management Techniques and Portfolio Management Techniques. She’s currently enrolled in the Chartered Investment Manager (CIM) program. Having completed all the course requirements of the CIM program, Heather is fulfilling the work experience requirements and will soon acquire this industry standard designation.

Heather is experienced in all administrative aspects of our firm regarding clients’ accounts. She is proficient on our portfolio management system which records all transactions and produces our detailed reports.  Heather assists with any requests relating to the activity in clients’ accounts.   She also provides portfolio management assistance under the supervision of our Chief Investment Officer, Rick Vandermey.

Heather grew up in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia and currently lives in Waterloo with her husband, 2 sons and 2 cats.  Her young boys keep her busy with tennis, soccer, basketball, swimming and baseball lessons. She is an active member of her congregation and the Waterloo Running Room. She has completed too many half-marathons to count and runs a marathon every spring.  In 2019, she successfully completed the ENDURrun, a local 8-day, 7 stage, 160 km race.

Contact:

519-578-6849 ext. 235

Client Service Supervisor & Associate

Faulene is a Senior Administrative Assistant and Supervisor of our administrative team. She has been with RaeLipskie since 1999. Faulene has completed the Canadian Securities Course and is experienced in all administrative aspects of our firm with regards to client accounts. Faulene is proficient on our portfolio management system which records all transactions and produces our detailed reports for our clients.

She has been in the financial industry for over 32 years. She was previously employed with Richardson Greenshields, Midland Walwyn, and Merrill Lynch.

Faulene grew up in Ayr, Ontario and is presently living in Wellesley, Ontario. She and her husband, Joe, passionately support the OSPCA, World Wildlife Foundation and the World Animal Protection. They are very proud of their fur baby, Lacey (West Highland White Terrier). Joe has worked at Conestoga Cold Franchise for over 30 years. He started in the plant and for the last 18 years, has driven transport.

Contact:

519-578-6849 ext. 222

Client Service Associate

Lauren has been in the personal finance industry since 2017 and has been with The RaeLipskie Partnership since 2019. She studied Business at Georgian College in Barrie and is currently working towards completing the Canadian Securities Course (CSC).

Lauren is experienced in all administrative aspects of our firm with regard to client accounts. She is proficient on our portfolio management system which records all transactions and produces our detailed reports.

Lauren grew up in Orillia and now resides in Kitchener with her husband, son and cat. While her work and family keep her pretty busy, Lauren enjoys crafting with various mediums in her spare time.

Contact:

519-578-6849 ext. 253

Chief Compliance Officer

Joe Banwait joined the firm in 2020 and has over 2 decades of experience in the Finance and Investment Industry. He has acquired broad operational, compliance and accounting knowledge with institutional, private and retail clients. Joe has been providing compliance and operations oversight to various private investment firms for the last 10 years. Joe has been the Chief Compliance Officer for both U.S. and Canadian entities.

Joe has also successfully supervised the back-office teams at private investment companies whose assets under management ranged from $750 million to $5 billon CAD. Earlier in his career, Joe was a Senior Manager for the Global Risk, Compliance & Reporting programs at State Street Bank & Trust Canada.  Joe is an active member of the Portfolio Management Association of Canada (PMAC). He has also served on the Board of Directors for the National Society of Compliance Professionals (NSCP – U.S.). Joe earned a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Toronto and holds a CPA, CMA designation.

Joe was raised in Guelph, Ontario and is actively involved in mountain biking and backyard barbequing. Currently, Joe and Sue live in Oakville, Ontario, where their three children attend primary school.

Contact:

519-578-6849 ext. 251

Front Office Administrator

Laurie is the smiling face that greets you as our Front Office Administrator and will make you feel right at home while you are visiting our office. She will always be happy to assist you with your needs with care and appreciation.

Laurie has over twenty years’ experience with accounting, office management and project management. As well, Laurie even ran her own small business at one time.

She is originally from the beautiful province of Prince Edward Island and now resides in the small town of Baden, Ontario with her husband, and westie, Tucker. 

She loves the outdoors, running, kickboxing, golfing and spending time with friends and family.  Laurie loves to travel and gets back to Prince Edward Island as least once a year.

Contact:

519-578-6849 ext. 221

Trade Processor/Donations Coordinator

Olivia helps our clients facilitate their donations of securities in-kind to the various charities they support, as well as coordinates the gifts of securities in-kind that are sent to the Charities that RaeLipskie manages. Olivia is also responsible for generating our client quarterly reporting and processes our trades. She has been with RaeLipskie since 2015. She is proficient on all of our portfolio management systems and has completed the Canadian Securities Course. 

Olivia is originally from Cobourg, Ontario and moved to the KW area to attend the University of Waterloo. She and her husband, Rhys, who works at the University of Waterloo Isotope Lab, raise service dogs for National Service Dogs, currently training their 7th puppy. These dogs can occasionally be found in our office for the day. The couple welcomed their first child, Eloise, in April of 2020.

During Olivia’s maternity leave, Jennifer Keith can be contacted at extension 236.

Contact:

519-578-6849 ext. 236

Client Service Associate

After completing her 2-year diploma in business and finance, Nicole pursued her business career at various financial institutions and has been in the financial industry since 2016. She has been with RaeLipskie since September, 2019.

Nicole is originally from St. Catharines and now resides in Kitchener with her husband and three cats. She keeps busy playing drums and studying music.

Contact:

519-578-6849 ext. 250

Client Service Associate

Sarah has been with The RaeLipskie Partnership since 2015. She has completed the Canadian Securities Course (CSC) and is currently working towards her Chartered Investment Management (CIM) and Personal Financial Planner (PFP) designations.

Sarah is experienced in all administrative aspects of our firm with regard to client accounts. She is proficient on our portfolio management system which records all transactions and produces our detailed reports.

Sarah is originally from Goderich and spent many years outside of Canada living and travelling through Europe, Asia and the U.S.A. She now resides with her husband and two cats in Kitchener. She keeps busy by studying French, crafting and practicing yoga in her spare time. 

Contact:

519-578-6849 ext. 232