With a career spanning over 40 years, Charlie Spiring has become one of Canada’s most well-known and respected financial services advisors. He built and led Wellington West Holdings Inc.; a successful $10 billion investment firm recognized as one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies for 15 consecutive years. Even after selling the firm to National Bank for $333 million, Charlie wasn’t done yet—in fact, he was just getting started.

Now, with Wellington-Altus Private Wealth, Spiring is still driven to build another cross-country provider of investment strategy and comprehensive wealth planning for high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals. As founder and chairman of the firm, Charlie is responsible for all strategic direction and oversight of Wellington-Altus Private Wealth–the top-rated investment dealer in Canada (Investment Executive 2024 Brokerage Report Card)and one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies.

“If Wellington-Altus has a secret sauce, it’s the fact that our advisors are also shareholders in our company,” Charlie says. “That’s one of the reasons our advisors are so willing to share good ideas with one another. Here, we all have a seat. We’re all invested in our collective success.”

Charlie’s start financial services came at one of the industry’s darkest points—the spring of 1981. The following season when the market slumped 20% worse than it had since the Great Depression, Charlie’s innate vision and natural ability to lead allowed him to see that as a huge opportunity. “In the good times, it’s easy to get confused about who’s good or who’s not,” Charlie explains. “My strength is in challenging times. I excel during the inevitable market corrections.”

Charlie’s accolades include being recognized on The Globe and Mail’s Top 40 under 40 list, receiving the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award and an induction into the Investment Industry Association of Canada’s (IIAC) Investment Industry Hall of Fame. Charlie has served as vice-chair on the executive committee of National Bank Financial, as well as chairman of the board for the IIAC. He has his ICD.D designation under the Institute of Corporate Directors, and attended eight sessions of the Executive MBA program from the Harvard Business School through the Young Presidents Organization.

Charlie and his wife Dayna, play an active role in Winnipeg and their community. Through their Wellington West Foundation, they give back to others, to those less fortunate, and to those who have inspired them along the way. Charlie and Dayna believe in finding a balance between their work life and their family life. Outside of spending time at their Gimli cottage, they have a passion for travel, scuba diving, golf, fine wines, and gourmet cuisine. Their son Cole is an avid fisherman and automobile aficionado.