Meet the Team
Jeff Sproul
PFP®, CIM®
Senior Wealth Advisor, Portfolio Manager
An accomplished and seasoned advisor, Jeff Sproul has a breadth of financial and business management experience earned over three decades in the financial industry.
Jeff is responsible for providing multi-disciplinary strategic direction, management oversight, and a highly customized approach to preserving and sustaining family wealth. Moving away from the potential conflicts inherent in the sale of proprietary products and services of the traditional wealth advisory industry, his focus is on developing and maintaining sound inter-generational relationships built on a foundation of understanding and trust.
Jeff was educated at The Goodman School of Business where he obtained an Honours Degree in Business Administration (Hon BBA). Jeff began his career in financial services at a major Canadian Bank, spending the large majority of his 18-year career working in the Private Client Group. In 2010 he joined the boutique Multi-Family Office environment and added the Chartered Investment Manager (CIM) designation to his Personal Financial Planner (PFP), earned from The Institute of Canadian Bankers. Jeff has contributed to a variety of books and articles on varied Wealth Management topics and has participated in panel discussions at industry related conferences.
With a background in finance and planning, and integrating his experiences in the boutique and corporate Wealth Management industries, he is a catalyst in identifying deficiencies in financial structures and educating members of wealthy families on the importance of sound stewardship of their Wealth Plan. His areas of expertise include working with families to optimize multi-generational family wealth through investment management, estate and tax planning, business succession and other integrated planning strategies, as well as tailored family governance and family philanthropy.
Jeff has been married for over 20 years, and has two children. Jeff’s wife is a Special Education Teacher in the local community. His daughter is studying Architecture at Ryerson University and his son will be heading to Post University in the NCAA on a lacrosse scholarship. Jeff is active in community affairs working with a variety of not-for-profit and charitable organizations.
Paul H. Mascard
Senior Vice-President
Mr. Mascard has had an extensive career of over 30 years in the Financial Services industry. Joining the Investment Counsel division of a Canadian chartered bank in 1991, he went on to become one of their top business development professionals in the country, and was subsequently promoted to Regional Manager, Eastern Canada; a role that entailed not only developing new business but also managing 20 of his peers.
In 2001, Mr. Mascard joined one of Canada’s oldest independent investment counseling firms in the role of Business Development, Marketing and Client Service. As a result of his efforts, the firm experienced increased growth of 50%. In 2009, Mr. Mascard took on the role of Senior Vice-President at a Toronto based investment firm, where he was successful in transitioning the firm’s Sales and Marketing solution and contributed to the growth of the firm’s assets under management.
Prior to joining Wellington-Altus, Paul founded a Markham-based Investment Counsel firm in 2010, where he was responsible for operations, sales, and service. As a result of his strong client relationships, Mr. Mascard managed to grow the firm to become a leader in the industry. He also specialized in advisory services, such as will and estate planning, family governance, philanthropy, and fine art wealth management.
After attending the University of Toronto, he completed the Canadian Securities Course. Over the course of his career, Mr. Mascard has also had extensive dealings with legal counsel around the effective drafting and execution of Will and Estate planning documents for his clients. He also received his F.E.A designation with the Family Enterprise Exchange.
Mr. Mascard is an avid collector of Canadian art. He has also developed a strong presence in his local community, having volunteered at the executive and coaching levels with local sports organizations. He is on the Board of Directors at the Briars Golf Club and heads up their Finance Committee. Paul just celebrated his 30th wedding anniversary with his wife Suzanne and has two adult children.
Victor Kuntzevitsky
CFA, CAIA
Portfolio Manager
Victor specializes in external manager research, directing the investment process from discovery to divestiture. His responsibilities range from setting strategic asset allocation and asset selection to conducting due diligence, benchmarking, and monitoring. His thorough involvement in every phase of the investment cycle makes him an integral member of the team.
Before joining Wellington-Altus, Victor dedicated the first nine years of his career at a Markham-based Multi-Family Office. There, he contributed to the creation, supervision, and maintenance of bespoke portfolios, working with a wide array of public and private investment strategies.
Victor is a proud graduate of McMaster University, holding an Honours Bachelor of Commerce degree. He is a CFA charterholder and has earned the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) designation. With a commitment to continuous learning, Victor’s intellectual curiosity spans multiple disciplines.
Deeply dedicated to philanthropy, Victor serves on the board of ‘Second Kicks’, a charity that in 2022 distributed nearly 10,000 pieces of gently used soccer equipment to communities across Canada and around the globe. He also co-founded ‘Get Swabbed’, an initiative now present in universities nationwide with a mission to recruit donors for Canadian Blood Services’ bone marrow registry.
In his leisure time, Victor enjoys reading, captivating travel shows, and the art of cooking (and eating). He cherishes time spent with his wife and two young children.
Grant Dawes
CIM®, CFP®, TEP
Portfolio Manager
Grant joined Wellington-Altus Private Counsel after six years as VP of Wealth Management and Associate Advising Representative at a Markham-based Investment Counsel firm. During his tenure there, Grant was responsible for portfolio management and financial planning, investment research and analysis, as well as developing new business for the firm.
Prior to that position, Grant worked for one of North America’s largest financial institutions where he became experienced at understanding and meeting the investment needs of clients as a Financial Advisor. Before working at the bank, Grant earned considerable insight into the needs of ultra-high net worth (UHNW) families by working directly for the Chief Executive Officer of Alghanim Industries – a family controlled multi-billion-dollar multinational company which operates in over 40 countries and is headquartered in Kuwait.
As a result of Grant’s extensive experience, his duties focus on developing new business, portfolio management, and being involved with investment research and analysis for the Wellington-Altus group. Grant holds his Trust and Estates Practitioner (TEP) designation, Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) designation, Chartered Investment Manager designation (CIM®), and attained his Bachelor of Commerce Degree from the University of Guelph.
Ian Kerr
NEBSS
Senior Portfolio Manager
Ian Kerr, Portfolio Manager, brings with him over 35 years of experience in the investment industry. His responsibilities include financial consultation in institutional sales and portfolio management.
Ian spent 12 years with a major Canadian Bank as Administration Manager, Commercial Account Manager, Branch Manager, and the first Senior Account Manager in Private Banking. In 1983 he entered the Investment industry as an Investment Consultant with Merrill Lynch. Subsequently Mr. Kerr began his role as a Portfolio Manager with the Investment Counselling division of the Bank of Montreal and from there he served as the fixed income specialist at Ontario’s oldest Investment Counsel firm and 10 years at a Markham-based Investment Counsel firm prior to moving to Wellington-Altus.
A graduate of Paisley College of Science and Technology, which is now The University of Western Scotland, Mr. Kerr completed the National Examination Board in Supervisory Studies (NEBSS) in 1970. He has also completed studies at the University of Toronto, for the Institute of Canadian Bankers, and obtained the Canadian Securities Course and Conduct & Practices Handbook Exam designations with the Canadian Securities Institute.
Mr. Kerr has a long history of volunteering within his community with various organizations.
Janet Kotyk
Manager, Client Services
As Manager of Client Services, Janet is responsible for day-to-day client service administration and support. Her responsibilities included opening client accounts, arranging transfers, handling client requests and inquiries, coordinating quarter-end reporting, management fee billings, and year-end tax reporting. She also acts as the liaison with the firm’s custodians.
Mrs. Kotyk has over 30 years of experience in the finance industry and has held positions at financial planning, brokerage and investment counseling firms in Canada. Her attention to detail resulted from extensive training abroad including several years working in an elite administrative group of a large international corporation. Janet brings excellent interpersonal skills and a wealth of experience in the area of Client Services, Operations, Administration and Client Relations.
Mrs. Kotyk is an active volunteer in the community with special emphasis on children’s programs and is currently involved in several projects both in Canada and overseas.
Janet is also the proud mother of an adult son and daughter.
Danny Wong
Manager, Trading and Portfolio Administration
Danny is responsible for overseeing all aspects in the accurate reporting of client information and trade execution. Mr. Wong provides over 30 years of administrative experience and customer service in the Financial Services industry. His previous banking, trust, family office and investment counsel experience, together with his knowledge of custodians, brokers and back-office processes are invaluable assets when ensuring information is communicated accurately and in a timely manner.
Mr. Wong is a graduate of Ryerson University with a diploma in Business Administration. He has also completed the Canadian Securities Course and Canadian Operations Course.
Danny is also an avid comic book collector. He enjoys working and attending comic book shows and is always looking for that hidden gem.
