We recently hosted our Wealth Matters client event, Investing in a World in Transition: Data, Discipline, and Decision-Making in the Age of AI. It was a meaningful opportunity to step back from the noise of daily headlines and focus on what truly matters for long-term investors. For those who were unable to attend, or if you would like to revisit the insights, we invite you to watch the event recording here.
The Key Takeaways from the Event
At a time of heightened global uncertainty, our message was simple and intentional:
- Confidence should come from process, discipline, and planning, not predictions
- Portfolios today must be built for uncertainty, not headlines
- Diversification and evidence-based investing remain the most reliable drivers of long-term outcomes
- Artificial intelligence is a powerful tool when used responsibly but it enhances judgment, it does not replace it
We also shared how The Wong Group is evolving, bringing institutional-quality tools, managers, and research into client portfolios to better navigate a more complex global landscape.
BlackRock: Harnessing Data, AI, and Scale
A highlight of the discussion was BlackRock’s Global Systematic Active Equities strategy managed by Richard Mathieson and his team, which reflects how leading institutions are using technology in a disciplined way:
- A global equity strategy that leverages the analysis of large data sets to identify opportunities and market inefficiencies
- Sophisticated quantitative models combining traditional fundamental data with alternative data sources for systematic stock selection
- A long-standing leader in integrating AI into investing—used as a decision-support tool, not a shortcut
- Backed by the scale and research depth of the world’s largest asset manager, providing access to insights not available to most investors
Importantly, this strategy was previously only available to institutional investors and is now exclusively accessible in Canada through Wellington-Altus and The Wong Group via iAS (Independent Advisor Solutions, wholly owned by Wellington-Altus Private Wealth), bringing institutional capability directly into your portfolio.
Dimensional Fund Advisors: Why Discipline Still Wins
Complementing this, Apollo Lupescu from Dimensional reinforced a critical anchor in today’s market environment:
- Markets continuously incorporate new information including geopolitical events and technological shifts
- Attempting to predict short-term movements is far less effective than staying invested with discipline
- History consistently shows that long-term investors are rewarded for staying the course, even through uncertainty
- A focus on evidence, structure, and behavior helps investors avoid costly emotional decisions
Dimensional remains a core building block in our client portfolios, providing a stable, research-driven foundation across market cycles.
Bringing It Together
Our role is to bring these elements together for you:
- BlackRock → Data, AI, and global opportunity set
- Dimensional → Evidence, discipline, and consistency
- The Wong Group → Thoughtful portfolio construction, planning, and ongoing guidance tailored to your financial plan
Because at the end of the day, Technology informs decisions. Discipline drives outcomes. And your plan keeps everything on track.
If you have any questions about how this relates to you or your investment portfolio and financial plan, please give us a call at 778 655 2410 or email us at thewonggroup@wellington-altus.ca
Sincerely,
Maili Wong, CFA, CFP®, FEA
Senior Wealth Advisor, Senior Portfolio Manager
Wellington-Altus Private Wealth Inc.
Advising Representative
Wellington-Altus USA Inc.
Maili Wong is a senior portfolio manager and senior wealth advisor at The Wong Group at Wellington-Altus Private Wealth and the Amazon best-selling author of ‘Smart Risk.’ She has over two decades of experience in the finance industry and was named Canadian Advisor of the Year for a third time in 2025 by Wealth Professional Magazine.
