West Oak Family Office

Day: 2 April 2025

April 2025:
Quarterly Insight

Quarterly Insight featured image

Recessions typically begin when an already vulnerable economy is hit with a shock—think pandemic, global financial crisis, market bubbles, and excessive leverage. The U.S. economy had been showing signs of weakness before President Trump got elected, and the shock has come in the form of tariffs and a global trade war.

Gunston Jacob

Jacob Gunston

Associate

As an Associate, I support our family office by providing superior client service. I work closely with the Senior Associates in managing our relationships and ensuring each client feels acknowledged and understood. Timely, accurate, and professional service is what I strive for. I also assist our team with a variety of administrative duties and help facilitate smooth and efficient operations.

I grew up on Vancouver Island and spent my childhood playing sports, skiing, camping, fishing, and enjoying all the island had to offer. Coming from a family of business owners, I’ve been interested in financial markets since I was a kid. After receiving my commerce degree from the University of Victoria, I pursued my Chartered Investment Manager designation while working in the wealth division at one of the big banks. My experience working with high-net-worth families enables me to proactively address concerns and go above and beyond for our clients.

Outside of work you’ll find me at the gym, golfing, hiking, skiing, spending time with friends and family, and exploring the city of Calgary—which I now call home. I love to travel and embrace new experiences. Fun fact about me: I hold dual citizenship with Australia, and have spent a lot of time in the land down under.

Bell Tanjou

Tanjou Bell

Senior Associate

I am fortunate to have spent over 15 years working within the wealth management industry. Over that time I have become passionate about getting to know our families and providing the unique and personalized service that they deserve. As an associate at West Oak Family Office, I am here to support you and your family in any way I can. Whether that be to provide clarity on your financial future, help you navigate a complex situation or simply a friendly contact for all things administrative. If I am unable to help, I will certainly find the expert who can.

I live in Bragg Creek with my husband and two young children. We made the small town move in hopes to foster a love for all things adventure in our kids and spend all of our free time exploring the outdoors. In the rare moments I can sneak away you can find me mountain biking, trail running or cross country skiing on the trails in West Bragg Creek or at our home away from home, in Fernie.

Jocelyn-Smith

Jocelyn Smith

B.A

Senior Associate

I am a born and raised Calgarian, with a degree in Communications and a minor in Economics from the U of C. My main responsibilities at West Oak are to support our team and our clients on the administrative front, but also to build relationships with the families we serve so we can be proactive for them and make their lives easier.

Sports are important to me, and after competing nationally for 7 years in synchronized swimming, I now share my passion through coaching a competitive 10 & under team. I also really enjoy travelling, and was fortunate to spend a winter abroad in India and South-East Asia after University. When I am home in Canada, I enjoy spending time in the mountains snowboarding and golfing!
Courtney-Pavicic

Courtney Pavicic

B.Comm

Associate

I am fortunate to have a background in Finance and years of experience working at a large Canadian bank in the investment management industry. My role at West Oak Family Office is to manage the operational logistics of a busy team, while also handling client inquiries and supporting the implementation of unique strategies and solutions we provide to our families.


Born and raised in Calgary, I was a competitive ski racer and played multiple sports growing up, which fostered the competitive and enthusiastic energy I have to this day.  I’ve continued my passion for exercise and wellness with a disciplined workout and mindfulness routine through a wholistic approach to health, while also raising three amazing kids. My family and I enjoy spending our weekends on the ski hills or skating rinks in the winter, and my family, friends and I love to find new restaurants and listen to live music.

Garvit Chaudhary

M.Fin

Portfolio Trader and Analyst

My role in the team as a Trader & Portfolio Analyst is to assist the investment committee with research and development of equity/fixed income models. I also help with quarterly rebalancing trades for the quantitative models as well as daily client trades based on capital inflows/outflows. Additionally, I assist with data analysis, research and creating client presentations. I am a keen follower of financial markets and have developed a passion for investing. I enjoy studying and analysing businesses, understanding micro & macro economic factors affecting them and making informed investing decisions based on them. I recently graduated with a Master of Finance following an undergrad degree in Industrial Engineering. Prior to joining West Oak, I worked at a large investment management firm in Atlantic Canada, helping with equity trading and trading operations. I also have experience as a Refined Metals Trader on the copper desk for one of the largest commodities traders in the world, as well as internship experience at a small private equity shop in Calgary. I am enrolled in the CFA program, and I am currently preparing for my Level I.

Born and raised in India, I have played soccer ever since I was 10 years old and went on to represent my school and university at the highest level. I am passionate about sports, and believe they have helped me develop qualities like confidence, perseverance, and courage. I continue to rely on those qualities today as I look forward to learning, developing, and growing as a professional.

I live with my family (including a cat-Jiggy) in the suburbs of Calgary. I enjoy biking or taking a stroll on the ridge or along the river while enjoying the view of the Canadian Rockies and listening to my favourite podcasts or music.
Justin-Charbonneau

Justin G. Charbonneau

CFA, FCSI®

Senior Wealth Advisor, Senior Portfolio Manager

My role on the team is twofold: building and deepening new and existing relationships with high-net-worth families and helping co-manage West Oak’s investment management platform. My background and current focus include cash management, fixed income security selection, third-party investment mandates (credit, small caps, international), and due diligence including alternatives (private credit, private equity, real estate, and infrastructure).

What I enjoy most about working with the West Oak team is applying my 20 years of experience, including 15 years as both an institutional and retail portfolio manager, to meet the specific objectives of each family that we serve. Investment management and capital markets are my passion. After earning my Chartered Financial Analyst designation, I became Lead Portfolio Manager for two mandates within a Calgary-based institutional asset management firm, and most recently was the Chief Investment Strategist for a large wealth management team at one of Canada’s largest financial institutions. I am options and insurance licensed which helps us manage risk in our families’ portfolios and in executing tax efficient wealth transfer strategies.  I also graduated from the University of Calgary Haskayne School of Business with a double major in finance and risk management.

Being from northern Alberta, I grew up with small-town values including integrity, hard work, and a growth mindset. My parents instilled these values and believed that education was the best path to future prosperity and a fulfilling life of growth and opportunities. Along with these values, having played high-level sports all my life, including through university, I’ve been primed to become a life-long learner and always look for ways to improve personally and professionally. Having played elite level collegiate volleyball at Mount Royal University (1999) also taught me the importance of team dynamics, building resilience, and work ethic.

I am married to an entrepreneur with two vibrant children and a small dog called Piper. I am an avid reader, love to try new foods and wines, travel, and spend time with our families who are in BC, Alberta, and Arizona. I also enjoy giving back to the community through several not-for-profit engagements. These commitments have included formerly acting Treasurer for Jewish Family Services Calgary (JFSC) and fundraising for various impactful organizations such as St. Mary’s University, the Down Syndrome Research Foundation, the YWCA, and the Alberta Children’s Hospital. From 2012 until 2022, I was an active founding member of the CFA Society Calgary Investment Committee where I helped with investment management oversight of the society’s capital reserves and in supporting advocacy for putting investors’ interests first.

Kelly Demo

Kelly Demo

CPA, CA, CFP®

Senior Wealth Advisor, Portfolio Manager

I take responsibility for the Family Office side of our practice, and help guide how we integrate tax and investment management, while also finding ways to make our clients lives easier.
 
I am passionate about helping the families that West Oak serves, by recommending ways to transition wealth to children and communities, and educating subsequent generations to become good stewards of capital. The single biggest cheque most people write every year is for tax, so as successful as we are at growing capital for the families we serve, we are also mindful of how integrated tax is within their lives and our need to be proactive for them.
 
I was born and raised in Swift Current, and moved to Calgary in 1997 to article with EY and earn my Chartered Accounting designation. My dad was a private business owner and my mom a nurse, so I was fortunate to hear about risk, government spending and hard work from a really young age. This propelled me to want to learn more about tax, and what our governments do with this scarce resource – specifically if it is possible to keep more in your pocket to spend how you want, versus how someone else chooses.
 
I’m married to another Chartered Accountant, and we have three kids and a golden retriever. We have lived in hockey rinks and ball diamonds these last 15 years, and are now just coming into more downhill skiing, golf and new restaurants where we can find the time to be together!
Andrew McQuiston

Andrew McQuiston

BA Economics, CIM®

Senior Wealth Advisor, Senior Portfolio Manager

I take responsibility for the operations of our family office, as well as the lead for portfolio allocation decisions, and oversight and direction of our quantitative investment management platform. The largest and most enjoyable part of my role is really getting to know our families, and helping create a platform that accomplishes whatever unique outcomes each family is trying to achieve. I am proud of the family office our team has built for the benefit of the families that we serve, and I am incredibly grateful for the amazing group of individuals I have the benefit of working with day-in and day-out.

I am a native Calgarian, and still live in the same neighbourhood I grew up in. I am married with a son and a daughter, both in their latter teenage years. I have too many things I enjoy doing and not enough time to do them, including skiing, golf, fitness, cooking, fishing, reading, and being outdoors. Neat fact, I am a third generation Calgarian, my grandfather was born in Calgary after his parents immigrated from Scotland after the first world war