FCSI®, CIM®, CIWM
Investment Advisor & Associate Portfolio Manager
A forward-thinking investment professional with over 21 years of experience, Michael Zagari is a Fellow of the Canadian Securities Institute (FCSI®), the highest credential offered by the CSI. This distinction, combined with his designations as a Chartered Investment Manager (CIM®) and Certified International Wealth Manager (CIWM), signifies his deep commitment to ethical and professional practice in wealth management.
Michael has partnered with Wellington-Altus Private Wealth, a firm that oversees $30 billion in assets under administration, as an Associate Portfolio Manager.
Recognizing the transformative power of technology, Michael believes in harnessing innovation to unlock new opportunities for wealth creation and is empowered to deliver exceptional service to his clients.
Michael prioritizes a holistic approach to success, driven by three core values: lifelong learning, personal well-being, and a strong family life. On a personal level, this manifests as a continuous pursuit of knowledge. He embraces a growth mindset, constantly seeking new information and readily sharing his learnings with others.
Maintaining good health is also paramount to Michael. He prioritizes regular exercise and celebrates his achievements, big or small. Additionally, he understands the importance of nurturing his closest relationships. Within his family, Michael strives to lead by example, dedicating himself to being the best father and husband he can be.
MBA, B.Comm
Associate Investment Advisor
Jiang (Amber) Du is a seasoned Associate Investment Advisor with over a decade of experience specializing in insurance and financial services. Holding a Bachelor of Commerce in Finance and a Master of Business Administration, Amber has developed a profound expertise in providing tailored insurance and financial solutions that align with her clients’ unique goals and needs.
Throughout her career, Amber has built a reputation for her comprehensive knowledge of insurance products, strategic risk management, and dedicated client service. Her ability to simplify complex insurance concepts and deliver clear, actionable advice has empowered countless clients to make informed decisions about their financial protection and future planning.
In addition to her professional accomplishments, Amber is an avid traveler who enjoys exploring new cultures, food and destinations. She balances her dynamic career with a fulfilling family life, raising two wonderful children. Amber’s personal and professional experiences have honed her ability to understand and address the diverse financial and insurance needs of individuals and families, making her a trusted advisor in her community.
B.Comm
Associate Investment Advisor
Paul Rapagna has over a decade of expertise in the financial services sector with a Bachelor of Commerce (B.Comm) degree in Finance from the John Molson School of Business at Concordia University. Situated in Montreal, Paul serves a diverse clientele spanning across Canada.
Paul’s core duties encompass crafting and refining intricate financial strategies tailored to individual family dynamics, ensuring utmost precision. He rigorously stress-tests these models through simulations to gauge potential outcomes. Paul’s overarching objective is to align clients’ financial aspirations and investment targets with optimal investment strategies.
Beyond work, Paul stays active by coaching baseball, calling the shots in fantasy football and hockey leagues, and conquering new worlds in video games both classics and the latest releases. He also keeps a close eye on emerging tech trends, a hobby that has also been useful in his professional life.
LL.B., LL.M. tax
Vice-President
Advanced Wealth Planning Strategy & Services
Judith joined Wellington-Altus in May 2022 and is based in Kelowna, BC. She works with advisory teams and clients across Canada to bring innovative tax strategies to their wealth plans. Judith believes a client’s objectives must drive any tax plan and loves helping clients find personalized solutions to their planning needs.
Prior to joining Wellington-Altus, Judith spent over 10 years at top-tier law and accounting firms advising clients on complex tax issues. Passionate about tax and making tax planning relevant and accessible to all, she regularly prepares presentations on various tax issues and has contributed to numerous publications on selected tax topics. She has been a speaker at various Canadian Tax Foundation conferences and a facilitator and lecturer for CPA Canada’s “In-Depth Tax Program”.
Judith graduated from the Université de Montréal with a Bachelor of Laws in civil law and a Master of Laws in taxation (jointly with HEC Montréal). Judith is a lawyer with the Barreau du Québec and a Canadian Legal Advisor with the Law Society of British Columbia.
Outside of work, she is an avid runner and cyclist, and loves to explore local trails. She can often be found enjoying the outdoor mountain playgrounds that surround her home.
Associate Vice-President
Connie joined Wellington-Altus in 2019 as the inaugural Manager of Insurance and is based in Winnipeg, MB. She began her journey in the wealth services industry at one of Canada’s pre-eminent insurance companies and has obtained both life and investment licensing designations. She values employing a holistic approach to best serve the interests and needs of clients and has spent many years fostering strong relationships and helping clients build and manage their wealth. Connie is passionate about educating both advisors and their clients on how to effectively preserve and pass on wealth.
Connie graduated from the University of Winnipeg with a Bachelor of Education and holds her CFP® and CHS designations. She is licensed across the country to provide life, accidental and critical illness solutions through Wellington-Altus Insurance Inc.
Outside of work, she loves to cook, enjoys travelling and is fanatic about baseball. Between May and September, she can be found at Shaw Park with her husband Clint and daughter Madison cheering on her hometown Winnipeg Goldeyes.
Senior Wealth Planner
Advanced Wealth Planning
Artur joined Wellington-Altus in August 2023 and is based in Montréal, QC. He is a Senior Wealth Planner with over 12 years of experience delivering holistic wealth guidance for affluent Canadians. Artur is dedicated to creating a roadmap for his clients to help them achieve their financial and life goals. He is passionate about helping his clients and their families pursue and accomplish what is important to them.
Prior to joining Wellington-Altus, Artur worked at two large financial institutions undertaking holistic Financial Planning for high-net-worth private clients. Working together with teams of wealth management professionals, he was providing financial planning advice for clients of private investmentcounsel, private banking, and corporate/commercial divisions.
Artur holds a Master’ s Degree in Private Banking from University of Verona, Italy. In addition, he is member of the IQPF (Quebec Institute of Financial Planning) and holds the Financial Planner designation (F.PI.). Artur also holds the Chartered Investment Manager (CIM®) designation and the Certified International Wealth Manager (CIWM) designation.
Outside of work, Artur enjoys spending time with his spouse and their two young children, travelling, reading and when he can, playing his favorite sport, soccer.
Chief Market Strategist
Prior to joining Wellington-Altus Private Wealth, James Thorne was most recently chief capital market strategist and senior portfolio manager at a leading independent investment management firm.
He also held various senior investment management positions in the U.S., including chief economist of a major U.S. financial institution, chief investment officer of equities, managing director and chief capital market strategist. During his tenure he developed small, mid- and large-capitalization investment strategies, which employed a combination of quantitative and qualitative analysis and achieved top-quartile performance.
Dr. Thorne received a Ph.D. in economics in the fields of finance and industrial organization from York University and worked as a professor of economics and finance at the Schulich School of Business and at Bishop’s University. He also regularly appears on BNN and in other media outlets.
