Laurent Wermenlinger, FCSI^®, CIM^®, F. Pl, RIAC

Mission

To help our clients achieve their life goals through integrated wealth management and sustainable investment, while building trusting relationships that redefine their outlook on financial planning.

Investment Philosophy

Our investment philosophy focuses on diversification, rigorous research, a commitment to sustainable investment and the pursuit of tax optimization. In other words, we have the knowledge and skills to help you seize opportunities and reduce risks, while building a solid future for the next generation.

We believe that a solid and structured investment strategy provides value over time and results in a higher degree of confidence. Over the years, we have developed the following convictions:

1. The best investment approach involves building a portfolio with a variety of asset classes (liquidity, bonds, Canadian equities, foreign equities, real estate, alternative investments, etc.), based on risk and return criteria as determined through rigorous analyses.
2. Asset allocation has a greater impact on achieving investment objectives than the selection of securities. The best way to maximize returns is to ensure that assets are allocated wisely while carefully managing risk.
3. Diversification is key to managing risk and preserving capital.
4. In this complex, constantly changing world, it’s important to consult diverse and independent sources of macroeconomic and financial information.
5. Integrating environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria into a portfolio strategy minimizes several long-term risks, particularly those related to climate change.
6. Costs erode investor returns. Antidote: the added value provided by experienced portfolio managers.
7. Taxes can substantially reduce portfolio returns. To counter this, it’s important to minimize the impacts of capital gains.

In short, our approach involves investing solely in asset classes that allow us to build diversified and profitable portfolios. Rather than simply selecting stocks or passively tracking stock indexes, we build our strategy by including a variety of asset classes, with risk and return criteria that are based on sound scientific analysis.

We adhere to a structured methodology, applied systematically

Financial science offers benchmarks for identifying sources of return and risk for each investment. Our tools and experience will help you achieve your financial goals while enjoying peace of mind. Our six-step investment process is rigorously applied to every portfolio we manage:

1. Analyze the macroeconomic context
2. Research and analyze various asset classes
3. Control costs
4. Optimize the portfolio’s tax strategies
5. Manage the risks associated with each asset class
6. Build and review the portfolio

 

What sets us apart

An experienced, multidisciplinary and diverse team

For over 30 years, we have been supporting our clients through the important phases of their lives. We help guide decision-making at life’s happy milestones (a birth, the sale or transfer of a business, retirement, a home purchase), and provide reassurance during more difficult periods (an accident, job loss, divorce, death).

Having navigated many economic cycles with our clients, we can effectivelyanticipate investor reactions through the ups and downs of the market. Our experience has shown the importance of educating our clients on economic issues and the latter’s potential impact on wealth planning. Our advisors take the time to explain market events to each family member, account for the unique concerns of every generation.

Customer service and investment decisions are a team effort. All members of the group deploy their complementary skills to help develop our clients’ financial strategies. In addition to portfolio managers Laurent Wermenlinger and Maryana Sokolyuk, our team also includes a financial and tax planning expert, an assistant advisor and two administrative assistants. Our diversity provides us with a deep understanding of multiple cultures and the ability to communicate in seven different languages. We have nurtured this asset by prioritizing the value of inclusivity that underpins our approach to team management.

We provide an inclusive and distinctive client experience

Because we focus on long-term relationships, we favour a comprehensive client approach that accounts for all aspects of your family’s financial profile. We oversee the maintenance and growth of your wealth, develop your investment portfolio and management your risks. This is achieved through a six-step process:

1. Getting to know you: First, we schedule an introductory meeting to assess your situation, needs and objectives.
2. Establishing the foundation of our relationship: At our second meeting, we present our analysis and recommendations for achieving your goals.
3. Deepening the discussion: We present you with a personalized policy and investment strategy. Once the plan is approved, we work with your family to achieve your goals.
4. Following up: During this next meeting, we go over your documentation and provide a progress report on your portfolio’s development.
5. Firming up your financial plan: We schedule a second follow-up meeting to review your portfolio and address your other financial needs.
6. Staying in touch and responding quickly to major life events: We continue to build trust through regular check-ins to monitor your financial situation and explain our results. We also respond quickly to inevitable yet sometimes unexpected life events.

 

Values

Our values allow us to build close relationships with our clients

Performance - In portfolio management, each source of return is important. We make every effort to create value and protect our clients’ wealth. From strategy to execution, we don’t let any opportunity pass by.

Transparency - We listen carefully to our clients and take the time to explain the reasoning behind all our decisions. We believe in proactive communication and take an approach to compensation that helps ensure objectivity.

Expertise - We put our many years of experience and our complementary skills at the service of our clients. We are committed to continuing education and stay abreast of market trends.

Commitment - We’re dedicated to helping families improve their financial knowledge. We take pride in delivering results and are wholly committed to meeting your needs.

Integrity - Our authenticity and honesty cultivate trust and credibility with our clients. We have proudly built our business on referrals and will never compromise our integrity. 

Rigour - We take a consultative approach, with a structured method that relies on facts, not intuition. Our investment process is based on extensive, diligent research of the economy and the financial markets.

Diversity - We encourage debate and believe that diversity is an asset. We understand that it takes a variety of ideas, strengths, interests, and cultural backgrounds to ensure success. 

Service Offer

We provide services to meet all your financial needs

We are, first and foremost, portfolio managers. We apply our expertise in order to:

• Develop investment policies based on our clients’ objectives and risk tolerance.
• Build portfolios according to the principles of structured asset class management
• Regularly rebalance our clients’ portfolios and optimize their tax strategies.

Over the past 30 years, we’ve developed a proven approach to investment. Our goals remain consistent: Maximize our clients’ returns through proper asset allocation and rigorous risk management.

Private management services: the ultimate ally in integrated financial planning

GWS believes in taking an integrated approach to wealth management for high net worth families, which requires the coordination of multiple services. Thanks to our partnership with Desjardins Securities, we have the necessary tools to develop a comprehensive, centralized financial plan. We call upon the most experienced professionals in our extensive network to collaborate in your financial planning.

When it comes to private banking, we also offer comprehensive reports on our client’s current and projected financial situation. These reports cover a range of factors such as:

• Short- and long-term financial goals
• Analysis of liquidity needs and tax considerations
• Risk management
• Retirement planning^Footnote 1
• Tax and estate planning ^Footnote 1
• Financial support for education
• Gift planning
• Stock option analysis
• Financial impact resulting from the purchase or sale of a business
• Employment contracts