Dave Poggemiller’s Vernon investment firm may have a new name, but his staff, service and client-first focus remain unchanged.
It is actually the latter that caused Poggemiller to switch brands, making the changeover from Canaccord Wealth Management over to DundeeWealth last November.
“Canaccord decided to go in a different direction and reduce their retail (client) operation and move more corporate,” said Poggemiller, director, private client group with DundeeWealth Vernon.
DundeeWealth is located in the same place where Poggemiller has done business for more than 20 years – across the street from The Phoenix Steakhouse on 30th Avenue. He runs a stable of five investment brokers and three support staff.
Poggemiller joked that all he did was change the signs on the building, but in reality it involved a lot of work.
“For the better part of two-and-a-half months, we were working six or seven days a week, 10-hour days to carry out the transfer,” he said.
In his search for a new franchise, Poggemiller was looking for a company that was focused on clients, and had deep enough pockets to withstand an economic crisis similar to 2008. Of the 17 firms he met with, DundeeWealth was an ideal fit, he said.
“It was very important to remain independent so that we can continue to provide our clients unbiased advice,” said Poggemiller, noting Dundee was purchased by Scotiabank three years ago.
“We also wanted to partner with a larger financial firm and certainly the backing of Scotiabank provides that. There’s not too many companies in Canada that can match what we can offer now.
“I’m back under that umbrella with a company that feels like a smaller company. It’s a really integrated group of people. The head of the firm is Scottish, the second in command is Korean, third in command is East Indian…we’ve got this really nice blend of interesting people.”
DundeeWealth is a full-service firm, having access to all investments and the ability to do full financial planning – estate, tax, RIF, RSP, TFSA, RESP and retirement cash flow.
Looking ahead to 2013, Poggemiller is optimistic regarding the markets for several reasons. He points to the slow, but steady growth of the U.S. economy and noted that although there are still concerns over the crisis in Europe, there is a bailout in progress.
“It’s been pretty dismal the last two, three years…but we’re going to have a better-than-average year,” he said.
