At Deacon Wealth Management, we do things differently. Our ultimate goal? To build long-term partnerships grounded in trust, communication, and service. We specialize in high-net-worth financial planning, guiding successful business owners, professionals, and families through complex decisions with clarity and calm. But more than that, we’re known for treating our clients like we treat each other—with genuine respect and real connection.

You won’t need to chase us for answers or updates. We’re already on it. Clients tell us that what sets us apart is how proactive we are: from regular market updates to timely reviews and quick callbacks, we’re often the ones reaching out first. We believe the best financial advisors for high-net-worth individuals do more than build plans—they stay in your life, ready to support and adapt every step of the way.

And in a world of virtual advice, our team loves to meet with you in person in our comfortable and homey suite of offices.

Meet our team

Access to experts

IG in-house experts work with our team to deliver investment management, tax mitigation, wealth and estate planning, mortgage, credit, and insurance recommendations to help our clients make the most of their wealth. The team of experts includes tax accountants, estate lawyers (and notaries in Quebec), financial planning and pension specialists, mortgage advisors, portfolio strategists, and estate and insurance specialists. We also have access to the IG Private Company Advisory team that provides strategic and transaction services to mid-market businesses. Individual experts and specialists are represented by the following individuals:

 

Christine Van Cauwenberghe

Christine Van Cauwenberghe

Head of Financial Planning

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Christine Van Cauwenberghe

B. Comm. (Hons), LL. B., TEP, CFP®, RRC
Head of Financial Planning

Christine is Head of Financial Planning in the Advanced Financial Planning department of IG Wealth Management. She provides advice to high net worth clients on complex tax and estate planning matters. Christine also manages a team of professionals, including lawyers, notaries, accountants, and pension experts located across Canada.

Christine is the author of Wealth Planning Strategies for Canadians, which is published annually by Thomson Carswell and is currently in its 13th edition. Christine is a member of the Canadian Tax Foundation, has her CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER designation, is a Registered Retirement Consultant and is a Trust & Estate Practitioner, as certified by the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (“STEP”). She is on the board of STEP Canada and has been involved in many aspects of the organization, including the Education Committee, the editorial committee for their national magazine, STEP Inside, and the organizing committee for the STEP National Conference, held annually in Toronto. She has published several industry papers, including with the Canadian Tax Foundation, the Canadian Association of Life Underwriters, the Law Society of Manitoba and the Estates, Trusts and Pension Journal. Christine has given lectures to numerous professional groups and is a regular media spokesperson for IG Wealth Management.

Christine obtained both her Commerce and Law degrees from the University of Manitoba prior to being called to the Bar in both Manitoba (1995) and Ontario (2004). Christine spent several years practicing tax law with a large law firm in Winnipeg prior to joining IG Wealth Management in 2001.

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Aurèle Courcelles

Aurèle Courcelles

Vice-President, Tax and Estate Planning

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Aurèle Courcelles

CPA, CMA, TEP, CFP®, FP Canada™ Fellow
Vice-President, Tax and Estate Planning

Aurèle leads the Advanced Financial Planning department at IG Wealth Management and is responsible for coordinating planning support for high-net-worth clients. His goal is to ensure that clients receive the highest quality tax, estate and financial planning advice tailored to their goals and circumstances.

After starting his career at a larger accounting firm in Winnipeg, Aurèle joined IG Wealth Management in 1996. He has worked with individuals and owner-managers of private companies on issues relating to tax planning, business succession, executive compensation and estate planning. He has made numerous presentations to both public and professional audiences and is frequently in the media providing expertise on these topics.

His passion for the financial planning profession has seen him volunteer his time and share his knowledge with industry organizations. He has been volunteering with FP Canada since 2010 and has been a member of the Board of Directors of the Institut de planification financière since 2019.

Aurèle is a Chartered Professional Accountant. He holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® and Trust and Estate Practitioner (TEP) designations and has received the FP CanadaTM Fellow distinction for advancing FP Canada's purpose and promoting and embodying FP Canada's professional standards.

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Philip Petursson

Philip Petursson

Chief Investment Strategist

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Philip Petursson

B.Comm., CIM
Chief Investment Strategist

Philip Petursson is a seasoned leader with over 25 years of experience in investments, capital markets research, and strategy. As IG's Chief Investment Strategist, he serves as the primary spokesperson on market trends and economic insights that impact Canadian investors.

Known for his clear and engaging communication style, Philip has a unique ability to simplify complex market data, helping advisors and clients navigate ever-changing conditions with confidence. His expertise in macroeconomics and evidence-based decision-making enables him to cut through the noise of the markets and deliver actionable, timely insights. An award-winning podcaster, Philip hosts The IG Living Market Podcast, delivering weekly five-minute episodes that break down key investment news and trends in a relatable way. His dedication to transparency and collaboration ensures that clients remain informed, empowered, and positioned to achieve their financial goals in any market environment.

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Ashish Utarid

Ashish Utarid

Assistant Vice-President, Investment Strategy

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Ashish Utarid

CIM, QAFP, PFP, FCSI
Assistant Vice-President, Investment Strategy

Ashish Utarid brings over 20 years of financial services expertise to his role as Assistant Vice-President, Investment Strategy at IG Wealth Management. Known for his clear and relatable communication style, Ashish simplifies complex financial concepts to help advisors and clients confidently navigate ever-changing markets. With a passion for behavioral economics, Ashish combines a holistic view of market trends with data-driven insights to provide timely and actionable guidance.

His ability to connect market analysis with practical financial planning ensures clients stay focused on achieving their goals. As co-host of the IG Living Market Podcast, Ashish breaks down investment news and trends in an engaging and accessible way. Dedicated to clarity, collaboration and client success, he plays a key role in helping clients build confidence in their financial futures.

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Shahrshad Rajabzadeh

Shahrshad Rajabzadeh

Vice-President, National Sales

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Shahrshad Rajabzadeh

Vice-President, National Sales

Shahrshad is responsible for portfolio analysis, construction, and recommendations for high-net-worth investment strategies at IG. He leads the Product Management, Portfolio Strategists, and Wholesale Distribution teams.

His teams provide Advisors with relevant and timely capital market and investment commentary, product updates and information, as well as industry and competitive analysis, all designed to provide clients with a superior wealth management experience.

Shahrshad has developed his vast knowledge of investment trends and products through more than 20 years of financial services experience. He began his career in financial services as a successful insurance and investment advisor, creating a deep recognition that each client has unique needs that require unique solutions.

Shahrshad holds a degree in computer science from the University of Prince Edward Island and a diploma in computer engineering from Seneca College.

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Shauna Clarke

Shauna Clarke

Vice-President, Mortgage & Banking Solutions

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Shauna Clarke

CFP®
Vice-President, Mortgage & Banking Solutions

Shauna leads the Mortgage & Banking team at IG Wealth Management. She is responsible for the mortgage and financing solutions that support the borrowing needs of our clients. Her role is to ensure that the evolution of IG's mortgage and banking business lines deliver innovative, advice-driven financing and banking solutions that enable superior wealth planning for clients. Her team of Financing Specialists supports IG Advisors in delivering mortgage and financing solutions that are are fully integrated into each client's holistic IG Living Plan and aligned with achieving their financial goals.

With over 25 years of experience in financial services & wealth management, Shauna is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional and experienced leader who has served teams supporting clients and advisors in the financial planning, full-service brokerage and private banking spaces. Shauna is passionate about financial planning, client experience and coaching, and is recognized for leading high-performance teams who deliver exceptional advice and experience.

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Mike Albert

Mike Albert

Vice-President, Insurance Services

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Mike Albert

BA, CHS, CPCA, EPC
Vice-President, Insurance Services

Mike Albert is the Vice-President, Insurance Solutions at IG Wealth Management. As the leader of the Insurance Solutions team, Mike is at the forefront of developing and executing innovative sales strategies to achieve IG's insurance sales targets. He works closely with Regional and Senior Vice-Presidents across all Advisor channels and vendor partners to expand and manage the insurance pipeline, delivering customized private wealth solutions for high-net-worth clients.

With a distinguished career spanning over 26 years in the insurance industry, primarily at Canada Life, Mike has excelled in various senior roles from field sales to head office leadership. His track record includes spearheading projects that significantly boosted insurance sales and enhanced advisor and client satisfaction. Mike's expertise in launching new products, planning distribution structures, and supporting advisors with high-net-worth client planning underscores his commitment to excellence. His collaborative leadership style is centered on fostering innovation and driving market growth.

Mike is a licensed life and accident sickness insurance professional and an active member of Advocis and Estate Planning Council of Canada. Committed to lifelong learning, he has completed numerous Advocis courses, including Financial Planning Fundamentals and Wealth Management and Estate Planning. He holds the Canadian Securities Course (CSC) and Conduct Practice Handbook (CPH) certificates, as well as the Certified Health Specialist (CHS), Certified Professional Consultant on Aging (CPCA), and Elder Planning Counselor (EPC) designations. Currently, he is pursuing his Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) designation.

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David Turnbull

David Turnbull

Head of Private Company Advisory

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David Turnbull

MBA, CFA
Head of Private Company Advisory

David Turnbull leads IG Private Company Advisory, drawing on more than 25 years of investment banking and capital markets experience to help our corporate and entrepreneurial clients secure financing, drive growth and maximize the value of their businesses. David's primary focus is on building and capturing value for companies with annual revenues in the range of $20 million to $1 billion. He and his team partner with business owners and executives in a diverse range of industries, providing tailored financing solutions, strategic advisory, and mergers and acquisitions strategies to create wealth.”

David sees the world through an entrepreneur's lens. He has a keen understanding of the Canadian business landscape and, as an MBA from Ivey Business School and a Chartered Financial Analyst, is adept at creating value within that landscape. He sees a commonality of purpose across all of IG's services. IG is known for using a holistic planning process and applying specialized expertise to help clients uncover opportunities, cut through complexity and create wealth over the long term. Through IG Private Company Advisory, they extend that ethos and approach to serving business owners in ways other providers typically don't: offering tailored analysis and advice to maximize wealth

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Hands-on service that goes far beyond the industry norm

In an era of robo-advisors and corporate call centres, our clients often tell us: “I wish we’d done this sooner.” That’s because our service model is truly hands-on. From the very beginning, we dig deep to understand your goals—not just on paper, but in real life. What would financial peace of mind feel like to you?

We offer frequent in-person reviews, quick email responses, and weekly market insights. We also prioritize getting to know you and your family as we work on your financial goals.

Comprehensive financial planning

Our goal is to make sure every part of your financial life works together. At Deacon Wealth Management, we connect the dots. That means your tax strategy, estate plan, retirement income, insurance, and investment approach are fully aligned and coordinated. We often work directly with your accountant, lawyer, and other advisors to eliminate gaps, avoid costly errors, and ensure every decision reflects all aspects of your life. You’re never left holding the pieces—we bring everything together and keep it running smoothly.

Communication that’s consistent, proactive, and personal

Great communication isn’t just about being available. It’s about being ahead of the curve. While you can always call us—and we’ll be here when you do—you might find we’ve already checked in. Our clients don’t feel the need to chase us for updates because we believe communication should be proactive. We offer regular market updates, clear follow-ups after every meeting, and a fast response when something comes up unexpectedly. Whether it’s a quick question about a recent budget announcement or a full review of your succession plan, we’re here—and we make time.

Our clients often become our friends

When you work with Deacon Wealth Management, you become part of something personal. Many of our clients become close friends, and it’s no accident. We believe financial planning should be built on trust and shared understanding, not transactions.

From the first conversation to the years that follow, we take the time to get to know you—your family, your priorities, your story. Our client appreciation events reflect that sense of community, and our day-to-day interactions demonstrate how much we care.

We take immense pride in knowing that our clients don’t just feel supported—they feel understood.

 

Built for complexity, grounded in clarity

Couple having conversation with the advisor

Our clients often come to us with complex and challenging situations. From multiple corporations, intergenerational wealth, business closings, and major tax concerns. At Deacon Wealth Management, complexity doesn’t scare us—it’s where we shine. We break it down, build it back up, and offer a plan that makes everything feel manageable.

Whether you’re navigating cash flows, preparing for retirement, or managing your estate across generations, we provide clear, structured advice that gives you confidence—not confusion.

Why we’re trusted by high-net-worth families and business owners

We’ve built our reputation on doing the right thing—even when it’s not the easy thing. Our values-first culture means you’ll never be pressured, rushed, or treated like a number.

You get:

  • Dedicated, experienced high-net-worth advisors
  • Full-picture financial planning tailored to your goals
  • Transparent, proactive communication
  • Deep coordination with your full professional team
  • A relationship that feels more like family than finance.

We believe that when financial planning is done right, it doesn’t just grow your wealth—it simplifies your life.

Community involvement

Individually, and as a team, we support initiatives and community organizations that are focused on social progress and improving the quality of life for the people in our community.

Learn more

In the media

For all media inquiries and bookings for speaking engagements, please contact us at katie.brookes@igpwm.ca.