(November 1 – 09:20 ET) – Effective today DPM Financial Planning Group Inc., The Height of Excellence Financial Planning Group Inc. and C.M. Oliver Financial Planning Corp. become Assante Financial Management Ltd., the new name for the fund dealer unit of Assante Corp.
The move is part of Assante’s ongoing rebranding and integration project. Also effective today DPM Securities Inc. and C.M. Oliver Financial Corp. become part of Assante Capital Management Inc., Assante’s securities dealer unit.
“Phase one of our integration and name change project for Canada is essentially coming to an end,” said Martin Weinberg, CEO and chairman of Assante Corp. “A major part of this phase involved bringing the operational groups of the different distribution companies into a common location. Previously, we had people working in three different cities across Canada, and in four separate locations in Toronto alone. We now have approximately 300 people together in one Toronto location, working as the strategic business unit of Assante Advisory Services under the new management of Nick Mancini.”
Phase two of the company’s integration plan is scheduled to begin in the second quarter 2001 when the rest of the Canadian distribution firms will start adopting the Assante name and brand. Those companies include some of the firm’s earliest acquisitions: Fenlon Financial (1997) Inc., Brightside Financial Services Inc., FPC Investments Inc., Kronish de Grosbois Inc and Summit Aurum Financial Group Inc.
“There is still much to do for the overall integration project. We will be initiating a national branding program, standardizing policies and procedures, consolidating systems and working with our human resources professionals to deal with the cultural adjustment that these changes have required,” says Weinberg.
-IE Staff