As part of our coverage of the federal election, Investment Executive is profiling candidates who are working or who have worked in the financial services industry. Here we look at Conservative Party candidate Tim Uppal.

Tim Uppal, Conservative Party hopeful for the Alberta riding of Edmonton-Beaumont, says being in politics is much like working in financial services.

“Being in politics you need to know people and have the ability to reach out to people,” says Uppal, a residential mortgage manager for TD Canada Trust in Edmonton. “It’s the same as the financial industry. We need people who are accountable involved [in politics]. It’s important to be accountable and you need to be able t relate to people. It’s the same in both sectors. You need to respect people’s money.”

In his three years with TD, the 29-year-old native of New Westminster, B.C. says he has built his business primarily through personal contacts, builders and realtors in the area and referrals. “You need to find out what their needs are, fit yourself in with their systems and add value to what they already do,” he says.

Uppal, who has worked as a marketing executive and radio host/producer, ran as the Canadian Alliance candidate in Edmonton Southeast in the 2000 general election, coming within 5,000 votes of defeating Liberal candidate MP David Kilgour.

In addition to work and his political aspirations, Uppal coaches Lions soccer and wrestling, is a member of the Capital Health Community Health Council and president of the South Edmonton Youth Group he founded in 1993.

Uppal is up against Paul Reikie of the New Democrats and the incumbent, Kilgour.