The Wellington West Total Wealth Management team, led by David Christianson, has been named as the Independent Financial Advisor Team of the Year by the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP), the independent full-service wealth management firm said Tuesday.

STEP is the leading worldwide professional body for practitioners in the fields of trusts, estates and related issues with over 14,500 members in 66 countries worldwide.

“I am thrilled,” says Christianson, “I am honoured that our team has been recognized as a top provider of financial advice. Our team is creative, disciplined and always provides our clients with the most up to date and effective total wealth management advice.”

The award was announced at a gala dinner in London, England on October 19, and presented by STEP.

The award is presented to the team who best integrates independent financial advice into the wider estate planning strategy of their clients; shows that it understands the needs of private clients; demonstrates innovation in the proposition they offer to trustee clients; partners and develops professional connections and; demonstrates commitment to developing their legal and taxation knowledge.

“We are ecstatic that David and his team have been recognized for who they are — world class providers of financial advice,” says Charlie Spiring, founder, CEO and chairman of Winnipeg-based Wellington West Holdings Inc. “The Wellington West Total Wealth Management team, under David’s leadership, continues to provide best in class counsel to their clients on a vast array of complex financial issues.”

Christianson joined Wellington West in 2001 and in addition to building a world class total wealth management team, he has played an integral part in the firm’s culture, says Kish Kapoor, president, Wellington West Holdings Inc.

IE