Wealth Professional Magazine Names Chad Larson One Of Canada’s Top #50 Advisors

Managing books of business of up to $1.8 billion in assets, the financial professionals on this year’s list have stood out for their ability to steer their clients’ portfolios through economic and market challenges, while still elevating their practices with innovative strategies, solutions, and best practices.

Longevity in the business is a factor among this year’s top advisors, with more than half having more than 20 years of industry experience behind them. While there’s no question that fresh faces and new blood are essential to the industry’s continued vitality, there’s clearly value in the wealth of experience seasoned veterans are able to draw upon, as well as the trusting relationships they’ve built with clients over the course of decades.

To find the Top 50 Advisors in 2023, WP solicited nominations from stakeholders including advisors, industry professionals, and clients. All information on nominees were verified by their respective compliance teams.

The names in the final list were selected on the basis of their weighted ranking in overall AUM, AUM growth, and client growth between October 2021 and October 2022, as well as their certifications beyond a bachelor’s degree and basic securities license.

Spotlight – Chad Larson

With nearly 20 years of industry experience and numerous honours under his belt, Chad Larson knows what it takes to be a top investment advisor.

Aside from holding the Canadian Investment Manager (CIM) designation, Larson is a Fellow of the Canadian Securities Institute, which the institute bestows only upon a few professionals at the pinnacle of investment expertise, advanced education, and ethics.

Year after year over the past decade, he has garnered nominations and accolades as one of Canada’s top wealth advisors. His business has flourished alongside his career; today at MLD Wealth, he has approximately $845 million in total client assets under his individual management.

Drawing from his formal education in economics, Larson’s investment philosophy begins with a macro view of the world and its economies. Working with some of the world’s leading asset managers, he uses a process-driven tactical asset-allocation model to achieve results for MLD Wealth’s private clients.

“We’re always dancing to three different songs at the same time,” he says. “When building a general consensus viewpoint, I try to construct at minimum three-, six-, and 12-month outlooks, which I try to line up with one-, three-, and five-year views of the economic cycle. We listen for the intro, the chorus, and any cues that would tell us tactically when we can lean into opportunities and when we have to back away from risk.”

In his primary capacity as senior portfolio manager, Larson looks for unique growth opportunities and trading strategies for MLD Wealth’s high-net-worth clients. Having been a founder, director, and strategic advisor to numerous private and public companies, he also has an intimate knowledge of owning and leading a business.

With those capabilities, Larson complements his team’s approach to overall wealth management, which aims for capital preservation, income, and growth along with reduced volatility and downside protection across different market conditions.

“MLD Wealth has been a partnership since 2004,” he says. “The first coffee I had with my partner, Curtis Mayert, planted the seed for our practice. We welcomed our third partner, Sue Derlago, over 10 years ago.”

From its inception, the practice has been on a path of constant evolution and growth. Today Larson, Mayert, and Derlago lead a team of eight industry professionals that serves private clients across Canada.

“Our robust platform has the people and processes to handle the full needs of affluent families,” Larson says. “We categorically understand that the needs and complex nature of wealthy families don’t fit into simple boxes.”

Every day, they operate with a commitment to People, Process, and Philosophy, which allows them to take pride as one of the country’s few true multi-family offices – and they’re not standing still.

“Our near-term plans include further leveraging technology and hiring additional stakeholders to support the growing needs of our existing and future families,” he adds. “We’re looking to take on more permanent staff in our other offices across Canada.”

Outside of the industry, Larson is raising two children with the help of his loving and supportive spouse. He generously shares his time and wealth with a close circle of loved ones and his community, as well as charitable causes that are near and dear to him and his family.cfcu.org