Chris Clarke, CA (CPA® / CA), R.F.P., TEP, CFP®

Family Office Director & CEO

CHRIS CLARKE is the CEO, co-owner and founder of First Affiliated Holdings Inc., and owner of First Affiliated Securities Inc. Chris is also the founding Family Office Director. Holding her CA designation since 1987, Chris also obtained her CFP and later R.F.P. (Registered Financial Planner) designation, meeting the highest accreditation offered by the Institute of Advanced Financial Planners. She achieved the TEP (Trust and Estate Practitioner) with the worldwide Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP), and is certified with the Canadian Association of Family Enterprise (CAFÉ) as a Family Meeting Facilitator.

Chris spearheaded development of the independent Multi-Family Office (MFO) in Canada with an innovative approach towards integrated wealth, lifestyle and legacy management. Chris continues to innovate today leading the business operations at First Affiliated, modeling best practices, providing market education through the First Affiliated Academy and facilitating philanthropic initiatives through the First Affiliated Foundation.

Chris is the driving force behind the expression and preservation of our company culture, mission and strategic direction. Our leadership and innovation were recognized when The Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) voted First Affiliated one of the four top Family Offices worldwide. We were also proud recipients of the Canadian Association of Family Enterprise (CAFÉ) Family Business of the Year Award – Georgian Bay Chapter. Chris is an active member of CAFÉ, STEP and the Family Firm Institute (FFI), and entertains regular speaking engagements.

Chris is also the author of a soon to be published book True Family Wealth: Love, Money & An Inspired Life. True Family Wealth is an inspiring and practical guide for parents who want to support their adult children in finding their passion to live the lives they love, while using financial strategies to support their choices and those of future generations.

Karl Mortveit

Managing Director Operations, First Affiliated Holdings Inc.
President, First Affiliated Family Office Group Inc.

KARL MORTVEIT is the co-owner of First Affiliated and is responsible for the management of First Affiliated’s business and financial operations. Karl’s strong analytical and leadership skills are supported by his background in logistics, civil engineering and aviation as well as his long-term experience and commitment to First Affiliated over the past 30 years. He ensures our information systems are state of the art, and our data security is at the highest level. He works alongside our CEO overseeing corporate strategic initiatives.

Karl is responsible for the design, development, maintenance and upgrades of our back office systems, reporting technology and corporate infrastructure while constantly working to streamline process and increase efficiencies. Karl partners with the CEO of First Affiliated to ensure corporate compliance and licensing requirements are met. Karl also oversees the back office investment and reporting systems, ensuring our clients’ consolidated performance reports are accurate and timely

W. Barton Rowe

Chief Investment Strategist, First Affiliated Holdings Inc.
Associate Advising Representative, First Affiliated Family Office Group Inc.

BARTON ROWE is a partner of First Affiliated. Barton graduated with an Honours Business degree from the University of Western Ontario’s Ivey School of Business. Upon graduating Barton earned the F.W.P. Jones Award in Finance recognizing his achievements as the top finance student.

Barton started his investment career with the Research group of Nesbitt Thomson, the leading investment research firm at that time. There, he worked as a research analyst and earned his Chartered Financial Analyst designation. He also completed the Canadian Securities Course and received the award of excellence from the Canadian Securities Institute. He then moved to privately owned Scott Capital Group where he was Director of Capital Management. Barton was in charge of researching companies for private equity and debt financing, and managing the portfolio of private and public investments.

In 1995 Barton joined forces with First Affiliated in providing wealth management services and is responsible for the research, strategy and oversight of portfolio and business assets for our client families. Bart is a practicing CFA, and a member of: Toronto Society of Financial Analysts, the Association for Investment Management & Research, the Responsible Investment Association (RIA), the Family Enterprise Exchange (FEX) , and is a Board Member / Treasurer at the Suzuki Strings School of Guelph.

Brent Barrie, LL.B., CFA®, CIM®, CFP®

Head of Financial Planning, First Affiliated Holdings Inc.
Advising Representative & Chief Compliance Officer, First Affiliated Family Office Group Inc.

Brent Barrie is based out of Halifax and has a breadth of financial and business management experience earned over 22 years in the financial industry. A lawyer by training and graduate of Dalhousie Law School, Brent worked for six years with CIBC Trust where he managed the financial needs of clients across Atlantic Canada. For eleven years, Brent worked at SEAMARK Asset Management Ltd., including three years as Chief Executive Officer.

Brent currently serves as a director of the CFA Society Atlantic Canada and is a member, and former director, of the Responsible Investment Association, an industry organization that promotes awareness of the impact of environment, social, and governance factors on the public markets in Canada.

Andrea Baker-Nash

HR & Corporate Projects

Andrea Baker-Nash is the Family Office Liaison for the First Affiliated Family Office Group. Andrea joined First Affiliated in 2006 after a progressive career in the pharmaceutical industry. Prior roles included Sales, Corporate Training, Communications, Recruitment, Employee Relations, Strategic Business Partner and Merger Integration.

As Family Office Liaison, Andrea focuses her efforts externally to develop relationships in the community and increase public awareness about Family Office services provided by First Affiliated. She enjoys making connections with Canadian families and business owners that can truly benefit from what First Affiliated has to offer.

In her role of Corporate Project Manager, Andrea focuses internally and is responsible for oversight and implementation of our website, marketing, FA Academy and FA Foundation initiatives, as well as corporate contracts, and Human Resources. Andrea also assists with job search, recruitment, training and benefit related projects for our clients.

Dale Berne

Office Administration

Dale Berne has worked with First Affiliated Holdings Inc. since 1997. Over the years Dale has been very dedicated in providing back office systems support and assistance with preparation of quarterly reports. Dale is also a wonderful resource to the team as she provides assistance in general office and client administration.

Donna Potter

Accounting Associate

Donna Potter is an Accounting Associate at First Affiliated. Prior to joining FA in 2021, Donna had over 20 years of experience in human resources, payroll, and accounting with a large charitable organization.

As Accounting Associate, Donna manages FA payroll services and assists with human resources, bookkeeping and investment administration. Donna also supports our clients with payroll and bookkeeping services.

Donna holds a BA from the University of Waterloo and earned her Payroll Compliance Practitioner designation in 2011.

Rachele Mortveit

Client Administration

Rachele Mortveit first joined the First Affiliated team in 2013 as part-time receptionist and administrative support. Rachele assisted the FA Team on a full-time basis from January through August 2014 before attending University in the Fall.

Rachele is now attending Huron College at Western University, focusing on Psychology and Business. She returns to FA during the Summer months, and assists when possible during the academic year.

Alex Kimble

Client Service Administrator

Alex Kimble joined the First Affiliated team in 2017 as Client Service Administrator. Prior to working at First Affiliated, Alex held management positions in retail and healthcare. She is also an entrepreneur with her own growing business Soulfire Holistics focusing on Health, Nutrition and Wellness.

Alex provides support to the Client Service team and is also responsible for Office administration and reception.

Anson Yasi, CIM®

Assistant Portfolio Manager

Anson Yasi is the Assistant Portfolio Manager for First Affiliated. Prior to joining FA in 2019, Anson was an Assistant Portfolio Manager with the Private Client business group working with Family Office clients at Foyston, Gordon & Payne.

In his role at First Affiliated, Anson works with our Chief Investment Strategist in preparing and updating detailed client Investment Policy Statements and monitoring client portfolio performance. Anson assists in all aspects of portfolio management, administration and client specific requests.

Anson Graduated from York University with a BA in Economics. He obtained the Chartered Investment Manager (CIM®) designation in 2019, and the Canadian Securities Course (CSC) in 2015.

Nathalia Silva, CFA®, CFP®, CIM®

Manager Financial Planning

Nathalia Silva is the Client Service Manager at First Affiliated. Prior to joining FA in 2019, Nathalia had over 10 years of experience in the financial industry, most recently as Portfolio Management Assistant at RBC PH&N Investment Counsel.

As Client Service Manager, Nathalia is the primary liaison between our clients and the FA team. She is responsible for coordinating the team to ensure all client service-related matters are completed in a proactive, efficient and timely manner. Nathalia will also assist clients with their cash management, tax compliance and administrative service needs.

Nathalia holds a BA with major in Financial Management and Post-graduate in Financial Planning. Nathalia earned her Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) designation in 2015, Chartered Investment Management (CIM®) in 2016 and Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA®) in 2018.

Laura Giffen

Investment Administrative Assistant

Laura Giffen is the Investment Administrative Assistant at First Affiliated. Prior to joining FA in 2020, Laura helped manage her family’s business (established in 1939) by preserving its legacy while pivoting the company’s strategies for long-term growth and sustainability.

As Investment Administrative Assistant, Laura works with the Chief Investment Strategist and Chief of Operations. She is responsible for ensuring all client investment-related matters are completed in a professional and timely manner.

Laura holds a BComm with majors in Entrepreneurship and Marketing and minor in Professional Communications. Laura earned her Canadian Securities Course (CSC) in 2020, and looks forward to obtaining her Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) designation.

Tara Mathanda

Senior Manager, Tax & Accounting

Tara Mathanda joined the First Affiliated team in 2021 as Senior Manager, Tax & Accounting. Prior to working at First Affiliated, Tara had a wealth of tax experience gained over 10 years in the private client sector. Tara worked for seven years with Deloitte LLP where she managed the tax compliance and consulting of high net worth and ultra-high net worth clients in the greater Toronto area. For four years, Tara worked within the Income Tax Rulings Directorate at the Canada Revenue Agency where she assisted corporate and individual taxpayers in interpreting tax legislation. In addition, she was responsible for publishing technical interpretations as well as income tax rulings.

In her role at First Affiliated, Tara works with clients to ensure their tax, estate, and accounting compliance requirements are being met. She also provides oversight to ensure client’s tax strategies are being optimized and implemented effectively.

Tara graduated from University of Waterloo with a Masters in Accounting. She obtained her Chartered Professional Accountant designation in 2013.

Sabine Abt

Family Office Coordinator

Sabine Abt is one of our Family Office Coordinators at First Affiliated Holdings. Sabine worked with First Affiliated from 2005 – 2019, then returned after a well-earned sabbatical in the Summer of 2021. Prior to joining us in 2005, Sabine worked in Public and Corporate Affairs for over ten years at a major aerospace firm. Sabine was born in Switzerland and is trilingual in English, French, and German.

As Family Office Coordinator, Sabine works closely with our Corporate Client Service Manager to ensure all client tasks are managed in a proactive, efficient, and timely manner. Sabine takes the lead in client meeting preparation and task implementation and is very involved in tax return preparation and family trust administration. Sabine works closely with our Managing Director, Investment Strategy to ensure investment orders are prepared, approved, and executed in a timely fashion. Sabine also oversees all fund company accounts and office administration.