Alan Dewling
Retirement to me is the freedom to do what you do because you want to rather than because you have to. In that sense, I am already retired as there is nothing I would rather be doing on a day-to-day basis than helping our client’s succeed.
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Alan Dewling, CPA CA, is a Managing Director and one of the firm’s portfolio managers.
For over thirty years, Alan has provided comprehensive financial management for prosperous individuals and their families (he still has clients from 30 years ago). Alan was a senior tax partner with Ernst & Young before joining a private trust company and subsequently an independent portfolio management firm. He founded Genova in 2006 with the objective of combining the superior results through the direct ownership of great businesses with broader expertise in tax and personal finance.
With no plans to retire (see quote above), Alan continues to lead Genova while slowly transitioning the business to his daughter, Jennifer A. Dewling. Alan is a father, grandfather, golf enthusiast and dedicated Blue Jays fan.
Jennifer L. Dewling
My passionate purpose is to empower our clients to live, love and share their prosperity which I define as a state of abundant happiness, health, wisdom and wealth.
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Jennifer L. Dewling is a Managing Director of the firm and specializes in strategic planning and coaching for personal and business success.
She is a seasoned corporate leader, business advisor and leadership coach with over 30 years of experience and success helping small, medium and large enterprises achieve their growth and value-creation objectives. Throughout her career she has pursued her passion to make a difference in the world through innovation, leadership and business excellence.
Prior to co-founding Genova with Alan Dewling in 2006, she was the Executive Vice President of AEGON Canada/Transamerica Life Canada, President & C.E.O. of AEGON Fund Management Inc. and the President & C.E.O. of Money Concepts Canada Limited, one of Canada’s leading financial planning firms.
Jennifer is active in industry associations dedicated to entrepreneurial success including the Canadian Association for Family Enterprise (CAFE) and Futurepreneur where she has provided mentoring and leadership coaching to budding entrepreneurs. She is an avid golfer and fitness buff.
Jennifer A. Dewling
The best part of my job is seeing our clients take pride of ownership in the businesses they own.
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Jennifer A. Dewling, CIM, CFP, is a Principal of the firm and is a registered portfolio manager. Her focus is on building relationships with clients and helping them build their wealth.
Prior to joining Genova, Jennifer spent over a decade with a top tier Canadian bank, where she filled progressively senior roles – these include the corporate credit group covering the bank’s oil and gas corporate lending portfolio, as well as several years in the bank’s commercial banking division.
Married with two young children, Jennifer knows the importance of trying to find balance and focusing on what matters most. For Jennifer, that is spending time with her family, helping her clients, and her ongoing involvement with Casey House where she is the Vice Chair of the Board of Directors, and is a member of the Finance Committee.
Jennifer holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Dalhousie University, the Chartered Investment Manager (CIM®) designation and the Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) designation.
Celina Benic
I see myself as a problem solver. More often than not, you will never know that there was a problem to begin with.
Celina Benic is the firm’s Manager of Private Office Services.
Celina has worked with Alan so long, she’s like family. She brings with her a wealth of experience in the fields of accounting and taxation gleaned from her experience working as: a sales tax auditor with Ontario Hydro; a team member of the audit and appeals division of Canada Revenue Agency; a national accountant for the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada; and a tax associate with both Deloitte & Touche and Ernst & Young.
GRACE MaCDONALD
As a proud member of Genova’s team, I am drawn to the strong family values they bring to the wealth management business and the absolute level of care for their clients. I am committed to this ethic as I continue to grow with Genova.
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Grace MacDonald is the firm’s Manager, Investment Operations.
She is responsible for the administration of the portfolio management process and maintaining investment reports on our portfolio of companies. Prior to joining Genova in 2018, Grace interned with Formula Growth Limited in Montreal, providing support in portfolio administration, risk management and compliance.
Grace holds a BBA, Advanced Major Finance from St. Francis Xavier University and is progressing toward achieving a Chartered Financial Analyst designation. Over the years, Grace has enjoyed the transition from small-town Nova Scotia to big-city Toronto.
GRETEL COOK
Genova’s strong sense of ethics and personal approach to wealth management ensures that our clients are always put first. This makes my role extremely fulfilling because I can see a positive impact at both a client and a firm level.
Gretel Cook is the firm’s Manager, Compliance. She is responsible for overseeing the administration of Genova’s regulatory compliance program.
Gretel holds a B.A. (Hons) in History and English Literature from the University of Toronto. Before joining Genova, she lived in Manchester, England where she worked for a regulatory compliance consultancy company, providing support and advice to firms and advisers seeking UK authorization and guidance and advice on the implementation and monitoring of compliance and business continuity procedures. Prior to that role, she worked for a private bank and a financial advisory firm which specialized in dealing with clients who received personal injury compensation awards.
She has completed multiple wealth management and securities qualifications in both the UK and Canada. A Toronto native, she is excited to relocate back to her hometown to spend more time with her family and friends. On weekends, she can often be found on a hiking trail or on her yoga mat.