Did you know?
Our firm puts people first. Known for our customer service, friendliness, ingenuity and attention to detail, WEALTH (WCPD Inc.) is driven by the guiding principle that clients can not only prosper personally, but also make a difference in their communities.
Peter Nicholson started his financial services business in 1987 at the age of 22. Since 1995, Peter has been a recognized leader in Canadian tax assisted investments, with a specialized focus on philanthropic tax planning and tax reduction.
Through his work with countless donors, foundations, institutions, and boards, he has helped generate in excess of $350 million for client donations. Nicholson is also a generous philanthropist in his own right and a tireless supporter of community initiatives.
Over the years, Nicholson has served as a dedicated champion and board member for many foundations all across Canada, such as Winnipeg’s Canadian Museum of Human Rights, Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation and founder of the Exuma Foundation of Canada. He is also a member of the Canadian Association of Gift Planners (CAGP), Association of Fundraising Professionals of Canada (AFP), the Clinton Global Initiative, and a ten-year veteran of the investment club Tiger 21. Since 1993, he has qualified for the Million Dollar Round Table (annual qualification is limited to the top 1 % of finance professionals in the world).
In 2004, Nicholson started investing in Exuma, The Bahamas. In 2012, he purchased 31 villas (40%) at Grand Isle Resort & Residences, a former Four-Season Residence, making him the property’s largest shareholder. It continues to be a luxurious resort and second-home community in Exuma. He also has property and hospitality interests on Farmer’s Cay, part of an exclusive 365-island chain in the Exumas.
He spends his time between Ottawa, Nova Scotia and Exuma with Anabel and their six children, ranging in age from 28 to 10 years old.
Allen’s financial planning experience dates back to 1992. He specializes in life and disability insurance and estate planning. Allen has been affiliated with WEALTH since 1999 and he has been a member of the Million Dollar Round Table since 2005. He works with Michelle Claude to provide insurance advice for WEALTH clients.
Bita has been a fixture of the philanthropic world for decades, with extensive experience in fundraising, sponsorship and high-net-worth donor relations.
Through her decades of experience, she is a member of UNICEF Canada’s Honorary Advisory Council, a Trustee of the McCord Museum Foundation and a member of the International Women’s Forum (IWF)-Montreal Chapter, an invitation-only network of accomplished women committed to advancing women’s leadership and championing equality worldwide. Bita also serves on the Board of Directors for the Montreal Symphony Orchestra (OSM) and the Concours musical international de Montreal (CMIM) Foundation.
Bita is the founder and co-chair of Gala de la Terre, an annual benefit concert in Montreal that raises funds and awareness for projects protecting marine life and habitats. In 2022, Gala de la Terre received the prestigious Opus Award for Quebec’s best musical event of 2022.
Bita holds a B. Eng. in Civil Engineering from McGill University. In addition, she has earned CIM®, Canadian Investment Manager and the CAP®, Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy designations from the Canadian Securities Institute and the American College of Financial Services, respectively.
Jeff leads marketing and communications for WEALTH (WCPD Inc) and the WCPD Foundation. His duties include marketing, business development, media relations, event planning and brand building.
He is President and VP of Partnerships for the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) in Ottawa and Co-Founder and Board Member of the Exuma Foundation of Canada.
Prior to joining the firm in 2013, Jeff was an international journalist with experience in Canada, The Bahamas and the United Arab Emirates. His work appeared in newspapers across North America, including the New York Times, the Globe and Mail and the Toronto Star.
He is also a multi award-winning author of six books, with a specialization in memoirs and ghost writing.
Chris is responsible for the management of WEALTH’s flow-through investments, presenting investment opportunities to clients & their representatives, overseeing investment accounting & compliance, acting as liaison with our legal counsel, and managing the flow-through team. He is also a Director of WCPD Foundation, managing Board activities and all aspects of donations issued through WCPD Foundation. Chris joined WEALTH in 2015 after graduating from the University of Ottawa’s Telfer School of Management with a Bachelors of Commerce degree.
Paolo leads WEALTH’s business development efforts focused on fostering relationships with mining companies, brokers, and investors to ultimately connect investors and issuers to structured flow-through and charity flow-through financing offerings in the Canadian mining industry.
Prior to joining WEALTH, Paolo enjoyed an impressive national and international 30 year engineering career occupying a number of senior executive roles and leadership positions with world renown companies including SNC-Lavalin, Bantrel/Bechtel and AECOM in charge of important P&Ls for businesses involved in feasibility studies, engineering, project management and construction of Mining, O&G, Power Generation, and Infrastructure projects.
Mr. Cattelan holds a Bachelor of Engineering (1990) and an MBA in International Business (2009) from McGill University, and has successfully completed CFA 1 (2003).
With a diverse business career built over the past thirty years, Geoff is the Founder and President of Bennett Brown, a boutique advisory and business development firm focused on the ultra high-net-worth space in Canada.
Throughout his career, Geoff has gained considerable experience in wealth management, investment banking, private equity and equity raising. With philanthropy becoming an ever important part of his mindset and mission in life, it was a natural fit for Geoff to become involved with WEALTH where he is able to provide awareness to high-net-worth families, and their advisors, about more strategic and tax efficient ways to donate to charity.
After over twenty years in Western Canada, Geoff moved back to Halifax in 2021 with his wife, Monique, where he continues to enjoy connect those in his business network and enjoying time with his two adult children and grandson. Holding a Business Degree from the University of North Carolina – Pembroke, Geoff is also the holder of the CIM designation and a member of the Association of Corporate Growth, where he sits as a Committee Member of ACG Atlantic.
With over 30 years of experience in the capital markets, Sean Marsden is a seasoned financial advisor specializing in the funding of resource companies across Canada. As a Senior Financial Advisor at WEALTH, Sean leverages his extensive background to provide strategic financial guidance and innovative solutions to clients within the resource sector.
Sean earned his degree from Ottawa University, where he laid the foundation for his successful career. His expertise in capital markets and deep understanding of the resource industry have made him a valuable asset in navigating complex financial landscapes and securing essential funding for growth and development.
Throughout his career, Sean has built a reputation for delivering exceptional results and fostering long-term relationships with clients. His strategic approach and commitment to excellence continue to drive his success in the financial industry.
Arie Papernick has spent more than 30 years working in the investment and capital markets industry, with much of his career focused on financing and investing in the resource sector. He has worked closely with public companies, institutional investors, high-net-worth individuals, family offices and charities, developing relationships and helping structure transactions that bring companies and investors together.
At WEALTH (WCPD Inc.), Arie works with individuals, families and their professional advisors to help them understand how structured flow-through investments can be used as part of tax-reduction and tax-efficient philanthropic strategies. He also draws on his investment-banking background to support WCPD’s relationships with the mining industry, institutional investors and strategic investors.
Arie was instrumental in arranging some of the initial structured flow-through financings in 2007, giving him a longstanding understanding of the product and its application to both investors and resource companies. He completed the CFA Program in 2000 and holds an Honours Bachelor of Commerce from McMaster University.
Mark Foris began his career in financial services in 1989, building a distinguished 36-year track record marked by consistent growth, leadership, and industry impact. Over the course of his career, he spent 15 years in senior leadership roles, where he developed specialized expertise in sales and distribution, driving strategic initiatives and cultivating high-performing teams.
Recently, Mark joined Wealth (WCPD), where his extensive expertise aligns seamlessly with the firm’s specialized tax services, enhancing the value delivered to clients and partners alike.
Mark’s experience spans both exclusive and independent distribution models, giving him a well-rounded perspective and enabling him to build strong, lasting relationships with clients, advisors and leaders across the financial services industry. His ability to navigate and connect across these channels has been a key factor in his success.
A firm believer in lifelong learning, Mark is dedicated to continuous professional development. He holds several respected professional designations, including Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU), Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC), Certified Financial Planner (CFP), Certified Health Insurance Specialist (CHS), and Certified Coach (CCP). These credentials reflect both his depth of knowledge and commitment to excellence.
Mark is also a proud 36-year member of Advocis and remains an ardent advocate for ethical standards and professionalism within the financial services industry. His long-standing involvement underscores his passion for advancing the profession and supporting his peers.
Outside of work, Mark enjoys spending time at the cottage with his wife Val, their two children, and their newest grandchild—embracing family life and the opportunity to recharge in a peaceful setting.
Bianca is based from Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Since joining WCPD in 2016, Bianca has played an integral role in the organization’s operations, initially specializing in live Flow-Through Investment transactions and supporting clients in the execution of investment documentation. She has also worked closely with the Foundation and its donors, facilitating the administration of charitable disbursements.
Bianca now leads the management of the Foundations, overseeing client donations, Foundation reporting and day-to-day operations. In addition, she directs Compliance operations, ensuring organizational processes and regulatory requirements are consistently maintained.
Michelle joined WEALTH in 1998. She has worked in the insurance industry since 1991. Michelle works with Allen to provide advice to our insurance clients.
Patricia has been in the online industry for over 12 years, specializing in social media, multimedia and Internet marketing strategies. She currently manages various websites and social media accounts, including services for The Foundation (WCPD).
Patricia is responsible for The Foundation’s multimedia database and general office administration. She is the company’s photographer and videographer as well.
Anabel joined the WEALTH team in 2005. She represents WEALTH and builds the philanthropic brand with her involvement in the company’s many charity client events and sponsorships.
Adam provides pivotal analysis for all of WEALTH’s potential flow-through investments, in additional to customized analysis for corporate & individual clients in consideration of their unique tax scenarios. A regular fixture at the annual PDAC mining conference, Adam represents WEALTH’s financial service offerings to mining companies, stakeholder groups & clients across Canada. Adam graduated with a Bachelors of Commerce with a major in finance from the University of Ottawa’s Telfer School of Management in 2017 and joined WEALTH soon thereafter.
Amanda joined our team in May 2021 and is responsible for managing donations and associated client interactions. Additionally, she assists with foundation-related bookkeeping responsibilities and tax documentation. Amanda graduated from Carleton University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree with speciality in Criminology & Justice.
Isaac provides integral support to clients in the end-to-end administration of their flow-through investments, and assists the flow-through team with investment analysis, financial compliance & tax documentation. Isaac joined WEALTH in 2020 following graduation from Carleton University’s Sprott School of Business Bachelor of Commerce Honours program, with a concentration in finance.
Lori has an extensive background in customer service as well as business and project management.
Her schooling was in Business Administration. Lori redirected and spent many years working in the aviation industry.
Lori later returned to customer service and supply chain. Over the years, Lori has been a business owner, a project manager and a multi-unit manager. She also owns and operates a boutique travel agency and has considerable experience working with VIP clients.
In her spare time, Lori is involved in a variety of community initiatives.
Lori recently joined WEALTH as an Executive Assistant to Peter Nicholson. She is also working with the team on a variety of projects.
Kurt leads business development and technology initiatives at WEALTH, driving client engagement, strategic growth, and technology innovation. As a Dealing Representative, he works directly with clients and advisors across Canada to facilitate Structured Flow-Through transactions.
Kurt joined the team full-time in 2023 after completing two summer internships with WEALTH and working part-time throughout university. He graduated with honours from Bishops University with a Bachelor of Business Administration, majoring in Finance, minoring in Business Technology & Analytics.
Barret assists the flow-through team with financial compliance & tax documentation and provides support in the administration of clients’ flow-through investments.
Barret joined WEALTH in May 2022 upon graduation of uOttawa’s Telfer School of Management Bachelor of Commerce Honours Program, with a concentration in Finance.
Nisa joined WEALTH in 2023 as an Executive Assistant to Peter Nicholson providing support to any administrative and flow-through related tasks.
Additionally, she is working along side team members providing assistance for events, presentations, and other projects. With her degree in Business Administration in Finance, she worked for global investment banking industry and spent some time working as a team leader before joining WEALTH.
Mital provides assistance to the financial services team with various compliance related tasks associated with investments, support in end-to-end administration of flow-through investments and tax documentation.
Mital joined the team in 2025. Mital has varied experience in the financial sector for nearly 10 years. She holds a bachelor of commerce degree, followed by a post-graduate diploma course in Finance.
With over 30 years of leadership experience in the healthcare field, Mario spent the last 20 years managing larger physician partnerships practicing with the private, public and academic sectors. From the first acquisition of Flow-Through Shares for a large donation back in 2010, his group of physicians subsequently sought and utilized these tax favoured products on a regular basis towards a variety of worthy community and academic endeavours.
After graduation with an MBA from Queen’s University in Kingston, Mario sought to apply sound business practices to the management and delivery of health care burdened with more and more scarce resources.
Mario retired a few years ago but was excited to join and assist Wealth in its drive to expand its offers to medical and professional groups to the benefit of philanthropic goals serving the Canadian communities and patients.
Billy is a seasoned professional with over 10 years of experience in conducting financial statement audits for international clients across a range of sectors, including healthcare and retail. A Certified Public Accountant (CPA) since 2011, he began his career at a prestigious Big 4 accounting firm. Following his relocation to Canada, Billy further expanded his expertise by pursuing a degree in International Business Management at Algonquin College, gaining in-depth knowledge of Canadian business operations in both the private and non-profit sectors. He is also specializing in flow-through and trust accounting for WEALTH.
Joy supports marketing and business development at WEALTH, with responsibilities spanning database management, event coordination, and key marketing initiatives. She joined the team in January 2024 and brings strong experience in operational support and coordination, along with strong technical and digital marketing capabilities.
Joy holds a degree in Law and Information Systems Management.
Outside work, she enjoys playing basketball and volunteering with Connected Canadians, where she teaches seniors how to use technology and stay safe online.
Kaith recently joined WEALTH as an Office Administrative Assistant, where she supports daily operations and helps keep internal processes organized and efficient. She contributes to administrative coordination and team support, ensuring that day-to-day tasks run smoothly.
With a strong focus on reliability and growth, Kaith continues to develop her skills while supporting the team’s overall success.
Maddie joined WEALTH in April 2025. The year before, she completed a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at Carleton University.
In her role at WEALTH, Maddie serves as Executive Assistant to Chris Richards, Head of Sales and Operations. Her primary roles and responsibilities include administrative support, managing calendars, email correspondence, tracking action items, and supporting the Flow-Through team with ongoing projects.
Astère completed his Bachelor of Commerce from the Telfer School of Management in 2025, with a concentration of Finance. That same year, he joined the team at WEALTH as a Financial Assistant.
With prior experience in the public sector, focused on financial and administrative roles, Astère assists the Flow-Through Department with compliance-related tasks.
This includes delivering client investment packages, managing legal documents, providing financial research and reports, and various other administrative duties.
Astère is also fully bilingual, assisting WEALTH’s clients in both English and French.
Jacqueline contributes to WEALTH’s business development efforts by identifying and engaging prospective clients, supporting the development of new relationships, and assisting in the growth of the firm’s client network. Jacqueline works closely with the business development and sales teams to facilitate opportunities from initial prospecting through client engagement, while supporting WEALTH’s presence at industry, philanthropic, and networking events.
Jacqueline plays a key role in supporting the firm’s continued growth and strengthening its relationships with clients and prospective clients.
