[On screen: An outdoor scene with a classic street lamp on the left and a statue of a historical figure holding a rifle in the center. In the background, there's a modern high-rise building amidst lush greenery, creating a contrast between historical and modern elements. Transition to a close-up of a sign with the logo of London, Canada. The logo consists of a stylized tree with a broad canopy within a square frame, accompanied by the text "London Canada" in a simple, elegant font.
Inside the office, focused on a nameplate that reads "Ted Velikonja." In the blurry background, an individual can be seen working at a desk with multiple monitors, suggesting a professional office setting. Moving upward, an Ted is at a workstation. In another room a meeting is going on. Four men, three facing towards and one with his back to the camera, are seated around a table. They appear engaged in a serious conversation. The setting looks like a well-lit, modern office with a view from the window hinting at an urban environment. ]
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[On screen: Ted Velikonja, First Vice-President, Investment Advisor & Senior Portfolio Manager, CIBC Wood Gundy. Ted is a man with medium-length graying hair is featured. He wears a dark suit, white shirt, and a dark tie. He has a confident expression, with a slight smile and direct gaze towards the camera. The office setting behind him showcases large windows that offer a view of a cityscape with lush greenery. The interior is upscale, with dark wood furnishings and personal touches such as framed photographs. ]
TED VELIKONJA: The Velikonja Investment Group has been around for over 30 years. There's two things that are unique, and the first one is that myself being the senior portfolio manager, the client has direct contact with their portfolio manager as opposed to being at arm's length. The second is the investment plan is goal-based. First thing we do when we meet is establish the family's short-term and long-term goals.
[On screen: A series of scenes in quick succession. A group of individuals in a team of professionals, engaged in different activities typically found in a business environment. They are shown in meetings, having discussions, working at desks with computers, and conversing over the phone. The dress code is formal, with individuals wearing suits and business attire. The office space is modern and bright, with artwork on the walls, large windows providing ample natural light, and views of the city landscape outside. There are also close-up shots of individuals focusing on tasks at hand. ]
On a quarter-by-quarter basis, it doesn't mean anything to the client whether the portfolio is up 3.3% or up 2.7%. What matters to the client, are we on track for my lifetime goal? It puts the client at ease. They can see the progression over time rather than focusing on the short-term noise. I have to deal with the ups and downs of the markets daily, but we shield our clients from that. We'll help the client stick to the plan through thick and thin, year after year.
It's a satisfying feeling knowing that we've set these goals up. The goal might have been a college education, it might have been a vacation home, but also just retirement income, a certain level of income that will satisfy their lifestyle. When we hit those goals or we're achieving those goals, that's satisfaction for me. I think it's important for our clients to have a holistic plan so that we're all on the same page.
The benefit of being Wood Gundy within CIBC is that we have access to the trust department, insurance department, private wealth, and commercial banking. What clients really like about working with our team is the service. Because we're dealing with a small group of high-net-worth clients, there's always someone available to them to meet their needs. I think what they also appreciate is dealing with their own personal portfolio manager.
As a portfolio manager, my strategy has always been valuation-based. It's not enough to look at an investment and say, "That's a good investment." It depends on the price you pay. Your long-term return will be determined by your initial price, and what we're trying to do is buy a dollar for 50 cents. The benefit of my 30 years experience is that I have experienced the downside, I have experienced the '87 crash and the tech bubble and the financial crisis. It's not just managing through the good times, but how do you manage through the tougher times? I think that's where we shine.
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[Text on screen: CIBC Private Wealth consists of services provided by CIBC and certain of its subsidiaries, including CIBC Wood Gundy, a division of CIBC World Markets Inc. Insurance services are available through CIBC Wood Gundy Financial Services Inc. In Quebec, insurance services are available through CIBC Wood Gundy Financial Services (Quebec) Inc.
“CIBC Private Wealth” is a trademark of CIBC, used under license. “Wood Gundy” is a registered trademark of CIBC World Markets Inc. ]