Episode Highlights

• Strong YTD for equities: Clients who stayed invested captured the 2025 bull market.
• Valuations are high, but room remains: Tech/AI leadership and retail flows can still support gains.
• The market and the economy don’t move in lockstep: Softer labour data and mixed inflation don’t directly dictate stock moves.
• Rates are uncertain: One cut behind us; future cuts are data-dependent—plan, don’t predict.
• Gold’s big run: Keep it as a diversifier; consider trimming profits rather than overweighting it.
• ...and more.

About the Guest – Keith Allan

Keith Allan is a Portfolio Manager with Harness Investment Management. Harness has engaged in a strategic partnership with VELA Wealth and provides discretionary portfolio management for many of VELA’s clients. With more than 15 years of buy-side investment management experience, Keith brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to provide insight and guidance to clients regarding their investment portfolios. At Harness, Keith is responsible for developing and maintaining investment portfolios for VELA clients. To learn more, please visit Harness Investment Management team page.

About the Host – Kevin Parton

Kevin Parton, CFP professional, specializes in personal and business financial planning, tax reduction, and estate planning. Kevin is diligently concentrating on client education as a powerful strategy for building financial certainty. As no financial situation is the same, Kevin and his team monitor clients’ plans and implement personalized strategies to reduce their personal and corporate taxes, and protect their income, assets, and loved ones against the financial consequences of a serious illness, injury or death, ensuring clients maintain financial certainty and peace of mind. To read more, please visit the VELA team page.

Disclaimer

The information provided in the podcast transcript is designed for general informational purposes only and is not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual or on any specific security or investment product.

• Discover how a spark of inspiration in Paris led Nicole Smith to launch Flytographer, now connecting travelers with photographers in 350+ cities worldwide.
• Learn how she made the bold leap from a 13-year career at Microsoft to building a global brand from scratch.
• Hear Nicole’s candid take on the risks, resilience, and pivots required to keep Flytographer alive during the pandemic.
• Find out why embracing conscious leadership and personal wellbeing has been key to scaling a profitable, purpose-driven company.
• Get a glimpse of what’s next as Flytographer expands its mission to help people remember their favorite travel stories forever.

This episode is packed with insights for anyone interested in entrepreneurship, leadership, or turning an idea into a global success story.

About the Guest – Nicole Smith

Nicole Smith is the founder of Flytographer, the world’s first global marketplace connecting travelers with local photographers for short, fun vacation shoots. Since launching in 2013, Flytographer has become a profitable, multi-million dollar business and captured memories for 100,000+ travelers across 350 cities. Nicole won BC Business Magazine's 2025 Woman of the Year (Innovator category), has appeared twice on Dragons’ Den, was named an EY Winning Woman, and is also an angel investor focused on women-led startups. Before founding Flytographer, she spent over 13 years at Microsoft in global marketing and consulting, and worked as a product manager at a Seattle tech startup. Learn more at flytographer.com.

About the Host – Kevin Parton

Kevin Parton, CFP professional, specializes in personal and business financial planning, tax reduction, and estate planning. Kevin is diligently concentrating on client education as a powerful strategy for building financial certainty. As no financial situation is the same, Kevin and his team monitor clients’ plans and implement personalized strategies to reduce their personal and corporate taxes, and protect their income, assets, and loved ones against the financial consequences of a serious illness, injury or death, ensuring clients maintain financial certainty and peace of mind. To read more, please visit the VELA team page.

Episode Highlights

• Markets rebounded in Q2 despite economic and geopolitical uncertainty
• VELA client portfolios outperformed major indices
• Active management and diversification drove stronger returns
• Investor sentiment often misaligns with market performance
• Outlook remains optimistic heading into late 2025

...and more.

About the Guest – Keith Allan

Keith Allan is a Portfolio Manager with Harness Investment Management. Harness has engaged in a strategic partnership with VELA Wealth and provides discretionary portfolio management for many of VELA’s clients. With more than 15 years of buy-side investment management experience, Keith brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to provide insight and guidance to clients regarding their investment portfolios. At Harness, Keith is responsible for developing and maintaining investment portfolios for VELA clients. To learn more, please visit Harness Investment Management team page.

About the Host – Kevin Parton

Kevin Parton, CFP professional, specializes in personal and business financial planning, tax reduction, and estate planning. Kevin is diligently concentrating on client education as a powerful strategy for building financial certainty. As no financial situation is the same, Kevin and his team monitor clients’ plans and implement personalized strategies to reduce their personal and corporate taxes, and protect their income, assets, and loved ones against the financial consequences of a serious illness, injury or death, ensuring clients maintain financial certainty and peace of mind. To read more, please visit the VELA team page.

Podcast Highlights:

• Explore the impact of technology on society and consumer interactions.
• Discover the growing importance of intersecting business and philanthropy in natural ways for consumers to engage.
• Learn how business practices are evolving in relation to consumer expectations of sustainability.
• Gain insight into consumerism, highlighting changes in buying behaviours and trends over the past 30 years.

About the Guest – Stewart Irvine, MerchUX & ESquared Foundation

Stewart is an accomplished technology entrepreneur and CEO with over 30 years of experience in innovating, founding, and leading groundbreaking companies. His expertise lies at the confluence of technology, media, and engagement, where he has consistently pioneered advancements that redefine industry paradigms. With a rich background in developing startups and steering them toward strategic exits, Stewart's business acumen is matched by his dedication to creating societal value, particularly in enhancing mental health and learning through advanced technologies.

Founding multiple revolutionary ventures, Stewart has demonstrated a unique ability to anticipate market needs and harness technology to deliver compelling solutions. Stewart's approach is holistic, integrating his technical prowess with a deep commitment to corporate social responsibility. His initiatives have not only set new benchmarks in business but also underscored the potential of technology to foster significant societal change. His vision for the future is not confined to commercial success but extends to leveraging technology for a sustainable and inclusive world.

In the realm of business development and leadership, Stewart stands out for his strategic foresight and ability to navigate complex market landscapes. His leadership style embodies agility and a capacity to think outside the box, qualities that have propelled his companies to the forefront of their respective industries.

About the Host – Jason Boudreau

Jason has built VELA Wealth into an established life and estate planning firm, guiding families as they make meaningful choices at the intersection of life and wealth.

More specifically, Jason’s areas of expertise include intergenerational wealth transfer and estate planning with a focus on advanced insurance-based solutions that incorporate philanthropy and legacy planning. Leveraging these specialties, Jason brings a fresh perspective and outside-the-box thinking to the strategic planning process. His satisfaction comes from watching clients fulfill their vision of life and create impact with their wealth, knowing that VELA played a role in bringing that vision to fruition for the benefit of current and future generations.

Jason is a long-standing, active member of CALU (The Conference for Advanced Life Underwriting), the leading advocacy group promoting the financial health of Canadians and influencing sound public policy. He is a sought-after speaker and contributor to a number of regular publications.

A proud family man, outside of the office Jason enjoys spending time with his beautiful wife Carissa, their three wonderful children, Benjamin, Noah and Eleana and their Bernese Mountain dog Lucy. Jason is the Immediate Past President of the Rotary Club of Vancouver and an active member of the Thunderbird Football Alumni. He has a passion for leading an active lifestyle and as an avid golfer, can be found regularly pursuing mastery of the game that always seems to have mastered him.

Key highlights from this episode:

• Why Q1 2025 wasn’t as negative as it seemed—and what the TSX’s performance tells us
• How investor biases like recency and confirmation shape market sentiment
• The real impact of interest rates and what potential cuts could mean ahead
• Market volatility: separating tweet-driven noise from economic fundamentals
• Practical ways to stay resilient during uncertainty
• ...and more.

About the Guest – Keith Allan

Keith Allan is a Portfolio Manager with Harness Investment Management. Harness has engaged in a strategic partnership with VELA Wealth and provides discretionary portfolio management for many of VELA’s clients. With more than 15 years of buy-side investment management experience, Keith brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to provide insight and guidance to clients regarding their investment portfolios. At Harness, Keith is responsible for developing and maintaining investment portfolios for VELA clients. To learn more, please visit Harness Investment Management team page.

About the Host – Kevin Parton

Kevin Parton, CFP professional, specializes in personal and business financial planning, tax reduction, and estate planning. Kevin is diligently concentrating on client education as a powerful strategy for building financial certainty. As no financial situation is the same, Kevin and his team monitor clients’ plans and implement personalized strategies to reduce their personal and corporate taxes, and protect their income, assets, and loved ones against the financial consequences of a serious illness, injury or death, ensuring clients maintain financial certainty and peace of mind. To read more, please visit the VELA team page.

Disclaimer

The information provided in the podcast transcript is designed for general informational purposes only and is not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual or on any specific security or investment product.  

Podcast Highlights:

• Explore BDC's unique approach to business banking and personalized client support.
• Discover the range of services offered by BDC, including funding, venture capital, and advisory services.
• Learn about current lending practices and the challenges faced by Canadian business owners today.
• Gain valuable insights into how BDC can help unlock potential for growth and innovation in your business.

About the Guest – Nicholas Drake, BDC

Nick Drake is a Senior Director in BDC Capital’s Growth & Transition Capital group in Vancouver where he focusses on providing cash flow loans, mezzanine debt and quasi-equity solutions to BC’s entrepreneurs. Before joining BDC Capital in 2018, Nick spent 10 years with a US headquartered Private Equity firm where he spearheaded the acquisition of more than 15 Canadian businesses and served on the boards of the Canadian platforms. Nicholas earned his Engineering and MBA degrees at UBC and is registered as a non-practicing Professional Engineer with EGBC.

About the Host – Rob Wallis

Rob has been providing expert planning and strategic advice for nearly 20 years and has been with VELA Wealth since 2016. He is a detail-oriented strategist with a proven track record. Rob excels at working with entrepreneurial professionals and business owners to define their individual ecosystems and establish meaningful life and financial goals. He has specialized expertise in guiding healthcare professionals who are building multi-location, and specialist clinics. A methodical and analytical thinker, Rob compassionately navigates clients through the complexities of a thorough financial planning process ensuring that they feel understood and supported throughout. Prior to joining the VELA team Rob worked in various client management, technical financial analysis, and financial planning roles both in Canada and the UK. Rob holds a BSc (Hons) in Investment & Real Estate Finance from the Cass Business School in London. British born and raised, Rob is a globe-trotting travel enthusiast who loves spending time with his family hitting the slopes and hiking.

Podcast Highlights:

• Explore the entrepreneurial spirit that drove Ali to start SideDrawer.
• Discover the challenges and triumphs faced during the company's growth.
• Learn about the innovative solutions SideDrawer provides for document management.
• Gain insights into the importance of adaptability in the startup landscape.

About the Guest – Ali M. Qureshi

Ali Qureshi is the Co-Founder of SideDrawer, an idea born out of a personal need for him and his family. The fear of his family not knowing where the insurance policies, investments, banking information in an increasingly digital world, was the catalyst behind the idea. The platform now is being used by financial services firms ranging in size from independent advisors to Tier1 banks to securely exchange and collaborate on sensitive information. Prior to joining SideDrawer, Ali was the Executive Director and Deputy Head of International Equities, for CIBC Global Markets, as well as UBS Securities Canada Inc, and KPMG LLP. Ali has also been involved in helping corporates raise equity, debt and convertible debt financing across a variety of industries. Ali has both CA, CPA and CFA designations, and graduated from Trinity College at the University of Toronto with an Honours in Business Communication. Ali lives in Toronto with his wife and three young children.

To learn more, visit Ali and SideDrawer on LinkedIn:

• Ali Qureshi: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alimbqureshi
• SideDrawer: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sidedrawer/
  

About the Host – Kevin Parton

Kevin Parton, CFP professional, specializes in personal and business financial planning, tax reduction, and estate planning. Kevin diligently concentrates on client education as a powerful strategy for building financial certainty. As no financial situation is the same, Kevin and his team monitor clients’ plans and implement personalized strategies to reduce their personal and corporate taxes, and protect their income, assets, and loved ones against the financial consequences of a serious illness, injury or death, ensuring clients maintain financial certainty and peace of mind. To read more, please visit the VELA team page.

Key highlights of this episode:

• Market Reality vs. Headlines
• Long-Term Investment Discipline
• Hedging Against Volatility
• Political Uncertainty & Markets
• Investor Psychology Matters

About the Guest – Keith Allan

Keith Allan is a Portfolio Manager with Harness Investment Management. Harness has engaged in a strategic partnership with VELA Wealth and provides discretionary portfolio management for many of VELA’s clients. With more than 15 years of buy-side investment management experience, Keith brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to provide insight and guidance to clients regarding their investment portfolios. At Harness, Keith is responsible for developing and maintaining investment portfolios for VELA clients. To learn more, please visit Harness Investment Management team page.

About the Host – Kevin Parton

Kevin Parton, CFP professional, specializes in personal and business financial planning, tax reduction, and estate planning. Kevin is diligently concentrating on client education as a powerful strategy for building financial certainty. As no financial situation is the same, Kevin and his team monitor clients’ plans and implement personalized strategies to reduce their personal and corporate taxes, and protect their income, assets, and loved ones against the financial consequences of a serious illness, injury or death, ensuring clients maintain financial certainty and peace of mind. To read more, please visit the VELA team page.