Home > About Second Opinion > Our People

Our People

Warren MacKenzie, President and CEO

Warren MacKenzie, president and CEO, is responsible for corporate strategy, business development and overall financial management of the company.

Warren has been providing investment advice to Canadian families since 1987. Prior to forming his own company, he was a senior vice president and financial advisor with two of the country’s largest securities firms.

Early in his tenure within the investment industry, Warren recognized the conflict of interest that exists when financial advisors earn commissions from their investment recommendations. To give retail investors an unbiased alternative, he started Second Opinion in February 2005.

Warren is a passionate advocate for investor education and complete transparency in advisor–client relationships. He believes that Canadian investors are much more likely to achieve financial security when counseled by unbiased consultants, who do not have incentives to sell or manage investments. Through Second Opinion, he has introduced a new class of affordable investment services that enable average investors to benefit from the proven strategies utilized by institutional money managers. With a unique business model that puts clients’ interests first, he is a regular commentator in the print and broadcast media.

A prolific writer on investment strategy and retirement planning, Warren authored ‘The Unbiased Advisor’ and co-authored ‘New Rules of Retirement’, both published by Harper Collins. He has delivered hundreds of investment seminars to corporations, public-sector organizations, pensioners associations and retirement groups over his career.

Warren holds bachelor of arts and bachelor of education degrees from Saint Mary’s University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He began his working life as a schoolteacher in Halifax. After earning his Chartered Accountant (CA) designation, he joined a national firm of chartered accountants. During his 12 years in public practice, Warren managed his own accountancy firm and worked as a trustee in bankruptcy. His professional accreditations include Certified Financial Planner (CFP), Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA) and Certified Hedge Fund Specialist (CHFS).

Ken Hawkins, Vice President Research and Development
Ken is an investment professional with over 25 years of experience in the investment industry. His experience spans the investment world of the private client investor as well as the world of the institutional investor representing pension funds, asset management companies, mutual funds, and investment counselors.

In his role, he regularly consulted with many of the largest money managers in Canada. As a Portfolio Manager with the Ontario Teachers Pension Plan, one of the largest and most respected pension funds in Canada, Ken was responsible for managing a $500 million Canadian equity portfolio. His use of a form of artificial intelligence was one of a few successful applications using these advanced techniques for managing money in the world.

Ken was a top ranked and respected Quantitative Analyst/Strategist with Scotia Capital and Deutsche Morgan Canada, providing equity research, advice and insight into the capital markets. Some of Ken's clients included Fidelity, MacKenzie Financial, Royal Bank Investment Management, OMERS, Caisse De Depot and Ontario Teachers Pension Plan. Ken was a member of the TSE Index Committee and the Scotia Capital Investment Strategy Committee which determined asset mix policy for the firm.

As an Investment Advisor with ScotiaMcleod and Nesbitt Burns, Ken provided investment and financial advice to individual families and clients.

Ken wants to apply the investment principles, strategies, knowledge and insight gained from over 15 years of investment research and professional money management, to the investment needs and objectives of the individual investor. Ken believes that investing an individual’s savings deserves the same care and thoughtful disciplined approach as managing a portfolio for a large pension plan.

Ken is originally from Winnipeg where he graduated with a BCS and an MBA from the University of Manitoba. Ken has completed the CFA (Certified Financial Analyst) level 1 and 2 and the CIM (Canadian Investment Manager Program). Ken enjoys golf and hiking with his two dogs.

John Home

John came to Second Opinion Investor Services, first as a client – now as an investor consultant. His experience at Second Opinion reignited a long time passion for investing and financial planning – using time tested and a fact-based approach to wealth creation. As John would say of his experience: “In an industry where so much of the advisor’s motivation is driven by product sales, it is refreshing to find a group where that bias does not exist and the goals of the client and the consultant are totally aligned”.

John has an Honours degree in Business from Wilfrid Laurier University(1974) and over 30 years of business experience with large corporate organizations and small focused businesses including start-ups. His relevant functional experience has been in the area of business planning, consulting and general management resulting in several Board appointments in public and not-for-profit organizations He has successfully completed all courses toward accreditation as a “Certified Financial Planner”.

His background, experience and education have enabled him to deliver high value guidance to his clients. Their feedback from across the country has focussed on his ability to deliver not only the “big picture” but also to work through the detail resulting in practical and high value recommendations improving on their financial strategies and implementation.

 

Michael Macdonald

Michael (Mike) Macdonald comes to Second Opinion Investor Services with over 26 years of banking experience in Canada. As a bank executive he has been involved in the development, sale and distribution of credit and investment products to customers across Canada.  Mike has successfully completed both the Investment Funds and Partner, Director & Officers exams.  Mike brings an unwavering commitment to customer service and a passionate belief that investors benefit from being informed and involved in their investment decisions.

 

Greg York, Director of Corporate Development
Greg began his investment career in 1986, at that time working for the Toronto Stock Exchange. He is a graduate of an International Business Management Program (Honours). He achieved his CFP designation in 1995, and then moved into an investment advisory role with the wealth management arm of one of Canada’s largest banks. For the past 11 years he has provided his investment services to many individuals, small businesses and municipal accounts.

Greg is a real advocate of investor education, and has always gone the extra mile to ensure his clients understood what they were doing. He has delivered many seminars over the years to members of the public and specialty groups within his community.

He is the founding chair, of a local chapter of the Canadian Association of Gift Planners (CAGP).

Greg is an active community volunteer, serving with such groups as the YMCA, Community Foundation, Rotary International, Children’s Wish Foundation, and the United Way.

His interests include keeping abreast of current international events, reading biographies, and training for his next Ironman event.

 

Maulik Shah, Research Analyst
Maulik started his career by joining Second Opinion as an intern. Driven by his passion and keen interest in finance he joined the company full time in February 2006. In his role, Maulik is responsible for the evaluation of investments portfolios and the creation of financial plans for clients.

He also looks after all the administrative and operational duties at Second Opinion.

Maulik graduated from University of Pune (India) with Bachelors Degree of Commerce in 2004 and has completed his post graduation in Financial Services from George Brown College.

Maulik currently holds credentials from the Canadian Securities Institute and is currently pursuing his financial planning designation.

 

Carlo Palazzo, Assistant Financial Planner and Research Analyst
Carlo is a highly motivated and extremely competent individual who started his career as an intern at Second Opinion in May of 2007.  That same year he graduated from George Brown College with a Bachelor of Applied Business Degree with a major in Personal Financial Planning.  More recently he has completed the Canadian Investment Manager Program and has been awarded the CIM designation.

As part of the team, his primary roles are financial planning, portfolio analysis, research, and administration.