Watt Carmichael hires fiduciary analyst as CIO

Watt Carmichael Private Counsel has hired Sean O’Hara as its new vice president and CIO.

O’Hara is Canada’s first investment professional to earn the AIFA designation (Accredited Investment Fiduciary Analyst), which was awarded by the U.S.-based Center for Fiduciary Studies. The designation certifies he has advanced knowledge of fiduciary standards of care and of their application to the investment management process.

He also has 25 years of investment and portfolio management experience across institutional and private wealth markets. He’s primarily served wealthy individuals, family offices and institutional clients.

His hire comes shortly after the release of the CSA’s new paper, which examines the current standard of advisor conduct across Canada. The group says a hot debate surrounding advisors’ duties to their clients has developed since the 2008 global crisis, and asks if they should be responsible for more than suitability.

Read: CSA paper examines advisor fiduciary duty and Don’t get caught in regulatory traps

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The staff of Advisor.ca have been covering news for financial advisors since 1998.