Who We Are

The Story…

Carleton Financial Services was formed when two industry veterans recognized that the best way to serve their clients was as a team. Leveraging over 35 years of solving financial planning challenges for their clients, Rob Dempster and Ken Guarisco, along with their support teams and some important industry allies, have created a firm that clients have come to count on.

From their office based in “the Glebe” in Ottawa, they continually build relationships that are not only real and reliable, but that are heartfelt and affirming. They know that the most important things to grow and protect are our relationships, and they live that with their clients every day.

Click below to listen to Rob Dempster talk about our role as advisors:

	Rob Dempster, Managing Partner Certified Financial Planner, Chartered Life Underwriter		Ken Guarisco, Founding Partner Certified Financial Planner
	Andrea Morrissy, CFP, CHIS Director of Operations Certified Financial Planner, Certified Health Insurance Specialist		Marci Perreault, FLMI, CFP, CHS, CDFA Certified Financial Planner, Certified Health Insurance Specialist, Certified Divorce Financial Analyst
	Miranda Carson, Customer Service Representative		Amy Archambault Executive Assistant
	Dave Dickinson Senior Benefits Consultant		Daniel A. Slattery, CA, TEP Tax & Estate Planning Consultant

 

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Rob Dempster, Managing Partner
Certified Financial Planner, Chartered Life Underwriter

Phone: 613-231-7700 x225
Email: rob@carletonfs.com

If you ask Rob Dempster what impresses him, he’ll answer very quickly that “people impress me, things don’t.” And those are reassuring words to hear from a senior financial advisor. Why is that reassuring? Rob is focused on the individual and what they truly want to achieve, not just what they can have.

It’s not really that surprising to hear Rob talk that way because in both business and outside of the office he’s a coach – he just can’t help it. At work, he’s a wealth coach and works with his clients to help them grow their wealth and protect their wealth. Outside of the work, he’s a very active hockey coach. He’s coached hockey his entire adult life and if you ask Rob, he’ll tell you that one of the most challenging parts of coaching hockey can be getting heard over the advice of the parents! Rob knows they’re trying to help, but he also knows that he’s the one who can bring out the best in his team. He knows their strengths, their weaknesses, what motivates them and where they flourish.

Interestingly, it’s much the same as a wealth and risk management coach. People start listening to all kinds of people who are likely not qualified to give them the right advice. But Rob takes the time to know his clients and understand their financial strengths and opportunities. He knows how to help them play their strongest long game.

So when you chat with Rob, you’ll find out that he wants to help you get what you want – and he might even push you a bit to help you do so; just like any good coach would.

As a father of two boys, Rob gets to deliver good leadership at home as well. Much like many of his clients, Rob and his wife are very busy with not only the hustle required for two young athletes, but also with the wisdom transfer that kids need from their parents so they can live a successful life. Rob is also active in coaching the boys in hockey and baseball, so when you put together the family responsibilities, the work life and the community commitments – Rob understands it when his clients tell him how busy they are. He lives the same experience.

Other interesting Rob Dempster data:

• Served as a senior financial consultant with a major financial institution for 15 years
• Is a founding member of the Ottawa Junior Board of Trade
• Is a member in good standing of ADVOCIS
• Was selected for his professionalism to be a member of the Executive Council of the Wealth and Estate Planning Group, a part of Freedom 55 Financial, a division of London Life Insurance Company
• Was instrumental in securing public action for building Highway 416
• Is a founding member of the Community Foundation of Ottawa-Carleton
• Earned his B.Comm Honours in Sports Admin at Laurentian University
• Was on the board of directors at Laurentian University
• Has been actively involved in several local charities and community causes including Kiwanis, cancer research, the Heart & Stroke Foundation and St. Pat’s Home
• Is very active in coaching both minor hockey and baseball

 

 

Ken Guarisco, Founding Partner
Certified Financial Planner

Phone: 613-231-7700 x224
Email: ken@carletonfs.com

If there is one key thing a person should know about Ken, it’s that he’s loyal. Now a lot of people talk about loyalty, but as you get to know him you’ll find out that this isn’t just a noble idea to Ken, it’s how he lives.

Ken isn’t the gregarious type. His work is very personal to him and he’s been helping clients make great financial decisions for 31 years. He hasn’t wavered from it, or experimented with other things. He’s stayed the course and quietly built trust with his clients, one at a time.

When Ken works with his clients, he takes the time to get a sense of the totality of their situation. He wants to understand all the important things that are going on so that he can help get rid of a lot of the confusion that tends to show up where technical issues and emotional concerns intersect. He takes the time to understand what his clients value and then makes sure their plans are consistent with those values. He connects his clients to other trusted professionals who may be able to support their plans because he knows that you get much better results when you team up with other caring experts. His clients lives are enhanced by it; and Ken gets to do what he loves most – help people get what they want.

So perhaps it isn’t a surprise that Ken is being inducted into the Ottawa University Football Hall of Fame this year. Although he’ll tell you very directly that he was a good player, not a great player, he was chosen in part because he has stuck with the team. He was President of the 13th Man Football Alumni Association and is still involved with it, he coached the team for a period of time – he simply stayed loyal to that path.

Like the Football Hall of Fame, it’s the totality of a person’s ongoing involvement that creates a great result. Keep contributing and success comes. It’s true in sports, it’s true in relationships, and it’s true in business. Ken knows it, and his clients know it from his steady, professional presence.

Married and with a young son and daughter, Ken continues to be active in local sports and his community. He coaches high school football (the same high school for 28 years), and has been very active with the Major Gifts Committee of the United Way, the Abigail Committee and previously the Planned Giving Committee at The Ottawa Hospital.

 

 

Andrea Morrissy, Director of Operations
Certified Financial Planner
Certified Health Insurance Specialist

Phone: 613-231-7700 x222

Email: andrea@carletonfs.com

It’s actually quite easy to underestimate what it takes to run a professional, growing financial services firm. But when you meet Andrea Morrissy, you quickly become aware of the calibre of person that’s behind the scenes at Carleton Financial Services.

Andrea has been with the firm for several years and is responsible for providing leadership to the operation, and supporting Rob in delivering on the common vision of bringing clients to clarity, before they move to action.

She brings the best of what she’s learned in the management consulting world with her solid command of the financial services industry to bring the kind of professionalism and responsiveness that one doesn’t often see anymore. She’s highly responsive, her attention to detail is tremendous, and Andrea really sets the bar for moving toward results.

She has a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Toronto and impressive experience, but it’s her ability to link people to action that will really impress you. Andrea is a cornerstone contributor to the Carleton Financial Services team.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Miranda Carson, Customer Service Representative

Phone: 613-231-7700 x227
Email: miranda@carletonfs.com

Details are critical, and even more so when growing your wealth or protecting your family are involved. That’s why Miranda is such a gift at Carleton Financial Services.

As the Customer Service Representative, Miranda focuses on ensuring that the significant paperwork – the contracts, agreements, and documents that ensure you get the results you want – are handled with precision and thoroughness.

While it can be the kind of work that causes some people’s eyes to glaze over, Miranda’s light up when she has the opportunity to dig into the details that will bring a client to the result they want.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marci Perreault, FLMI, CHS, CDFA, CFP
Certified Financial Planner, Certified Health Insurance Specialist, Certified Divorce Financial Analyst

Phone: 613-231-7700 x223
Email: marci@carletonfs.com

For almost 25 years Marci Perreault has helped her clients to make the best decisions they possibly can when it comes to protecting themselves. A real expert in living benefits, risk management and investments, she brings a clarity that makes it safe to make some very important choices about your wealth, your life and even your legacy.

Marci goes above and beyond—returning calls promptly so that, “People don’t wait days or weeks to hear from me,” and will set meetings at times and locations that are convenient for her clients. Constantly upgrading her skills and knowledge to stay on top of changes to tax laws, government rulings, and new financial products, Marci reviews your financial picture to take full advantage of changes while complying with new federal regulations.

As a certified Divorce Financial Analyst, Marci’s expertise will guide you through the delicate art of divorce finance negotiations. She can project and explain the financial outcome of different settlement scenarios and help you to choose the path that best fits your short and long term goals during this difficult time.

Her experience in the financial services field has only deepened her belief that each individual needs a unique plan, one that is tailored to their personal situation. As she says, “Everybody’s different. Each client wants different things for retirement. There is no cookie cutter plan that fits every person!”

 

 

 

 

Amy Archambault
Executive Assistant

Phone: 613-231-7700 x221
Email: amy@carletonfs.com

When Amy joined Carleton Financial Services in 2002, she came with the intent to make a difference from day one. And now, as she provides critical support to Ken, Marci and the firm overall, Amy has built a reputation for getting done, what needs to get done.

Behind the scenes in any meaningful endeavour, there are two things that have to be supported – the details, and the people. Amy does both.

Amy helps prepare important meeting files, follows up on key items, manages the schedules, and keeps everyone on track so that they can remain on purpose. But she does more than just handle the details.

Amy is one of those rare people who really understands that it’s the small things in life that truly matter. She lives her life that way, and brings that awareness to her work. Amy is naturally nurturing as she supports the firm and its clients. At the end of the day, that’s not just a good feeling; it delivers a great result.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dave Dickinson, Senior Benefits Consultant

Phone: 613-233-0215 x203
Email: davedickinson@carletonfinancial.com

David Dickinson is a Senior Partner at Carleton Financial Group, a sister company providing employee benefits and group retirement plan expertise.

If you ask Dave Dickinson what is most important to him, he’ll tell you that “family is most important”, without any hesitation. So perhaps it makes sense that he has devoted his entire career to designing and implementing employee benefit and pension plans, as they have a tremendous impact on both businesses and families.

After receiving his B. Comm in Finance from UBC, Dave was quickly selected by London Life to work with their Corporate Accounts Department in Toronto 23 years ago. That launched a career which has focused on a single dimension – creating and servicing employee benefit and pension plans that would make a difference.

When people ask Dave why benefit and pension plans are so important, he’s clear. They are an important part of an employee’s compensation, and the plans business owners offer have to be both competitive and cost-effective if they are to attract the right people. Benefit and pension plans do impact the morale of staff, which in turn affects productivity and profitability. Retaining quality employees for the long term is every employer’s priority. Benefits and pensions are just good business.

Dave is not naïve about it though. He is a business owner too and understands what it is like to handle the risks of starting and leading a company. His team is very experienced, with many of the staff having come from the client service departments of large insurers. The team knows the business thoroughly and is truly focused on delivering great service. By doing so, they help their clients actually use their benefits and understand their pensions, because when people do, they can appreciate the value they are getting.

Dave and his wife, Jill, have three active, young children. Dave is very involved with his kids’ activities and is very involved in the Ottawa community, helping out on many charitable boards.

 

 

Daniel A. Slattery, CA, TEP
Tax & Estate Planning Consultant

Phone: 613-799-0751
Email: dan.slattery@londonlife.com

Dan Slattery is the kind of person that families like to know when it comes to making important decisions about their wealth.

It’s not just that his first job was with Revenue Canada, or that his second was in the Department of Finance; and it’s not just that he’s been immersed in tax planning his entire career. Families who are planning to deal with transferring wealth to the next generation count on Dan to help them pass on their values, as well as their wealth. He doesn’t just know how to elegantly navigate tax law in Canada, but he knows how to ensure that the Family Financial Philosophy can be carried forward as well.

Dan has the kind of training and experience you would expect of a Tax & Estate Planning Consultant. He graduated from the University of Ottawa with a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) degree before heading into a large high-tech firm to handle some of their tax issues, and then received his graduate diploma in public accountancy from McGill. He worked with KPMG and then joined Metropolitan Life as a tax specialist before entrenching himself with London Life more than a decade ago. He is a member of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario, the Canadian Tax Foundation, the Conference for Advanced Life Underwriting (CALU) and the prestigious Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP).

But perhaps what is most impressive about Dan is that his prime focus is on giving his clients the confidence to act with clarity, and certainty. He doesn’t lose sight of what’s most important as he works through the complexity of tax and estate planning – what’s important is you, the legacy you want to leave, and those who will receive it.

© 2010 Carleton Financial Services Inc.
300-68 Chamberlain Avenue, Ottawa, ON K1S 1V9 Toll Free: 888-840-9991
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