Charlie Spiring

Charlie was founding Chairman and CEO of Wellington West Holding Inc., Vice-Chair of the Executive Committee of NBF Wealth Management, past Chair on the board of directors of the IIAC and is now Founder and Chair of Wellington-Altus Financial Inc (WAFI).

Wellington West, the largest independent private wealth management firm in Canada was acquired by National Bank in 2011 for $333 million.  At National Bank, he assisted in the growth of the Wealth Management division, mentored partners, sought strategic acquisitions and recruits and made an impact by becoming known as the “bureaucracy buster”.

In his tenure from 2013 – 2015 as Chair of IIAC, Charlie remained a strong advocate for the Associations member firms in their goal to achieve practical and effective rules, striving to ease compliance rules, and suggesting changes to public policy to augment market efficiencies.  His goal was to argue for cost-effective and accountable regulation in the industry and advocate for good public policy on behalf of the investment dealer member firms.  Together with the IIAC, Charlie worked to envision a national securities regulator that would provide better protection for investors, support efficient capital markets and manage systematic risk.

Wellington-Altus Financial Inc. (WAFI) created in April 2017, now has over 60 offices, nearly 1,000 employees, and more than $40 billion in assets under administration (AUA).  As founder and chair of WAFI, Charlie is responsible for all strategic direction and oversight of the firm.  In October 2025, WAFI announced a strategic minority equity investment of nearly $400 million CAD from Kelso & Company, a leading private equity firm known for its commitment to employee ownership.  Kelso will acquire a 25% minority equity stake in the company, confirming WAFI enterprise value at over $1.5 billion CAD

His leadership has been recognized with numerous honours: Globe and Mail’s Top 40 under 40 (1996), Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year (1998, 2009), Wealth Professional’s Hall of Fame (2018), Investment Industry Association of Canada’s Hall of Fame (2019), Wealth Professional Industry Icon (2022), University of Manitoba Distinguished Alumni Award (2022), the Order of Manitoba (2025), and the Manitoba Business Hall of Fame (announced November 2025 with presentation April 2026)

Through the Wellington West Foundation, Charlie and his wife Dayna, have overseen close to $20 million disbursed to local charities.

À propos de Wellington-Altus

Founded in 2017, Wellington-Altus Financial Inc.(Wellington-Altus) is the parent company to Wellington-Altus Private Counsel Inc., Wellington-Altus USA Inc., Wellington-Altus Insurance Inc., Wellington-Altus Group Solutions Inc., Independent Advisor Solutions Inc., and Wellington-Altus Private Wealth Inc.—the top-rated* investment dealer  in Canada and one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies.  With over $40 billion in assets under administration and offices across the country, Wellington-Altus identifies with successful, entrepreneurial advisors and portfolio managers and their high-net-worth clients.

* Brokerage Report Card 2025 d’Investment Executive.