CLAUDIA WEISSER, Senior Investment Advisor, B.Comm, FMA, CIM®, Assante Capital, Management Ltd. Dorval, Quebec
- GARY MILAKOVIC
- Aug 11
- 4 min read
"Challenges are just opportunities in disguise"
Claudia Weisser, B.Comm, FMA, CIM, Senior Financial Advisor, Assante Capital Management Ltd., has always been passionate about numbers. She did her Bachelor of Commerce in Germany, and following University, she seriously considered becoming an accountant. It didn’t take long for her to realize that accounting really wasn’t for her. After all, accountants get the numbers after all the decisions have been made, and if there’s been a mistake, they must try and fix it. If they even can.
So, when Claudia got the opportunity to go into finance, she jumped at the opportunity with both feet.
She has always loved working with people, so learning about them, building strong, and trusted relationships, and working with them to create a plan that leads toward their personal goals, is the perfect job for her.
“I am so passionate about the work I do. I’m just one of those lucky people. I help people realize their financial dreams; is there a more fulfilling career? The most amazing thing about the work isn’t even about the market, or picking stocks, though that’s part of it. No, it’s the destination that matters the most. I’ve helped put kids through school, professionals thrive in retirement, business owners plan their exits, and helped clients secure the house of their dreams,” Claudia said.
She cares deeply about her clients. Claudia sees their connection more as a partnership, than just a business relationship. Claudia is truly invested in their success. It’s one of the things that sets her apart.
Patience, not panic
“Volatility can represent opportunity,” Claudia explained matter-of-factly. “It’s important not to be afraid or react emotionally.”
People, Claudia, noted tend toward activity.
It’s in our nature.
Doing something, anything, when the world feels chaotic allows a person to feel in control of the situation if even for a moment. It’s much harder to be reserved, staying back, and observing. Knee-jerk reactions rarely lead to positive outcomes, so being deliberate is crucial in times of volatility.
“Even if a client doesn’t have the funds to take full advantage during a situation like what we saw a few months ago, making small, proactive moves can have big long-term impact. If you look at the S&P 500 over the last 20 years or so, we’ve seen some catastrophic events that terrified us at the time: the 2008- 2009 financial crisis, the tech bubble, COVID-19; but if you look back today, they’re just little blips. Taking a deliberate, long-term view, is the ideal way to approach wealth generation.”
Navigating volatility also takes a lot of experience, too.
It’s important not to get caught up in the gossip that is sometimes prevalent in some corners of the industry. Success requires intuition, but it also requires a depth of research, a strong helping of common sense, and a willingness to trust the facts.
Claudia Weisser
Most importantly, though, it comes down to knowing the clients. Claudia begins and ends every decision point asking, “What is best for this client?” and moves forward from there.
Building trust
The bond between Advisor and client is one of the most important in a person’s life. It starts with listening and grows from there. After all, if a client doesn’t feel heard, how can they feel confident in the work that’s being done for them. Once again, that’s where Claudia’s experience comes into play.
“I don’t think you can truly build a relationship rooted in trust if you aren’t an active listener. You need to be actively trying to hear the client’s perspective, and understand where they are coming from, in order to move forward. I also think that money, and sometimes even just talking about money, can make people nervous. You need to be willing to hold people’s hand and bring them along gradually. Like I mentioned earlier, patience is key,” Claudia said.
Being available is also vitally important. If an Advisor is only available for an hour every third Wednesday, it doesn’t instill confidence in clients that the advisor will be there when they’re most needed. That’s another way Claudia sets herself apart. If a client has a question, she’ll answer it, either by phone within 24 hours on average, or she’ll invite the client to her office to chat.
She’s been where they are, so she makes a concerted effort to provide support, comfort, and information, in various doses as needed.
Sometimes, clients just need to know someone is looking out for them – and Claudia is always there to remind them that she is.
Gary Milakovic is a veteran writer with more than a decade in the public sector and corporate communications. He has covered a wide spectrum of topics and his work has been featured by large and small organizations across Canada. Gary is passionate about communication, his writing often focuses on uncovering the “story behind the story.”
Claudia Weisser, B. Comm, FMA, CIM®
Senior Investment Advisor
Assante Capital Management (Member CIPF)
2020 TransCanada Highway Suite 200
Dorval, Qc H9P 2N4
Tel: 514-832-5212
Cell: 514-239-0886
Opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of Assante Capital Management Ltd.