TRIXIE ROWEIN, Financial Advisor & Senior Portfolio Manager, Raymond James, Edmonton, AB
- CARMEN MORGAN
- 2 days ago
- 6 min read
TRIXIE ROWEIN
"I genuinely believe that a multi-generational team brings greater value—not just for us as Financial Advisors, but for our clients as well. It shows them that across generations, there’s a strong, capable team ready to support them and their families through every stage of life."
A painting of a vibrant owl is center of attention in Trixie Rowein’s downtown Edmonton office. The feathers appear almost backlit, its face an image of surety. "I had a young woman come to see me who had just lost her husband at 33,” says Trixie. “She shared that owls are nocturnal creatures, often seen as symbols of wisdom and guidance through darkness. In many ways, that mirrors what we do—helping clients navigate the uncertainty of life’s most difficult moments, whether it’s the loss of a loved one, a divorce, job loss, or caring for aging parents.” The painting has carried meaning not only for Trixie, but also for many of her clients. On the cusp of her 25th work anniversary as a Financial Advisor and Senior Portfolio Manager at PAX Portfolio Advisory at Raymond James, Trixie believes she has much to reflect on, but also so much ahead of her in her career, still.
"We didn’t grow up with a lot of money,” says Trixie. “I’m a first generation Canadian. My brothers and parents moved to Canada from Santiago, Chile, and I was born the following year. I took an interest in financial education and literacy early on in my career path.”
As she reflects, Trixie recalls where it all began—with her mentor at Raymond James. “He brought me on 15 years before his retirement, recognizing early-on the importance of a smooth and thoughtful succession plan." When he retired, clients didn’t feel the transition—it was like nothing had changed,” says Trixie. "Many Advisors pass on their business to another Advisor who may be brilliant, but from the client's perspective, there is no relationship built there," she says. "You've been trusting someone for 5, 25, or 40 years with your money, your family, your feelings, and now you're going to get passed on to someone new."
Trixie’s associate, Taylor Cooper, has been with her for seven years already, and recently they added another associate, Matt Moellenbeck. There is intentionality in building continuity for team succession. "It doesn't mean I'm retiring any time soon,” she says, “but when I start to slow down, I don't want my clients to even know the difference."
Like any life journey, transformative periods in Trixie’s career came during personal struggle. When she went through a divorce in 2014, even though she had always managed the finances in her relationship, she found herself overwhelmed. That experience deepened her empathy and helped shape the compassionate approach she brings to wealth management today.
“We do our best to be vulnerable with people so that they feel they can be vulnerable with us," says Trixie. This approach has proven effective in building trust during difficult conversations. "When the young woman who lost her spouse early came to ask me for some advice, I said, let's talk about being nervous. Honestly, the money bits, we can deal with easily. It's all that anxiety about the money bits that makes the life change feel that much harder.”
"Managing money is not just about knowing math. If that's what it was all about, the richest people would be astrophysicists. But they're not," says Trixie. Through years of counseling clients through life's uncertainties, Trixie identified four pillars that can help to establish financial confidence and are essential questions to ask when considering financial security:
1. What does it cost to be you? “Do you know what your property taxes are? Do you know your utility costs, grocery costs, or what you spend on gas? A lot of people have no idea," says Trixie. "I think most people, even if they are not tracking their expenses to the penny, but just tracking what is spent in a month, would be amazed by the dollar amount.”
2. What is your income now? “I come across people who are struggling financially, and they say, ‘I make 100K and spend 100K, so why am I under water?’ You need to know what your after-tax income is.”
3. What do you own and what do you owe? “What are your assets? These can be RRSPs, or a home, or a collection of cars or art. And how much do you owe? What's the rate of interest on that owing, and another layer deeper, what are the payments?”
4. What’s most important to you? “My team and I can financially tell you what makes the most sense, but how you feel about your goals is just as important. We truly believe feelings matter just as much as finance.”
Trixie also recognizes the broader financial challenges faced by those in caregiving roles. "We all have a lot of different roles to play, especially as women,” she says. “Entrepreneur, breadwinner, and caregiver for kids and aging parents," says Trixie. She points to a staggering statistic: "The amount of unpaid caregiving in Canada amounted to $97.1B in 2022, according to research from the Universities of Alberta and Manitoba."
The financial implications can be severe. “Caregiving responsibilities often mean you are missing work or must work part time. A person really needs a handle on their finances and to be saving more than they think,” says Trixie.
Drawing on research by Dr. Gabor Maté, she goes further to say, "Maté talks about why women - especially ethnic women - have higher rates of autoimmune diseases and higher rates of cancer and illness.” Trixie’s own health challenges forced her to realize a crucial lesson: you cannot give from a cup that is empty, or even half full, sometimes. "In 2017, I had surgery for my thyroid, and another in 2019 for my gallbladder, and I do believe that those health challenges came from me giving, giving, giving without paying attention to my own needs," she says. "It's almost like my body was screaming at me, like, ‘Hey! Slow down. If you don't take care of you, I'm going to make you sick.’”
Perhaps one of her most important lessons centers on managing worry—a particular challenge for women. "As women, we worry a lot; being a parent, we worry about our kids, in our work, we worry about our clients, the economy, the stock market.” Trixie’s solution is practical: "I write down my worries and decide if there is anything I can do about it, if there is an action I can take, I take it. If there isn’t, I can say I’ve got it down on paper and acknowledged it, and now I’ll do my best to let it go.”
This philosophy guided her through COVID-19 and continues to shape her practice. She and her team write a weekly newsletter and acknowledge client concerns and questions. "Worry does not change the outcome, it just robs today of its peace," she concludes. "Worrying is not a good strategy."
In a world often filled with worry, the name 'PAX' reflects Trixie’s broader vision. 'PAX is the Latin word for peace,' she explains. 'I wanted a name that captured the feeling we hope to create for our clients—one of calm, clarity, and reassurance. It’s also what I wish for the world; we could all use a little more peace.' Choosing not to use her own name was intentional, allowing the business to grow beyond her and continue serving future generations."
Giving back is at the core of who Trixie is. She’s deeply committed to charitable work and community involvement, serving on the Board of Directors for Little Warriors and leading their Resource Committee. In 2024, her volunteer efforts for Little Warriors were recognized, and she received an award from AFP (Association of Fundraising Professionals).
Reflecting on her 25-year milestone, education and mentorship remains central to Trixie’s vision. She has presented at Scona High School and the University of Alberta in Edmonton. “I’ve been told it makes a difference to have a woman presenter,” says Trixie, “there is more engagement from the female students.” She believes even small impressions can make a difference in someone’s life decisions or state of mind. She is keen to continue creating a program that helps her clients not just thrive financially, but truly live and create a legacy. "Everybody dies, but not everybody lives," she says, "and there's so many people that have the means, the health, but they don't live fully."
And the early engagement in succession planning means there are more generations with a voice around the table in her business. “I genuinely believe that a multi-generational team brings greater value—not just for us as financial advisors, but for our clients as well. It shows them that across generations, there’s a strong, capable team ready to support them and their families through every stage of life."
Like the colorful owl, Trixie continues to guide others through darkness toward financial peace and personal fulfillment, one day at a time.
Carmen Morgan is a skilled business writer and storyteller, collaborating with business owners and executives to tell their stories and share perspectives on growth and success, as well as perseverance and adversity. Over two decades she has refined her interview, writing and editing skills to capture the nuggets and captivating details that engage readers and make a story memorable.
Trixie Rowein, B.Comm, CFP®, CIM®, CPCA®
Senior Portfolio Manager & Financial Advisor
PAX Portfolio Advisory | Raymond James Ltd.
2300- Rice Howard Place, Tower 1, 10060 Jasper Avenue,
Direct line 780-414-2520, Toll Free: 1-888-414-2501
2024 Recipient of AFP Philanthropy Award
2022 Recipient of Womanition SuPearlative Philanthropy Award