News and events

We are proud to share with you some key excerpts from the recent IE articles quoting our own advisors and our Chief Executive Officer, Earl Evans:

“Macquarie — which had the highest ratings in stability, strategic focus, corporate culture and ethics — not only saw its ratings increase by at least half a point in 16 categories, but it also saw its IE rating increase by the same margin. In fact, the firm is now among the highest rated in the survey.”

“Many Macquarie advisors cite the firm’s new ownership and its commitment to advisors as the reason for their satisfaction.”

“’We went to a 10.0 from a 4.0 [in stability],’” says a Macquarie advisor in B.C., citing the rating he gave his firm in the category, ‘thanks to strong leadership.’”

“Says a colleague in Ontario: ‘They’ve spent a ton of money on infrastructure, research and training.’” “’When we look back at the past year,’ says Earl Evans, Macquarie’s CEO and head, ‘it was phenomenally successful and far exceeded [our expectations] — from an integration point of view, from a recruitment point of view and also from a profitability point of view. We are well ahead of where we thought we would be.’”

“Macquarie Private Wealth Inc., which earned the highest rating in the category, gives each advisor a $7,500 annual allowance for marketing purposes and also has an internal team of specialists who help advisors develop customized marketing campaigns and materials.”

“’We have a marketing boutique available to us,’” says a Macquarie advisor in Ontario. “’Anything we need done in any aspect, they’re there. It’s unbelievable.’”

“Many advisors surveyed commended the marketing staff at Macquarie, which is led by Laura Curtis Ferrera, senior vice president of marketing. Curtis Ferrara works one-on-one with advisors to help them develop marketing campaigns. For example, she helped Sandra Pierce create her trademark ‘Bag Lady on Bay Street’ brand a few years ago. Pierce has successfully built a base of affluent female clients.”

“’They’re innovative and they produce marketing materials that are out of the box,’” says a Macquarie advisor in Ontario.”

“Earl Evans, the firm’s CEO and head, says the expertise of Curtis Ferrera and her team sets Macquarie apart: “’One of the things that is completely unique with our marketing department is that Laura’s team is very much hands-on.’”

“Three firms surveyed for Investment Executive’s 2011 Brokerage Report Card took notable steps forward this year, posting significantly improved ratings in a number of categories when compared with last year’s results.”

“Advisors with Macquarie Private Wealth Inc. gave their firm significantly higher ratings in 16 categories, resulting in an overall IE rating of 8.8 — the top mark among the national independent brokerages in the survey and a 0.6-point improvement vs last year. (An increase or decrease of half a point or more in a given category vs the previous year’s survey is considered to be significant.)”

“Macquarie advisors raved about the ‘firm’s corporate culture,’ which they described as being supportive of the entrepreneurial advisor, as well as the ‘firm’s strategic focus’ and the ‘firm’s delivery on promises.’”

“’The work environment is great,” says a Macquarie advisor. ‘I like the strength of the firm and the accessibility to all levels of management.’”

“Macquarie advisors also seem to be pleased with the ‘quality of equities research,’ the ‘quality of the firm’s product offering,’ access to ‘IPOs and new issues,’ as well as the firm’s international reach. ‘We have great exposure to the global market,’ says a Macquarie advisor in Ontario.”

“That’s been a major theme at the firm since Macquarie entered the Canadian wealth-management business in late 2009, when its parent firm, Australia-based Macquarie Group, purchased Blackmont Capital Inc.’s retail brokerage arm from Toronto-based CI Financial Corp.”

“Australian Earl Evans, who had relocated to Toronto in 2010 to serve as Macquarie’s president, has since been named as the firm’s CEO and head. Evans attributes Macquarie’s success to its client-specific focus: ‘Every day, we come to work asking ourselves, How can we give the client a better experience, a better offering and better service? That is what we live and die by.’”

“When it comes to promoting diversity and inclusion in brokerages, the firms that do it best are those that have made a commitment to establishing a workplace that reflects the richness of Canadian society, say advisors surveyed for the 2011 Brokerage Report Card.”

“For example, Macquarie’s Australia-based parent has a global diversity initiative entitled Women @ Macquarie that offers leadership-development opportunities for women.”

“Says a female advisor with the firm: ‘They created a women’s steering committee because they recognize it’s a challenge to have more female applicants in the industry. They’re very conscious of it. We’re also working on mentoring and leadership programs. [The firm is] very committed to diversity.’”