DAC 2020 New Advisor Award Winner: Frank J. Ryan

Knowledge Bureau is pleased to announce that Frank Ryan, B. Sc. (hons), MBA, P.Geo., CEBS®, ISCEBS Fellow, Financial Advisor & Certified Employee Benefits Specialist of Ryco Financial in St. John’s, NL , has been selected as the 2020 winner of the Distinguished New Advisor Award. The award will be presented virtually at the Distinguished Advisor Conference (DAC) on October 28^th.    

The theme of the conference is “DAC ACUITY 2020 – Bold Thinking, Bright Insights”, featuring thought leadership by 21 of Canada’s most insightful speakers in an incredibly rich agenda.  As this year’s award winner, Frank receives an educational scholarship to this prestigious educational event. Joining the illustrious Faculty, Frank will deliver a keynote address on Day 1 of the conference, sharing wisdoms from the perspective of a successful new advisor, who recently joined a successful family enterprise.

Frank has earned a solid reputation for excellence in his profession through credibility, trust and differentiation. “When I decided to join my family’s business, I realized that I would need to offer a different set of skills to compliment my father’s and my brother’s” said Frank, “so I choose to complete my Certified Employee Benefits Specialist Designation and to become a Fellow of ISCEBS in 2020.”

And he has done very well with that go-forward plan.  He was a Qualifying Member of the Million Dollar Roundtable at Court of the Table 2020.  A Geophysicist by education and training, Frank believes that while there are many different paths to evolving as an outstanding Financial Advisor, professionalism and education are the cornerstones to building credibility with new clients. He also chooses to live by the mantra that his Nan shared with him as a child, “Cast your bread upon the water, it will come back as buttered toast!”

“Frank has a unique approach to applying his deep knowledge from a variety of fields of specialization to the outcomes required by his clients.  Moreover, he does so while complementing an established advisory practice poised to evolve and grow to an impressive next level,” said Evelyn Jacks, President of Knowledge Bureau and sponsor of the DAC New Advisor Award. “One is immediately struck by Frank’s professionalism, inspired by his commitment to mentoring others, and endeared by his family values.”  Frank follows in the footsteps of his brother Darren, the 2016 New Advisor Award winner. 

“I am truly humbled to be considered in the same company as the previous winners, including my older brother whom I’ve looked up to for the past 30 years or so. I’ve been extremely fortunate to have been mentored by some outstanding technical and business leaders in Geosciences and Finance - in particular, my father. Thank you for your support and guidance. When I switched careers, I have to admit I was nervous. Winning the DAC New Advisor Award makes me feel like I’m where I belong.  Thank you to the Knowledge Bureau. This is a real honour.”

The DAC New Advisor Award recognizes the next generation of new advisors and their contributions to excellence in their industry sectors.  Winners of the award receive a scholarship to the DAC, national coverage of their achievements and an opportunity to network with some of their most influential peers in financial services today. Previous winners include: Brandon Silbermann, Keeley Simpson, Lindsay Sawyer-Fay and Darren Ryan, Jon Earle, Joseph Alfie,  Kristin Ramlal and Steven Furtado.

ABOUT THE DAC NEW ADVISOR AWARD: Advisors who have been in the industry for 5 or fewer years may apply, by completing the online application.  The deadline is September 15, 2021. New advisors will demonstrate outstanding achievements in the following areas:

1. KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS: outstanding service satisfaction in managing family wealth
2. REFERRABILITY: demonstrated excellence in exceeding expectations in providing services
3. INDUSTRY COLLABORATION: a commitment to an inter-advisory approach to services
4. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: excellence in breadth of professional development activities
5. COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP: participation in leadership at work and/or in the community
6. BUSINESS LEADERSHIP: demonstrated skills in working with a team to grow the practice
7. INNOVATION: “out of the box” thinking in practice management and client base development
8. BUSINESS GROWTH AND RETENTION: demonstrated business growth and retention rates

The award is open to new entrants in the tax and financial services industry, regardless of age. For more information about the speakers on the program, their topics and the venue, please call 1-866-953-4769 or visit the DAC website.

ABOUT FRANK RYAN

Frank Ryan is a Financial Planner with Ryco Financial a Comprehensive Financial Planning firm based in St. John's, NL. He holds an honours degree in Science, majoring in Geophysics (B.Sc.(Hons)), and an MBA in Finance and Leadership. He is a Professional Geoscientist (P.Geo.)  who joined the family business in 2016 and completed my Certified Employee Benefits Specialist designation in 2019, and became a Fellow of the International Society of CEBS in 2020. He is currently the Group Benefits and Group Retirement Solutions Subject Matter Expert for the firm.

In the four years that Frank has been with Ryco, the company has increased revenues and created 2 new fulltime positions. He is a qualifying Member of the Million Dollar Roundtable at Court of the Table 2020, he has won Manulife's National Associate Advisor award 2019, he was Qualifying Member of the Million Dollar Roundtable 2019, Won Manulife's National Associate Advisor award 2018, the Canadian Imperial Barrel Award in 2012 and was the recipient of 24 Scholarships and Awards in his Undergraduate and Graduate Degrees.

Frank and his wife welcomed a baby boy (Charles Francis Ryan) on January 13^th, 2020. The family enjoys the outdoors and hiking whenever the weather in NL cooperates.

ABOUT KNOWLEDGE BUREAU

Founded by award-winning financial educator and best-selling tax author Evelyn Jacks in 2003, Knowledge Bureau™ is a widely respected financial education institute and publisher, which provides world-class continuing professional development to advisors in the tax, bookkeeping and financial services.  It has welcomed tens of thousands of students to its virtual campus to earn new credentials and enhance career opportunities, and also provides customized learning solutions for large and small enterprises and associations.  For more information visit www.knowledgebureau.com or call 1-866-953-4768.

ABOUT DAC ACUITY 2020

Now in it’s 17^th year, the Distinguished Advisor Conference invites 20 visiting faculty members to its national stage, all leaders in the financial services, to think strategically about the future advisors and their clients face in making financial decisions.  Headliners at DAC Acuity 2020 will include:

• Joe Oliver, Former Minister of Finance of Canada who will discuss the Economic Road Ahead
• Dave Kelly, SVP and Head of Private Wealth Management and Financial Planning, TD Wealth whose topic is Bold Thinking:  Getting Wealth Management Right in a Post Pandemic World
• Thomas E, Junkin TEP, Senior Vice President, Personal Wealth Services, Fiduciary Trust Canada
• Tony Mahabir, CEO, CANFIN Financial Group who will address how to Grow Your Business by Promoting Financial Wellness 
• Dr. Michel Finke, Ph.D., CFP®, Professor and Frank M. Engle Distinguished Chair in Economic Security at The American College of Financial Services who will discuss New Retirement Planning Trends and in particular how to use Life Insurance in a Retirement Strategy
• Lori Lee, Regional Director, National Accounts Western Canada, Manulife Bank discusses the critical topic of managing post-pandemic debt: Deferral Does Not Mean Forgiveness
• Dr. Dean Smith, PHD, CFP, TEP, CPA, CA, RWM™, President, Cadesky U.S. Tax Ltd, who will focus on HNW clients with significant real estate 
• Kim Moody, FCA, TEP, Director, Canadian Tax Advisory, Moodys Tax Law LLP who will tackle the shielding of HNW wealth from high wealth taxes
• Matt Johnston, Manager of Wellness at the Johnston Group Inc, will tackle the elephant in the room: Addressing Mental Health for High Performance
• Jeremiah Desmarais, CEO, Advisorist.com who will share insights on marketing a virtual advisory practice
• The Power Panel:Influential Financial Business Leaders Christine Logan, Jackie Porter, Kristin Ramlal and Chris Valentine will discuss how advisors can resonate with their female clients and help them take on their financial reins.
• Melissa Shin, Editorial Director of Advisors Edge and Rudy Mezzetta, Sr. Reporter, Investment Executive will discuss trends in tax and wealth management
• Mark Taucar, Portfolio Manager, Accilent Capital Management Inc. will round out this discussion of the effect of behavioral finance on portfolio risk management 
• Olympian Sarah Wells will close out the conference with her high energy speech on Overcoming Life’s Hurdles to pivot with positivity and resilience into 2021. 

Three outstanding New Advisor Award winners will grace the virtual stage as Masters of Ceremony: 

• Steven Furtado, Investment Advisor/Financial Security Advisor, Mandeville Private Client, Inc., 2019 DAC New Advisor Award Recipient
• Keeley Simpson, BMO Nesbitt Burns, 2015 DAC Young Advisor Award Recipient
• Lindsay Sawyer Fay, BA, CFP, CLU, CHS, E. Sawyer Financial, Manulife Securities Investment Services Inc.  2016 DAC Young Advisor Award Recipient

Join us virtually at DAC Acuity 2020 and next year in Niagara Falls, Ontario October 17-19.