Grad Spotlight – How Dean’s MFA Keeps Him Current in the Industry

Dean Cockell earned his MFA-Retirement Income Specialist designation in 2008, and since then has been an active Knowledge Bureau alumnus. We are pleased to have Dean as one of our distinguished grads.

How the MFA-Retirement Income Specialist Designation Program Has Been Valuable:

"My MFA designation, through the courses and updates, ensure that I am up to date with the constant change in our industry. The DAC conference and regular newsletters also ensure I have the most current information and advice for my clients and  the advisors in my Branch."

Career Highlights:
Dean is the Branch Manager for Portfolio Strategies in Winnipeg.

In addition to his MFA designation, he holds his Certificate in Financial Planning (CIFP) and his EPC designation as a charter member of the Canadian Initiative for Elder Planning Studies. Dean is also a member of The Canadian Institute of Financial Planners.

Dean is considered an authority on individual financial and retirement planning. His experience and education have covered a broad spectrum of management skills encompassing visionary leadership; public media relations; training and development; corporate and strategic planning; marketing and sales management; and joint venture/strategic alliances.

Workshops and Broadcasting:
Dean has been a speaker at numerous conferences and associations and has taught courses on strategic planning as well as hosting countless seminars and workshops. Each season, Dean hosts a seminar series at no charge to the public, discussing basic financial practices with informative guest speakers.

In the past, he hosted a weekly radio phone-in show throughout the year on both CJOB 680 and CFRW 1290 passing on advice to listeners about financial planning, retirement and investing in today’s confusing market place.

Awards and Recognition:
He has been recognized with numerous awards over his career for his consistent ability to build and maintain portfolio and business development with one of Canada’s major insurance firms.

Work-Life Activities:
Dean is extremely involved in the community in the following capacities:

• President/ Governor of the Winnipeg South Blues Junior A Hockey Club
• Member of the Training Committee of the 1999 Pan American Games held in Winnipeg
• General Manager Team Manitoba Viking Cup 2002 World Prospects Tournament – Camrose, Alberta
• Charter Member of The Canadian Initiative for Elder Planning Studies – EPC

Future Knowledge Bureau Events:
Dean will be joining the Knowledge Bureau for his fifth Distinguish Advisor Conference. The 2014 DAC will be in beautiful Horseshoe Bay, Texas.