Gavin brings an international perspective and a specialized accounting skillset to the team environment, unlocking a fully integrated wealth planning approach for our clients.
Service with a difference
Gavin brings a unique perspective to the team, as an immigrant to Canada with his family roots in Africa. Thanks to a near decade stint as an accountant, he has a proven head for numbers, and displays an attitude of gratitude that comes through in his service to his clients. Gavin enjoys working on financial issues, and helping others understand the issue at hand and how best to take care of it. He also loves getting the job done and doing it well.
Team player, coach and umpire
The African climate lends itself to an active lifestyle, and Gavin has played nearly every sport under the sun and in the water. The team aspect of success learnt from sports has followed Gavin into his professional life. Not always just a player, Gavin has also coached several sports at a number of different levels, and umpired field hockey at an international level, representing Canada at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games and the Toronto Pan-American Games.
Path to Assante
As a new immigrant, Gavin took a while to settle into Canadian life and worked in various service industries, including a short stint as a life insurance and mutual funds representative. That was where the basics of investing, insurance and Canadian financial concepts were implanted into his head. A timely and fortunate introduction to an accounting firm led to the CPA, CGA designation being earned, together with a robust understanding of the relationship between business owners and their business. But after nine years in accounting, Gavin decided that he wanted to get back into the wealth management field and did so at a local credit union, before joining up with the Willems Wealth Planning Group. He is looking forward to forging new relationships and adding his skills into the team mix.
Personal pursuits
Gavin is married with two children, and enjoys spending time with the family, especially when letting the creative juices flow and producing family ‘Jackson Pollock’ style paintings. He also gets out on the bike, the golf course, or pretty much any sporting activity that he can, when he can!