2008 Conference

Conference Speakers

LittlechildIrshaad Ahmad
President and Managing Director, Russell Investments—Canada

With close to 20 years of investment industry experience, Irshaad was named president and managing director of Russell's Canadian operations in 2006. Irshaad works closely with Russell's global executive committee to focus on leveraging Russell's worldwide resources, portfolio strategies and over 490 investment professionals with the goal of developing dynamic products and services for clients. In addition to this, Irshaad continues to head Russell's institutional business, a position he has held since joining Russell in 2004.

LittlechildTeresa Black Hughes
Chair, Advocis – The Financial Advisors Association of Canada

Teresa has been in the financial services industry for 28 years; the last 17 years specializing in retirement and estate consulting. For the last four years she has served on the TFAAC national board and is currently the Board Chair. Throughout that time, she has chaired various committees including the Governance Committee, Audit Committee, Investment Committee, and the Forum Editorial Advisory Council. She has served on the board of Advocis Greater Vancouver as Vice-President and on the board of the Canadian Association of Financial Planners (B.C.) as both Treasurer and Vice-President. Other community experience includes Chair of British Columbia Christian Academy, and Treasurer for both the West Vancouver Chamber of Commerce and the Pitt Meadows Chamber of Commerce. Teresa is a partner and planner in the B.C. firm of Solguard Financial Ltd./PEAK Securities Inc.

LittlechildJulie Littlechild
President, Advisor Impact

Julie Littlechild is president and founder of Advisor Impact, providing practice management training and tools for financial advisors across North America and the UK. She frequently speaks and writes about innovation in practice management.

Julie has developed a services of programs to help advisors increase productivity and profitability. Her Client Audit tool, offered in partnership with industry consultants Moss Adams, helps advisors gauge satisfaction and identify revenue opportunities among existing clients. She has also authored the Business Success Kit, a comprehensive guidebook to assist financial advisors in efficient practice management.

Under her leadership, Advisor Impact conducts extensive, on-going research among financial advisors and their clients. The firm publishes an annual benchmarking report on practice management and also conducts proprietary research among advisors, on behalf of their broker-dealers. A frequent speaker at sales and industry conferences, Julie contributes to a wide range of publications, including Investment Executive, Financial Planning Magazine, Investment Advisor and Financial Advisor. She also writes the Client Audit QuickTip, her firm’s monthly practice management tip for advisors.