Don graduated from the University of Calgary with a Bachelor of Commerce degree. In 1979 he founded DSI Estate Planning Inc., a boutique firm that works with high net worth individuals and family-owned enterprises to help them preserve capital and mitigate the impact of tax on their estates.

A frequent speaker on the uses of life insurance for wealth holders, Don has spoken to The Conference for Advanced Life Underwriting (CALU), the Society of Trusts and Estate Practitioners (STEP), the University of Calgary, the Calgary Foundation, the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation and top advisor conferences for Sun Life and Manulife.

Don was a founding member of CALU and acted as its Chair in 2014. As Chair, he participated in meetings with the Department of Finance on the new tax-exempt insurance rules, which came into effect January 1, 2017. To better serve his clients, Don is designated as a Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU), Family Enterprise Advisor (FEA) and Trust and Estate Practitioner (TEP).

Don’s community involvement includes board membership on the Calgary Foundation from 1999 to 2008 and being the Founding Director of the Canadian Association of Family Enterprise (CAFÉ), Calgary Chapter. He served as an Advisory Committee member of The Hotchkiss Brain Institute from 2004 to 2016.

A former member of Canada’s National Badminton Team, Don remains active in promoting the Canada Open badminton tournament held annually at WinSport. Don is married to Susie. They have 3 children and 6 grandchildren.

Robert E. L. Trowbridge’s career as an advisor spans four decades and has included leadership roles in team building and agency management. In 2004 his Trowbridge Financial Network was acquired by iconic Guardian Capital and became IDC-Worldsource Insurance Network, where Robert Trowbridge served as President, then Chair. By that time, Bob was advising many of B.C.’s leading business families on charitable initiatives in addition to their estate planning needs.

Circa 1999 he created “Gift Builder” where insured annuities were structured to enable what he called “painless donations” – where key donors to specific causes could support their charities with minimal cost to the family. In 2014, Bob, along with his partner, tax lawyer Michael Haywood, created “Foundation Builder” where shareholders of private corporations could donate preferred shares to a public foundation for an immediate personal tax receipt. Bob and Michael worked closely with two leading public foundations on this program: Scotia Aqueduct, and Vancouver based Charitable Impact Strategies. Recently, a further charitable program was added to the initiatives of Trowbridge Haywood enabling donations at less than a 3% out-of-pocket cost to qualified philanthropists. Just a few of the many charities benefitting from these programs include The Canadian Diabetes Association, Peace Arch Hospital Foundation, The Vancouver Opera Foundation, Vancouver General Hospital, Simon Fraser University, Greater Vancouver Boys and Girls’ Clubs, Cystic Fibrosis, and The Sovereign Order of St. John Palliative Care Foundation.

Additionally, numerous private family foundations have enhanced their good works, and targeted donations by taking the time to learn about the innovative philanthropic strategies created by Robert Trowbridge who is a Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU), and a member of Society of Tax and Estate Planners. (TEP). Bob has served on the Boards of The Terminal City Club, The Vancouver Opera, The Vancouver Cantata Singers and the Club at Morningside in Rancho Mirage, California. Joining the Sovereign Order of St. John in 2003, he has served as Membership Chair, Commander of The Vancouver Commandery, Prior for Canada, and is now Prior Emeritus.

Laura has been in the financial planning industry for 26 years and founded Vision Financial Partners over 15 years ago when she saw the need for a boutique firm that specializes in advanced strategy work. Her mission has always been to work in partnership so she can focus on problem-solving instead of prospecting. Her background in math, product and strategy development is sought after by leading financial advisors across Canada.

Her business is built on integrity. Her core belief is that, at the end of the day, “the truth” (the numbers) is all clients need to make an informed decision.

When not running the numbers or consulting with clients, Laura jokes that she is an uber driver for her children. She also enjoys running and tough mudder competitions.

With over 20 years of industry experience, Christopher brings a wealth of tax planning experience. Directly prior to joining IDC WIN, he held the position of National Estate and Tax Planning Consultant with Canada Life, with a specialization in the owner-manager, high net worth and professional services markets. As an expert in both tax and advanced life insurance concepts in the larger case market, Christopher will bring his highly developed presentation skills and knowledge resources to IDC WIN and its Advisors, as the firm expands into the TEP arena.

Christopher is an alumnus of Saint Mary’s University, graduating in 1994. He holds the CPA, CA designation (1996). He has been a guest speaker at various national conferences and has authored and lectured tax courses for both CPA Canada and CPA Nova Scotia. He is a member of the Canadian Tax Foundation and Conference for Advanced Life Underwriting (CALU).

Blake is an established financial advisor working with clientele across Canada. Primarily working with business owners and business families, his areas of expertise include Insurance Planning, Risk Management, Wealth Transfer, Shareholders Agreements, Estate Planning, and Portfolio Management. Blake has provided sound financial management services since 2009 and is passionate about working with clients to help them achieve their financial goals. He has been recognized with multiple awards for the work he has done. Blake graduated with a business degree from the University of Western Ontario. He grew up on the North Shore but now lives in South Surrey with his wife and 3 kids. If he is not coaching soccer, he can be found on the hill skiing with the family.