The Beginning
The Croft Financial Group Founder and CIO Richard Croft made the transition from public service to the investment world in the early 70’s. Driven by his passion for education and with a knack for writing, he entered the world of financial market journalism in the early 80’s writing for the Globe and Mail and developing a number of investment indices and benchmarks that are still in existence today.
In 1993, at the request of many of his followers, Richard became licensed as an investment counselor/portfolio manager and has been navigating the markets ever since, while having written nine books and thousands of articles and commentaries for Canada’s largest media outlets.
The Vision
Richard’s vision was to build a platform where financial professionals across the industry could access active, discretionary investment management for their clients, offering investment products and solutions not accessible under their existing regulatory framework. The goal was (and continues to be) to reduce the related regulatory, compliance and administrative burdens on the advisors that come with this high level of service, placing it on his experienced team, many of whom are still with the firm.
Where we are today
Our entire team of professionals remain guided by a set of core principles which include honesty, integrity and openness. Our focus is on serving our partners and investors by delivering value ethically and within a culture of compliance, while fostering the same entrepreneurial spirit within the firm and in our partners that the Croft Group was founded on over 30 years ago.
The Commitment
As a licensed Portfolio Manager and Investment Fund Manager, we work with our advisor partners and clients across Canada to deliver an exclusive High-Net-Worth Service that is typically reserved for investors with over one million dollars in assets. Our commitment to each of our clients ensures that we take an unbiased approach to security selection and portfolio composition based on their best interest and financial goals. We work with our associated Financial Planners, Tax Specialists and other industry professionals to implement this approach to the highest standard of care.
The Beginning
The Croft Financial Group Founder and CIO Richard Croft made the transition from public service to the investment world in the early 70’s. Driven by his passion for education and with a knack for writing, he entered the world of financial market journalism in the early 80’s writing for the Globe and Mail and developing a number of investment indices and benchmarks that are still in existence today.
In 1993, at the request of many of his followers, Richard became licensed as an investment counselor/portfolio manager and has been navigating the markets ever since, while having written nine books and thousands of articles and commentaries for Canada’s largest media outlets.
The Vision
Richard’s vision was to build a platform where financial professionals across the industry could access active, discretionary investment management for their clients, offering investment products and solutions not accessible under their existing regulatory framework. The goal was (and continues to be) to reduce the related regulatory, compliance and administrative burdens on the advisors that come with this high level of service, placing it on his experienced team, many of whom are still with the firm.
Where we are today
Our entire team of professionals remain guided by a set of core principles which include honesty, integrity and openness. Our focus is on serving our partners and investors by delivering value ethically and within a culture of compliance, while fostering the same entrepreneurial spirit within the firm and in our partners that the Croft Group was founded on over 30 years ago.
The Committment
As a licensed Portfolio Manager across Canada, we work with our partners to deliver an exclusive High-Net-Worth Service that is typically reserved for investors with over one million dollars in assets. Our fiduciary commitment to each of our clients ensures that we take an unbiased approach to security selection and portfolio composition based on their best interest and financial goals. Working with Financial Planners, Tax Specialists and other industry professionals to implement this approach to the highest standard of care.
meet the team
CROFT FINANCIAL GROUP EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Jason Ayres
Kenneth Mulders
Christopher Croft
Diane Bode
Richard N. Croft
Jason Keogh
Jordan Rosenberg
OUR TEAM OF PROFESSIONALS
FILTER BY:
Our Team of professionals hold a range of industry designations and accreditations including:
The Croft Financial Group is committed to a multi-stakeholder approach to Integrated Wealth Management: a long-term, multi-generational strategy, designed to keep all stakeholders on the same page under one holistic and unified plan.
We are proudly supporting the REAL WEALTH MANAGER™ (RWM™) DESIGNATION 
OUR VALUES & CULTURE
At Croft Financial Group, we are motivated by key guiding principles.
INTEGRITY
We value all our stakeholders equally – including our clients, employees, colleagues, and the community at large – irrespective of age, gender identity, ethnic affiliation, education, livelihood, and regardless of religious, political or philosophical perspectives.
OPENNESS
We believe that the ability to make informed decisions is of critical importance, and in the value of complete, clear, and honest communications with our stakeholders to support good decisions.
HONESTY
We believe in the fundamental value of effective investment capital management to achieve the financial objectives and security, and to enhance the quality of life of our clients and stakeholders.
KNOWLEDGE
We value and will always strive to maintain a level of skill and knowledge necessary to support good investment decisions to fulfill our commitments and obligations to all our stakeholders.
Reason One:
A committee approach adds the benefit of gaining multiple perspectives. When an investment idea is presented to the IRC, the committee has a chance to ask more questions or offer additional insights that the primary analyst might not considered.
Reason Two:
A committee approach often leads to the gathering of additional information. This rigorous vetting process helps in making a more informed/higher quality decision.
Reason Three:
A committee ensures continuity. If one or more Portfolio Managers are absent, the committee is always present to ensure the process continues.
INVESTMENT PHILOSOPHY
INVESTMENT REVIEW COMMITTEE (IRC)
Investment Review Committee (IRC) Our mission is to deliver superior investment advice and discretionary portfolio management expertise with outstanding service, holding all Portfolio Managers on the Croft platform to the highest standard. All Advising Representatives (Portfolio Managers) and Associate Advising Representatives are accountable to the IRC. With a committee-based, rigorous portfolio building process, our portfolio management team seeks out which assets, sectors and geographical exposures make the most sense for meeting clients’ investment objectives under real-time market conditions. To minimize investor risk and maximize returns, we combine this methodology with targeted active investments and sophisticated option strategies. While each Portfolio Manager may have their own approach, all investments and strategies are vetted through the IRC.
WHY THE COMMITTEE?
The Investment Review Committee (IRC) at Croft is responsible for all investment decisions. While one Portfolio Manager is responsible for the research, each security that is used in a portfolio must be vetted by the IRC. There are several reasons this process is advantageous.
MEET THE CUSTODIAN OF YOUR Investment Accounts
We take client assets and client account safekeeping seriously.
All Croft client investment accounts are held in their own name at National Bank. Committed to independent firms for more than 25 years, National Bank Independent Network is one of Canada’s leading providers of custodial, trading, clearing, settlement and record-keeping services to independent registered portfolio managers, introducing brokers and investment fund managers.
National Bank Independent Network proudly serves over 450 firms from coast to coast and is backed by the strength of National Bank of Canada (NBC). National Bank Independent Network is a division of National Bank Financial Inc. (NBF Inc.), which is an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of NBC, a public company listed on Canadian stock exchanges (TSX: NA). National Bank Independent Network is also a registered trademark of NBC used under license by NBF Inc. NBF Inc. is a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund (CIPF) as well as the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC), which is the national self-regulatory organization that oversees all investment dealers and trading activity on debt and equity marketplaces in Canada.
Once complete the onboarding process and assign an account number, our clients have complete online access to their accounts, statements and tax documents through NBIN’s My Portfolio +.
OVER
450
INDEPENDENT FIRMS
OVER
$300B
ASSETS UNDER ADMINISTRATION
OVER
1M
CANADIAN INVESTORS
STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS
The Croft Group works closely with our strategic partners to find the best services and opportunities for our clients.
insights
Research Report: Search For Income
A central theme in portfolio management is risk-adjusted return. Weighing potential upside performance against downside variability is the essential element in setting an appropriate asset mix.
Financial Commentary: Delta Woes
Conventional wisdom tells us that healthy bull markets climb a wall of worry. Ascending to new heights by scaling an abundance of negative factors that are seen as temporary stumbling blocks rather than permanent impediments.
In the current environment, there are plenty of “temporary” stumbling blocks for the bull to scale; the taper timeline, direction of interest rates, elevated valuations, irrational exuberance in sectors (meme stocks), Covid trends, vaccine uptake, inflation, supply chain disruptions, labor shortages, government debt… and the list goes on.
Research Update: Canada’s Debt in Context
Buy now… pay later! That is the message being telegraphed by most governments as they engage in an unhindered and unprecedented spending spree. Supported by central banks’ quantitative easing, ultra low interest rates and a sense of urgency to support individuals and small businesses during pandemic lockdowns, rising debt levels have become politically palatable.
Research Report: In Praise of Dividends
U.S. equities continued to rally through the first quarter of 2021 supported by strong consumer demand, plus outsized monetary and fiscal stimulus combined with ultra-low interest rates. The S&P 500 Index has been up for five consecutive months and at the end of June had gained 15.2% YTD.
Economic Outlook: The China Syndrome
It seems the US Federal Reserve (FED) is flexible when it comes to defining “transitory” inflation. The FED’s base case for 2021 year-over-year inflation was 2.4%. That number was bumped to 3.4% when updated inflation data was released during the second week of June. So too has the timeline for scaling back the US $30 billion per month bond purchasing program, and the FED is now beginning to talk about talking about raising overnight interest rates. FED speak at its best!
Research Report: Inflation, Bitcoin and Bond Substitutes
It did not take long for newly installed Republican party Representative Elise Stefanik (she is Liz Cheney’s replacement) to go after Joe Biden. It was grandstanding at its best. Standing at the Congressional bully pulpit in front of a scrum of news reporters Stefanik said the latest US jobs report (released on Friday May 14th) was the worst in over 20 years. “Unemployment is up, small businesses are struggling to hire workers,” and it is all the result of the Democrats "far-left radical socialist policies."
