Management. National Bank Financial s corporate philosophy puts clients at the centre of every decision

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1 NATIONAL BANK FINANCIAL Investment Advisors (left to right): Pat Finan, Tony Minichiello, Bryan Holyk, David LePoidevin Wealth Management National Bank Financial s corporate philosophy puts clients at the centre of every decision National Bank Financial is a full service investment dealer that defines its business as helping valued clients achieve financial freedom by providing highly personalized investment advice tailored to the wants, needs and risk tolerance of each client. Investment Advisors see themselves as facilitators in building wealth for their clients. It s a fundamental reason why National Bank Financial clients weathered the recent economic storm as well as they did. Our Investment Advisors understood the importance of being close to their clients during the recent period of market upheaval, says Gordon Gibson, Vice- President, Sales Strategies and Specialized Financial Communication. A recent firm-wide client satisfaction survey indicated clients opinions of National Bank Financial and their advisors were just as positive today as they were three years ago even in a climate where many investors had ample reason to become jaundiced. The percentage of our clients who were satisfied or very satisfied in December 2009 was just as high as in December 2006, a claim that not many of our competitors can make, says Gibson. National Bank Financial is one of the many business units that together form National Bank Financial Group, an integrated financial firm that has been providing a comprehensive offering ranging from core banking to highly specialized products and services to individuals, corporations and governments in Canada and abroad since its inception in National Bank Financial Group has total assets of $135 billion, and serves 2.3 million individual clients across the country. National Bank Financial, the full service investment dealer subsidiary, can trace its PROMOTIONAL FEATURE

2 NATIONAL BANK FINANCIAL roots back to More than a century later and after numerous mergers and acquisitions, this subsidiary is one of the most important business units under the National Bank Financial Group umbrella. National Bank Financial has highly ranked research, leading edge technology, a comprehensive suite of products and services and a unique corporate culture all of which make it the destination of choice for seasoned advisors. With a head office staff of only 100, and more than 1,400 advisors and support staff spread across the country from Halifax to Victoria, National Bank Financial s management team is well aware that the best ideas will likely come We value success, and our Investment Advisors appreciate that. Ron Walchuk, Vice-President and Regional Manager for British Columbia from the field. One of the strengths of the firm is that it has the wisdom to accept this and to listen carefully to the feedback coming from its branch network. We value success, and our Investment Advisors appreciate that, states Ron Walchuk, Vice-President and Regional Manager for British Columbia. While there is no such thing as a typical client, National Bank Financial addresses the needs of people who have already achieved wealth, often through business or inheritance, as well as those who are in the accumulation phase of their lives. We accompany them through that phase, says Walchuk. Our role is to recommend products and provide advice so they can reach the financial success they define for themselves. National Bank Financial s Investment Advisors have perfected Executive Vice-President s Message Building wealth is about more than just money. It s about creating and nurturing partnerships. It s about knowing and trusting each other. That s exactly what we do at National Bank Financial. We get to know our clients. We already know our products and services; and then we find the best match to suit each client s individual needs. I know the West is unique. I spent six years in B.C. running the region before returning to the Montreal head office. B.C. is home to an exciting investment environment, with its affluence and wealth, incredible entrepreneurial spirit and our own talented investment advisors. B.C. continues to play a vital role in our expansion plans. National Bank Financial is well positioned to respond to these unique needs by sticking to the guiding philosophy that has been responsible for our success over the years: putting our clients interests first. Richard Rousseau Executive Vice-President, Head of Individual Investor Services, Wealth Management, National Bank Financial

3 Some of National Bank Financial s Investment Advisors from the Vancouver branch. Back row (left to right): Don Plummer, Vince Stewart, David Van de Sande, David LePoidevin, Pat Finan, Jeff Shufelt, Bryan Holyk, Ron Walchuk (Regional Manager). Front row (left to right): Tony Minichiello, John Clemens, Terry Wright, Dianne Snyder, Peter Fink. a time-tested process that allows them to develop trusted, lasting partnerships with clients. First comes the discovery phase, in which the advisor gathers the data required to understand the client s personal and family situation, goals, priorities and investment horizon. Next, the advisor performs a detailed analysis of the situation, prioritizing goals and making necessary calculations to draw up a personalized action plan for the client. The third step is action. This is the stage where recommendations are made by the advisor, decisions taken by the client, and the chosen solutions implemented. Finally,

4 NATIONAL BANK FINANCIAL National Bank Financial partners with the community Our Kelowna branch established a National Bank Financial endowment fund at the Central Okanagan Foundation which has supported Junior Achievement. We are involved with Free The Children and have enabled several local schools to participate in Me to We speaking tours. We ve provided bursaries to assist Okanagan students to attend the Take Action Leadership Academy in Vancouver. John Edwards, MBA, CIM, FCSI Vice-President, Branch Manager, Investment Advisor, Kelowna As a long-time resident of Burnaby, I have enjoyed doing fundraisers for various charities. I have climbed Mount Kilimanjaro with the BC Alzheimer s Society, climbed Mount Rainier to raise money for Breast Cancer Research, raised funds for clean water projects with Hope International and last year bicycled 200 km for the BC Lung Association. Eric Muir, B.Comm, CIM Vice-President, Investment Advisor, Burnaby The philosophy at our Penticton branch is a shared commitment to give back. Through supporting local foundations in health, volunteering and working with youth and in our community, we show what it is to be human. We are proud to support and contribute to our lovely community. Jane Drapeau, Branch Manager, Investment Advisor, Penticton It s not just about being the largest full service brokerage in Sidney, we live and breathe our community. It s who we are and why we do what we do. From supporting the local Hospital Foundation, the Sidney Chamber of Commerce, sponsoring golf tournaments and funding a senior men s Masters Curling League, we strive to stay in touch with the things that matter in our community and to our clients. Allan R. Green, B.Admin, PFP Branch Manager, Investment Advisor, The Cannery, Sidney National Bank Financial has roots in Vernon going back many years and has been actively involved in many aspects of the community. From the popular Winter Carnival Event, the local efforts of The BC Children s Hospital, Vernon Youth Soccer, Vernon Jubilee Hospital, Vernon Ski Club and Vernon Freestyle Club, our Investment Advisors live and breathe the Okanagan community and are proud to do so. Sherman Dahl, B.Admin Vice-President, Branch Manager, Investment Advisor, Vernon Members of the White Rock Branch are involved with many local charities such as the White Rock Hospice, the Surrey Foundation, Friends of Semiahmoo Bay, the Royal Canadian Theatre Company and Semiahmoo House. The branch also supports the annual Easter Seals Regatta, raises funds for local RCMP community policing and has been active in the Save the Children Alliance. Victor Dawydiak, B.Comm, CIM Branch Manager, Investment Advisor, White Rock National Bank Financial B.C. Timeline Branch Openings 1) Vancouver (downtown) ) Victoria ) White Rock ) Kelowna ) Burnaby ) Vernon ) Penticton ) Sidney ) Oak Bay 2009

5 there is the ongoing monitoring phase, where the advisor watches over financial markets, investment portfolios and any changes to the client s situation, which might necessitate fine tuning. To get the best result from all four steps, you need an investment firm that thinks and acts a little differently. The difference comes from the people who work at our firm. We bring in people who thrive in the environment we foster, says James Porter, Senior Vice-President and Managing Director. We recognize that what drives our business is the one-onone relationship between the advisor and the client. There are excellent advisors at all our competitors; what we do better is create a climate where our people are fully free to do the very best for the client rather than putting other considerations in front of them that might make decisions more difficult. Our Investment Advisors have freedom from the pressure to sell proprietary products. incredible growth at National Bank Financial in the West and particularly in B.C., more clients are hearing about the firm and coming in to see what it s all about. One thing they notice immediately is how we are different than the other large investment firms. What makes us different? Quite simply, it s our corporate culture. It s also the idea of a true partnership, he says, and the firm s encouragement of flexibility and independence for its Investment Advisors. The West is known for entrepreneurship, says Walchuk, and National Bank Financial s reputation is valuing entrepreneurship. n This promotional feature was prepared by BCBusiness magazine s Special Advertising Features Dept. Writer: Corey Van t Haaff. For information contact BCBusiness VP of corporate features John Cochrane at jcochrane@canadawide.com One thing they notice immediately is how we are different than the other large investment firms. What makes us different? Quite simply, it s our corporate culture. Ron Walchuk, Vice-President and Regional Manager for British Columbia It s this freedom to be the best that has kept John Clemens, Investment Advisor and Vice-President, serving his clients from National Bank Financial s downtown Vancouver branch for the past 23 years. During that time, he admits to having been wooed by other top firms, but he could never find any real advantage for his clients that would justify making the move. My clients would have been no better off had I moved elsewhere, says Clemens. Plus, I feel welcome because they keep doing the right thing. It s really relaxed here. When the president came to visit recently, he made sure he found out the new people s first names. It s like being part of a family. Ron Walchuk echoes that sentiment. It s not just what you see on a desk; it s a feeling, says Walchuk. When the small regional investment dealer I was at was sold, I went looking for a firm with the same feeling where they treated employees in a special way. National Bank Financial had it. I wasn t a number or a commodity. Here, I m a person and they respect what I think. Clients feel it too, he says. With the TAYLOR VEINOTTE SULLIVAN B A R R I S T E R S Gary Snarch Patrick Sullivan Suite 300, 1168 Hamilton Street Vancouver, BC Tel (604) Fax (604) Legal Counsel to National Bank Financial

6 The best investment you can make is sound advice from us. Many people learned that rates that look great are no substitute for a sound investment strategy. Our mission is based