Contributors – AGF Perspectives

Sound Choices

AGF’s Sound Choices® program provides practical tools and tips on retirement, personal finance, investing and tax efficiency that can be used everyday, all with the help of a financial advisor.

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AGF Fixed Income Team

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Mike Archibald, CFA®, CMT, CAIA

Vice-President and Portfolio Manager

AGF Investments Inc.

Mike Archibald is responsible for AGF's Canadian Growth Equity strategies. He uses a bottom-up investment approach that leverages quantitative, fundamental and technical inputs to identify companies with strong earnings growth and momentum, high-quality management and solid free cash flow. Mike joined AGF as an Associate Portfolio Manager in 2015, focusing on research, analysis and selection of North American equities. Before joining AGF, Mike was a Portfolio Manager with Aurion Capital Management Inc. where he was responsible for research, security selection and portfolio management of equity investments for pension plan clients. Prior to that, he was with Computerized Portfolio Management Services (CPMS), an equity research firm providing fundamental and quantitative investment data to institutional and retail money managers. Mike holds an Honours Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Wilfrid Laurier University and is also a CFA®, CMT and CAIA charterholder.

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Abhishek Ashok, M.A., MFE, CFA®

Analyst

AGF Investments Inc.

As an Analyst, Abhishek Ashok is involved in developing and interpreting quantitative tools to enhance the investment management process, developing content for presentations and commentary, providing data management and process support for AGF’s quantitative platform, AGFiQ. Abhishek began his career with AGF as part of the *Highstreet Investment Management team and has progressively taken on more responsibility to expand his role on the investment team. Abhishek is a CFA® Charterholder, and earned a Master of Financial Economics from Western University, MA in Economics from York University, and a B.Sc in Economics and Management from Purdue University. *Highstreet Asset Management Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of AGF Investments Inc.

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Vishal Banè, M.Sc., CA (India), CFA

Associate Portfolio Manager

AGF Investments Inc.

Vishal Banè is an Associate Portfolio Manager focusing on AGF’s sustainable investing strategy. Vishal brings a strong background in conducting Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) analysis through his prior experience of working in ESG Research at MSCI Inc. As such he also helps in evaluating the ESG risks and opportunities for the fund's strategy. He joined AGF in 2017 as an Analyst and has nearly a decade of progressive industry experience, having worked previously with the National Stock Exchange of India and MSCI Inc. Vishal is a Chartered Accountant (national merit-holder) with the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, is a CFA® charterholder and holds a Master of Science in Finance from the Beedie School of Business at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver.

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Steve Bonnyman, MBA, CFA®

Co-Head Equity Research and Portfolio Manager

AGF Investments Inc.

Stephen Bonnyman is Co-Head Equity Research and Portfolio Manager of AGF’s Global Real Asset portfolios. Working closely with the AGF research teams, Steve focuses on identifying companies with advantaged business models, solid balance sheets, favourable cost structures, attractive valuations or unrecognized growth. Steve is a member of the AGF Asset Allocation Committee (AAC), which is comprised of senior portfolio managers who are responsible for various regions and asset classes. The AAC meets regularly to discuss, analyze and assess the macro-economic environment and capital markets in order to determine optimal asset allocation recommendations. He joined AGF in 2013 with more than 20 years of buy- and sell-side experience covering the global materials industry, including five years of institutional money management. Prior to joining AGF, Steve was Managing Director and Mining Analyst at a major financial institution, responsible for global company research coverage and equity market analysis. Prior to that, he was an analyst and portfolio manager at two leading asset management firms. Steve has a B.Sc. in Geology from McMaster University and an MBA from Dalhousie University. He is a CFA® charterholder.

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Regina Chi, CFA®

Vice-President and Portfolio Manager

AGF Investments Inc.

Regina Chi has lead responsibility for AGF’s Emerging Markets strategies. She has an investment philosophy consistent with AGF’s Global Equity Team and looks for quality companies that have long-term sustainable competitive advantages at attractive valuations. Regina is a member of the AGF Asset Allocation Committee, a group of senior investment professionals that meet quarterly to discuss, analyze and assess the macroeconomic environment and capital markets to determine optimal asset allocations. She also serves as co-Chair of AGF’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee, which develops, creates organizational awareness around and promotes best practices related to diversity and inclusion across the firm. Regina brings more than 25 years of international equity experience to this role. She was most recently a partner at a boutique U.S. investment firm, where she served as portfolio manager for the Emerging Markets and International Value disciplines. Regina is a CFA® charterholder. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Philosophy from Columbia University. She is also a member of 100 Women in Finance, an organization working to strengthen the global finance industry by empowering women to achieve their professional potential at each career stage.

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John Christofilos

Senior Vice-President, Chief Trading Officer and Investment Management, Operations Strategy

AGF Investments Inc.

John Christofilos leads a team responsible for trading AGF’s Assets Under Management across its Retail, Institutional, High-Net-Worth and ETF portfolios. He is also a member of AGF’s Business Development unit with responsibility for reviewing and leading Capital Markets opportunities and technology advancements. John is a member of The Office of the CIO – a new structure within AGF’s Investment Management team. This leadership structure encourages and further embeds collaboration and active accountability across the Investment Management team and the broader organization. His career has spanned more than 30 years, with experience on both the buy- and sell-side. Before joining AGF in 2014, John served as Managing Director at Canaccord Genuity, leading the firm’s efforts in electronic and program trading. Prior to Canaccord, he worked as Senior Managing Director for E*TRADE Institutional, a full-service financial services firm based in New York City. John is a member of the Canadian and U.S. Securities Traders Associations and is a past member of the Board of Directors of the Canadian ETF Association (CETFA). He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from San Diego, California-based United States International University, where he played Division 1 Hockey.

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Dillon Culhane, CFA®

Equity Analyst

AGF Investments Inc.

Dillon Culhane is an Equity Analyst on the AGF North American Equity Team focusing on the Energy sector, particularly oil and gas companies, as well as Utilities. Most recently, Dillon was an Equity Research Associate Analyst covering the Energy sector at RBC Capital Markets. Prior to that, he was a Senior Associate at Deloitte & Touche LLP. Dillon earned a B.Comm. from Queen's University and is a Chartered Professional Accountant as well as a CFA® charterholder.

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Bill DeRoche, MBA, CFA®

Chief Investment Officer and Head of AGFiQ Alternative Strategies

AGF Investments LLC

Bill DeRoche is Chief Investment Officer, AGF Investments LLC (formerly FFCM LLC)¹, and Head of AGFiQ Alternative Strategies. Bill is co-founder of AGF Investments LLC, a Boston-based investor advisory firm founded in 2009 and subsidiary of AGF Management Limited. He is a leader of AGF’s quantitative investment platform, known as AGFiQ. AGFiQ’s team approach is grounded in the belief that investment outcomes can be improved by assessing and targeting the factors that drive market returns. Bill has long-tenured expertise employing quantitative factor-based strategies and alternative approaches to achieve a spectrum of investment objectives. Previously, Bill was a Vice-President at State Street Global Advisors (SSgA), serving as head of the firm’s U.S. Enhanced Equities team. His focus was on managing long-only and 130/30 U.S. strategies, as well as providing research on SSgA’s stock-ranking models and portfolio construction techniques. Prior to joining SSgA in 2003, Bill was a Quantitative Analyst and Portfolio Manager at Putnam Investments. Bill has been working in the investment management field since 1995. Prior to 1995, Bill was a Naval Aviator flying the Grumman A-6 Intruder as a member of Attack Squadron Eighty-Five aboard the USS America (CV-66). Bill holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the United States Naval Academy and an MBA from the Amos Tuck School of Business Administration at Dartmouth College. He is a CFA® charterholder and holds FINRA licenses 7, 63 and 24. ¹An investment professional with AGF Investments LLC (formerly FFCM LLC), a U.S.-registered investment advisor firm and affiliate of AGF Investments Inc.

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Stephen Duench, CFA®

Vice-President and Portfolio Manager

AGF Investments Inc.

As Vice-President and Portfolio Manager, Stephen Duench is a key contributor to AGF’s quantitative investment platform, AGFiQ. AGFiQ’s team approach is grounded in the belief that investment outcomes can be improved by assessing and targeting the factors that drive market returns. Stephen is the lead Portfolio Manager of the AGFiQ Dividend Income Fund and AGF Canadian Large Cap Dividend Fund and is central to the creation and support of AGFiQ’s portfolio management tools, analysis and applications across both Canadian and global mandates. He began his career with AGF as part of the Highstreet Investment Management* team. Stephen earned an Honours degree in Financial Mathematics from Wilfred Laurier University and is a CFA® charterholder. *Highstreet Asset Management Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of AGF Investments Inc.

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Ryan Dunfield

Managing Principal, CEO, SAF Group

Mr. Dunfield is the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Principal of the SAF Group. He is responsible for the overall strategic mission of the business as well as capital raising and investment management, playing an active role with major transactions and realizations. Prior to founding the SAF Group, Mr. Dunfield worked at an event-driven hedge fund, a Vancouver-based private equity manager, and, earlier in his career, at ATB Financial in its corporate and investment banking group. Over the past decade, he has served on the board of several public and private entities. Mr. Dunfield, who is originally from Vancouver, British Columbia, earned his B.A. in Economics from the University of Calgary with a minor in Commerce.

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The editor's desk

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Special Feature

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Carol Ferguson

Chief Human Resources Officer

AGF Investments Inc.

Carol Ferguson works closely with AGF's Executive Management Team and Board to create and deliver practical and sustainable human capital solutions. In addition to her progressive work experience, Carol also holds a Masters in Business Administration and holds both Certified Human Resources Professional and Senior Human Resources Professional designations.

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Tony Genua

Senior Vice-President and Portfolio Manager

AGF Investments Inc.

Tony Genua has been Portfolio Manager of AGF's U.S. growth strategies since he joined the firm in 2005. Throughout his career in portfolio management, Tony has remained committed to his proven investment strategy that identifies leading growth companies in every cycle. Tony is also a member of the AGF Asset Allocation Committee (AAC), which is comprised of senior portfolio managers who are responsible for various regions and asset classes. The AAC meets regularly to discuss, analyze and assess the macro-economic environment and capital markets in order to determine optimal asset allocation recommendations. Tony's portfolio management experience includes retail mutual fund investments, sub-advisory platforms and institutional portfolios. Tony's direct experience as a portfolio manager is complemented by the three years he spent as a market strategist on Wall Street. Tony earned his BA in Economics from the University of Western Ontario.

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Blake C. Goldring, C.M., M.S.M., CD, LL.D., DHL, CFA®

Executive Chairman

AGF Management Limited

Blake C. Goldring is the Executive Chairman of AGF Management Limited. He first joined AGF in 1987 and held a series of senior positions before being appointed President in 1997, CEO in 2000, and Chairman in 2006. Under his leadership, AGF has grown to be a premier independent investment management company with operations in Canada, the United States, Europe and Asia. Prior to joining AGF, he worked in corporate banking for a major Canadian bank. Mr. Goldring sits on a number of private and not-for-profit boards and is the founder of Canada Company: Many Ways to Serve, a charitable, non-partisan organization created to connect business and community leaders with Canada’s military. Most recently, he served as the Chair of the Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre Board of Directors from 2015 to 2019. Blake has received numerous honours in recognition of his personal and professional achievements. Most recently, in December 2018. he was named a Member of the Order of Canada – our Country’s second highest honour for merit. He was the first person to be named Honorary Colonel for the Canadian Army in 2011. Blake was also awarded the Meritorious Service Medal (Military Division) in 2009, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012 and the Canadian Forces Decoration (CD) for 12 years of service in 2017. He received the Order of the Diocese from the Anglican Diocese in Toronto in 2013, and the Award of Merit from B’Nai Brith in 2011. In 2014, he received the VIMY Award from the Conference of Defence Association (CDA) Institute. He holds an Honours BA in Economics from the University of Toronto and a Masters of Business Administration from INSEAD in France. He is also a member of the Toronto Society of Financial Analysts, a CFA charterholder and a Fellow of the Institute of Canadian Bankers.

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Judy G. Goldring, LL.B., LL.D., ICD.D

President and Head of Global Distribution

AGF Management Limited

Judy G. Goldring is a renowned leader in the asset management industry and one of Canada’s most influential business women. As President and Head of Global Distribution at AGF Management Limited, she oversees the execution of strategic plans in support of business priorities, counsels the CEO on business planning and provides direction for corporate initiatives. Reporting to the CEO, Judy also brings unified accountability to and fosters greater synergies across AGF’s respective sales distribution channels globally. In addition, she oversees the firm’s Human Resources function and is responsible for AGF’s Private Client businesses: Highstreet Asset Management Inc., Cypress Capital Management Ltd. and Doherty & Associates Ltd. Judy is also a member of the Executive Management Team where she assists in the development and execution of AGF’s strategy. In addition, as a member of the Board of Directors for AGF Management Limited and AGF Mutual Funds, she provides strategic leadership and vision that promotes AGF’s long-term growth. Since joining AGF in 1998, Judy has held several roles with increasing responsibility. Prior to being named President, she served as Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer. In this role, she demonstrated leadership in promoting and supporting the firm’s operational effectiveness. Before joining AGF, Judy specialized in regulatory and administrative law. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Toronto and earned her Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) from Queen’s University. She is a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada and has been a member of the Canadian Bar Association since 1993. In 2019, she received an Honorary Doctorate of Laws (LL.D) from the University of Toronto. Judy sits on the Board of Directors of the Investment Funds Institute of Canada (IFIC) and serves as Chair of the Toronto French School (TFS), Canada’s International School, which is the largest bilingual school in Canada. She also continues to support fundraising activities for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and has served on its National Capital Campaign. In 2015, Judy was named a Top 100 Hall of Fame Inductee by the Women’s Executive Network™ (WXN). This distinct honour is given to women who are nominated as one of Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100 for a fourth time. Before being nominated in 2015, Judy was recognized by the WXN in 2012, 2013 and 2014. Judy was also honoured as one of the Women’s Post Top 20 Women of 2010.

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Martin Grosskopf, MBA, MES

Vice-President and Portfolio Manager

AGF Investments Inc.

Martin Grosskopf manages AGF’s sustainable investing strategies and provides input on sustainability and environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues across the AGF investment teams. He is a thought leader and a frequent public speaker on ESG and Green Finance issues. He serves as Vice-Chair of the CSA Group technical committee on Green and Transition Finance and is a past member of the Responsible Investment Association (RIA)’s Board of Directors. Martin has more than 20 years of experience in financial and environmental analysis. He previously served as Director, Sustainability Research and Portfolio Manager with Acuity Investment Management Inc., which was acquired by AGF Management Ltd. in 2011. Before joining the financial industry, Martin worked in a diverse range of industries in the areas of environmental management, assessment and mitigation. He was a project manager with CSA International from 1997 to 2000 and, prior to that, served as an environmental scientist with Acres International Limited. Martin obtained a B.A. from the University of Toronto and an MES from York University, and earned an MBA from the Schulich School of Business.

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Grace Huang, MBA, CFA®

Associate Portfolio Manager

AGF Investments Inc.

Grace Huang is an Associate Portfolio Manager responsible for Banks and the Diversified Financials sub-sector. Prior to joining AGF, Grace was a principal at Altima Advisors Americas LP in New York, responsible for emerging market security selection, and at American Century Investments specializing in emerging markets and international equities. Prior to that, she was with the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec analyzing emerging markets and international equities. In China, Grace was a senior investment analyst with Crédit Agricole Indosuez and, prior to that, at the Bank of China. Grace earned an MBA from the Richard Ivey School at the University of Western Ontario and a B.Econ. in International Finance (Dean's List) from Fudan University, a leading university in finance education in China. She is a CFA® charterholder and is fluent in Mandarin and Cantonese.

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Andy Kochar, CFA®

Vice-President, Portfolio Manager and Head of Global Credit

AGF Investments Inc.

Andy Kochar is a principal member of AGF’s Fixed Income Team and serves as the firm’s head of global credit. Using a cross-asset framework, Andy is responsible for the research and allocation of credit risk across all of AGF’s fixed income portfolios. He previously served as Associate Portfolio Manager for AGF’s credit-oriented portfolios from 2013 to 2018. Prior to that, for more than five years, Andy served as Investment Analyst, Credit Research at Acuity Investment Management, which was subsequently acquired by AGF in 2011. Andy earned a B.A. in Economics (Cum Laude) from York University. He is a CFA® charterholder and member of CFA Society Toronto.

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John Kratochwil

Equity Analyst, Mining and Materials

AGF Investments Inc.

John Kratochwil is an Equity Analyst on the AGF North American Research Team, specializing in Mining and Materials. John came to AGF from a full-service investment dealer where he spent over seven years in equity research covering the mining sector. The scope of his previous role included providing insight to international institutional clients and managing various operational/financial models. Prior to joining the investment industry, John worked in various roles at senior mining companies focused on precious and base metals. John has an in-depth technical background, completing a Bachelor of Applied Science in Metallurgy and Materials Engineering from the University of Toronto and is a licensed professional engineer. He also holds an MBA from the Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto, specializing in finance and corporate strategy.

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Auritro Kundu, MBA

Equity Analyst

AGF Investments Inc.

Auritro Kundu is a member of the AGF North American Equity Team and is responsible for fundamental research and analysis of the Information Technology sector. Prior to joining AGF, he was an Equity Research Associate Analyst at one of Canada's largest banks where he was responsible for coverage of Canadian Information Technology equipment companies. Auritro has a Bachelor of Applied Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Toronto and earned an MBA from the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto.

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Jonathan Lo, MBA

Vice-President and Client Portfolio Manager

AGF Investments Inc.

Jonathan Lo is Vice-President and Client Portfolio Manager supporting AGF’s growth and sustainable investing mandates. He is an integrated member of the Investment Management Team, participating in investment strategy and portfolio management discussions, and is responsible for articulating positioning and investment outlook to clients and prospects. Prior to joining AGF in 2012, Jonathan worked on the Institutional Equity Research team at CIBC World Markets covering the agriculture and transportation sectors. Prior to that, he worked as a consultant at a private equity firm specializing in turnarounds in London, U.K. Jonathan has an MBA from Oxford University in England and a B.Sc. from Seton Hall University.

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Kevin McCreadie, CFA®, MBA

CEO and Chief Investment Officer

AGF Management Limited

Kevin McCreadie is Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chief Investment Officer (CIO) of AGF Management Limited. In the role of CEO, Kevin is responsible for the overall success of AGF, overseeing the firm’s mission, vision and strategic direction. He also leads AGF’s Executive Management Team and serves as its liaison with AGF’s Board of Directors. As CIO, Kevin provides direction and leadership to AGF’s investment management teams. In carrying out these responsibilities, he leverages The Office of the CIO, a structure put in place in August 2018 that encourages collaboration and active accountability across AGF’s investment management teams and broader organization, capitalizing on the firm’s depth of talent while driving forward the teamwork that is necessary for the long-term success of its investment management. Kevin brings over 35 years of investment management experience to AGF, with extensive expertise in retail and institutional asset management, direct portfolio management and over a decade of combined experience as CIO for two major U.S. financial services firms. He previously served as President and CIO of PNC Capital Advisors, LLC, a division of PNC Financial Services Group, one of the largest diversified financial services organizations in the United States. In this role, he was responsible for leading the firm’s institutional business and overseeing more than $58 billion in AUM. Kevin began his career in 1982 at J.P. Morgan where he held progressively senior positions, ultimately becoming a U.S. large-cap equity manager. He went on to join Brown Investment Advisory where he served as Partner and Senior Portfolio Manager. His experience includes a focus on portfolio construction and enhancing investment processes as well as managing asset allocation and alternative strategies for clients. Kevin is Co-Chair of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce’s Council for Women’s Advocacy. The Council is a by-business, for-business advocacy group that focuses on women business leaders, entrepreneurs and employees from across Canada to bring the voice and perspectives of women to national business policies helping to advance the gender equality agenda. He earned an MBA in Finance from the Wharton Graduate School of Business and holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation.

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Sam Mitter, MBA

Associate Portfolio Manager

AGF Investments Inc.

Sam Mitter joined AGF in 2014 and is a member of the AGF North American Equity Research team covering the Information Technology sector. He also supports Portfolio Manager Tony Genua on AGF’s U.S. growth and global select mandates.

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Tom Nakamura, CFA®

Vice-President and Portfolio Manager, Currency Strategy and Co-Head of Fixed Income

AGF Investments Inc.

With more than 15 years of experience managing a wide array of fixed-income portfolios, Tom is a key contributor to the team's analysis of the global macroeconomic landscape, with specific emphasis on currencies. He is responsible for developing currency strategy and providing counsel on the implications of currency moves on fixed income. He also serves as co-Portfolio Manager of AGF Total Return Bond Fund. Tom previously served as a Vice-President and Portfolio Manager on AGF's Fixed Income team with lead management responsibility for AGF Emerging Markets Bond Fund. Tom earned a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Toronto. He is a CFA® charterholder and a member of CFA® Society Toronto.

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Florence S. Narine, MBA

Senior Vice-President, Head of Canadian Institutional and Key Accounts

AGF Investments Inc.

Florence S. Narine, MBA is Senior Vice-President, Head of Canadian Institutional and Key Accounts. She is responsible for accelerating AGF’s Canadian institutional presence, while also growing key cross-functional and cross-jurisdictional client relationships across the firm. Florence previously served as Senior Vice-President, Head of Product and Interim Head of Strategic Accounts Management, responsible for the overall strategic management of AGF products across all business lines, including product management and development, strategic market research, and planning and leading the launch of several innovative and successful products. In addition, she was responsible for building relationships with our strategic partners and leading our overall Strategic Accounts strategy. Prior to joining AGF, Florence worked at CIBC Wood Gundy and Fidelity Canada. While at Fidelity, she served as Director, Product Solutions before joining the firm’s institutional efforts as Director, Institutional Investments. Florence holds an Honours B.A. from the University of Toronto and earned an MBA from the University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management.

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Andres Christopher Perez

Associate Portfolio Manager

AGF Investments Inc.

Andres Christopher Perez is an Associate Portfolio Manager responsible for the Industrials and Consumer Staples sectors and is a key member of AGF’s Global Equity team. Prior to joining AGF, Andres was a Director with the Fundamental Investment Group at UBS, where he specialized in global and emerging market equities as a generalist for the fund. He previously served as a Portfolio Manager at Citadel Investment Group focusing on global equities, and at Moon Capital Management, where he ran the global materials book for their emerging markets equity fund. Prior to that, he was Vice-President of Equity Research at Morgan Stanley, focusing on Latin American Materials and an Equity Analyst for BankBoston Asset Management based in Brazil. Andres earned a B.A. in Economics and International Relations from Tufts University and also studied at the London School of Economics. He holds a Chartered Investment Manager (CIM) designation and is fluent in Portuguese and Spanish.

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Maksim Piskunov, MBA, CFA®

Associate Portfolio Manager

AGF Investments Inc.

Maksim (Maks) Piskunov is an Associate Portfolio Manager responsible for the Consumer Staples and Heath Care sectors. Prior to joining to AGF, Maks held a number of roles related to public and private equity investing and has become familiar with emerging markets, primarily in Asia.

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Angela Rhoden, CFA®

Global Equity Analyst

AGF Investments Inc.

Angela Rhoden is a global equity analyst covering Industrials. She previously served as a generalist, providing coverage of multiple sectors, and also as a Director on AGF’s Portfolio Specialist Group, specializing in global equities. Prior to joining AGF, Angela spent five years in Equity Research at Clarus Securities and at Northland Capital Partners, where she undertook fundamental research and analysis of companies in a range of sectors including Materials and Industrials. She also worked at Bank of Montreal in the Corporate Finance and Commercial Banking group where she assessed the credit risk of companies and presented credit recommendations to the risk group. Angela has her CFA® designation and holds an MBA in Finance from the Schulich School of Business.

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Rune Sollihaug, CFA®, CIPM

Vice-President and Head of Risk & Portfolio Analysis

AGF Investments Inc.

Rune Sollihaug is responsible for risk management and oversight across AGF’s investment management platform, including analyzing risk, ongoing performance, attribution, ESG and stress test scenarios leveraging distinct analytics platforms. Rune is a member of The Office of the CIO – a new structure within AGF’s Investment Management team. This leadership structure encourages and further embeds collaboration and active accountability across the Investment Management team and the broader organization. He previously served as Vice-President, Investment Analytics at a global financial services company that provides a comprehensive range of services in asset servicing, asset management, corporate trust, investment services, wealth management, treasury services and technology. Rune earned a BBA from Trondheim Business School and a Master of Arts (Economics & Finance) from the University of Leeds. He is a CFA® charterholder and holds a Certificate in Investment Performance Management (CIPM).

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Tristan Sones, CFA®

Vice-President and Portfolio Manager, Co-Head of Fixed Income

AGF Investments Inc.

With more than two decades of experience managing a wide array of fixed income portfolios, Tristan is a leader in AGF's Fixed Income Team's analysis of the global macroeconomic landscape, with specific emphasis on global sovereign debt, including hard and local currency emerging market debt. Tristan’s lead portfolio management responsibilities include management of AGF Global Bond Fund and AGF’s other Global fixed income mandates, AGF Total Return Bond and AGF Emerging Markets Bond. Tristan earned an Honours B.A. in Mathematics from the University of Waterloo. He is a CFA® charterholder and a member of CFA® Society Toronto.

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Portfolio Specialist Group

AGF Investments Inc.

The Portfolio Specialist Group serves as a liaison between AGF’s investment management team and both advisors and end investors. The team is designed to keep stakeholders informed on evolving themes, fund updates and current economic and market developments.

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Mark Stacey, MBA, CFA®

Senior Vice-President, Co-CIO AGFiQ Quantitative Investing, Head of Portfolio Management

AGF Investments Inc.

Mark Stacey is Senior Vice-President and Co-CIO AGFiQ Quantitative Investing, Head of Portfolio Management at AGF Investments Inc. (AGF). Mark leads the firm’s investment management functions for AGF’s quantitative investment platform, AGFiQ. AGFiQ’s team approach is grounded in the belief that investment outcomes can be improved by assessing and targeting the factors that drive market returns. In addition, Mark is a member of the Office of the CIO – a leadership structure within AGF’s Investment Management Team that encourages and further embeds collaboration and active accountability across the team and broader organization. He began his career with AGF as part of the Highstreet Investment Management* team and has been in the industry since 2002 applying quantitative and qualitative management techniques to the portfolio management process. He previously served as a Portfolio Manager with a major life insurance company. He earned an MBA from the Richard Ivey School of Business, an MIR from the University of Toronto and is a CFA® charterholder. *Highstreet Asset Management Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of AGF Investments Inc.

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David Stonehouse, MBA, CFA®

Senior Vice-President and Head of North American and Specialty Investments

AGF Investments Inc.

David Stonehouse oversees AGF’s North American and Specialty Investments teams while maintaining direct portfolio management responsibilities for his current mandates. With more than two decades of experience managing both fixed income and balanced mandates, David employs a rigorous and disciplined investment process combining a top-down approach to duration and asset allocation with a bottom-up approach to security selection. David is a member of The Office of the CIO – a new structure within AGF’s Investment Management team. This leadership structure encourages and further embeds collaboration and active accountability across the Investment Management team and the broader organization. David received a B.Sc. in Applied Science from Queen’s University, an MBA in Finance and Accounting from McMaster University and is a CFA® charterholder.

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Carmen Tang, MSc., MBA, CFA®

Equity Analyst

AGF Investments Inc.

Carmen Tang is a member of the AGF North American Research team and is responsible for fundamental research and analysis of the Health Care and Consumer Staples sectors. Carmen joined AGF in 2013 and has more than 18 years of experience in global healthcare research. Carmen earned a Master of Science in Pharmacology from the University of Toronto and an MBA from Queen's University. She is a CFA® charterholder.

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Wai Tong, MBA, P.Eng., CFA®

Equity Analyst

AGF Investments Inc.

Wai Tong is responsible for investment research focused on the North American Telecommunication Services and Industrials sectors. Since joining AGF in 2006, Wai has been working closely with the North American portfolio management team, contributing both top-down and bottom-up equity analysis. His contribution to the generation of ideas for the portfolios includes financial modeling and meetings with the management of companies considered for the portfolios.

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Greg Valliere

Chief U.S. Policy Strategist

AGF Investments

Greg Valliere joined AGF Investments (AGF) in February 2019 as Chief U.S. Policy Strategist. In this role, he is responsible for providing insight into how U.S. politics are shaping global markets. He brings a unique perspective to AGF with over three decades of experience analyzing policy and politics providing regular commentary and insight into Washington for financial services and investment management clients globally, including specialized coverage of the Federal Reserve, economic policy and politics. Greg began partnering with AGF in 2017 advising investment management teams on policy and the impact on global markets, providing daily market commentary for financial advisors and participating in numerous client events and roadshows. Most recently, Greg was the Chief Global Strategist at North Carolina based Horizon Investments, LLC and has nearly 40 years of experience following Washington issues for institutional and retail investors. He is widely quoted in U.S. media and specializes in coverage of the Federal Reserve, tax and spending issues, and politics. Greg is based in Washington, D.C.

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Karrie Van Belle

Chief Marketing & Innovation Officer

AGF Investments Inc.

Karrie Van Belle is the Chief Marketing & Innovation Officer at AGF Investments Inc. She sits on AGF’s Business Management Committee, Operations Oversight Committee, Disclosure Committee and the firm’s Sustainability Council. In this role, Karrie is a strategic driver of AGF’s digital transformation agenda, focused on driving efficiencies and enhanced client experiences for the firm, in addition to overall responsibility in leading the firm’s marketing and communications strategy across its diverse range of investment management platforms, and leadership of the firm’s product initiatives globally. Karrie has more than 20 years of marketing and communications experience rooted in the Canadian asset management industry. Her experience includes promoting innovation in marketing, with expertise across multiple disciplines from traditional advertising to social media and public relations to market research and analytics. Karrie holds a degree in Communications from Simon Fraser University. Prior to joining AGF, Karrie was Managing Director, Head of Marketing and Communications at BlackRock Asset Management Canada Limited where she was a member on the region’s Executive Committee and the firm’s Global Marketing Leadership team. She is the Chair of the Portfolio Management Association of Canada’s (PMAC) Marketing and Communications Committee, and sits on the Board of the Responsible Investment Association (RIA), Investment Funds Institute of Canada’s (IFIC) Strategic Research Committee and Junior Achievement Central Ontario’s Board of Governors.

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Grant Wang, M.A. (Econ.), Ph.D., CFA

Senior Vice-President, Co-CIO AGFiQ Quantitative Investing, Head of Research

AGF Investments Inc.

Grant Wang is Senior Vice-President and Co-CIO AGFiQ Quantitative Investing, Head of Research at AGF Investments Inc. (AGF). Grant helps lead AGF’s quantitative investment platform, AGFiQ, by developing, enhancing and managing quantitative investment strategies, and serves as Head of Research. AGFiQ’s team approach is grounded in the belief that investment outcomes can be improved by assessing and targeting the factors that drive market returns. Prior to joining AGF, Grant spent seven years as a lead quantitative researcher for one of Canada\'s largest pension funds. He has been involved with utilizing big data and developing predictive statistical models for the financial industry since 2001. Grant has a B.A. and M.A. in Economics from Nankai University, and a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Western Ontario. He is a CFA® charterholder.

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Stephen Way, CFA®

Senior Vice-President and Head of Global and Emerging Markets Equities

AGF Investments Inc.

Steve Way leads AGF’s global equity team in Toronto, while maintaining portfolio management responsibilities for global equity and emerging markets mandates. As the architect of the Economic Value Added (EVA)-based investment process used for these industry-leading mandates, he is supported by a team that uses its collective experience to locate opportunities unrecognized by the market. Steve is a member of The Office of the CIO – a new structure within AGF’s Investment Management team. This leadership structure encourages and further embeds collaboration and active accountability across the Investment Management team and the broader organization. He is also a member of the AGF Asset Allocation Committee (AAC), which consists of senior portfolio managers who are responsible for various regions and asset classes. The AAC meets regularly to discuss, analyze and assess the macro-economic environment and capital markets in order to determine optimal asset allocation recommendations. Steve’s industry experience began when he joined AGF in 1987. In 1991, he established AGF’s wholly owned subsidiary AGF International Advisors Company Limited in Dublin, Ireland and ran the operations as Managing Director until 1994. Steve holds a B.A. in Administrative and Commercial Studies from the University of Western Ontario. He is a CFA® charterholder and a member of CFA® Society Toronto.

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Mark Weinberg, ASA, ACIA

Vice-President, Global and Emerging Markets Portfolio Specialist

AGF Investments Inc.

Mark Weinberg is responsible for articulating the investment philosophy, process, performance and other communications for the AGF Global Equity team to AGF’s clients and other external parties. Previously, Mark was head of the Portfolio Specialist Group at AGF and held a similar role on the AGF Fixed Income team. Prior to AGF, Mark was a fixed income analyst and an asset allocation analyst performing Asset Liability Management for large institutional clients at Russell Investments. He also spent eight years consulting to public and private pension plan sponsors at leading actuarial pension consulting firms. Mark has an Honours Bachelor of Science in Actuarial and Statistical Sciences from the University of Western Ontario. He is an Associate of the Society of Actuaries (ASA) and Canadian Institute of Actuaries (ACIA) and has completed Level I of the CFA Program.

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Robert Yan, CFA®, Ph.D.

Vice-President and Portfolio Manager

AGF Investments Inc.

As Vice-President and Portfolio Manager, AGF Investments Inc. Robert Yan is responsible for managing non-Canadian equity portfolios with a specific focus on global markets and infrastructure strategies. A CFA® charterholder with a Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Western Ontario, Robert leverages his investing and data science expertise as a key contributor to AGF’s quantitative investment platform, AGFiQ. AGFiQ’s team approach is grounded in the belief that investment outcomes can be improved by assessing and targeting the factors that drive market returns. He began his career with AGF as part of the *Highstreet Investment Management team. Robert previously worked in the banking industry, leveraging his unique skill set to design, develop, and implement analytical projects to support business decision making. *Highstreet Asset Management Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of AGF Investments Inc.

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