Meet Our Team

Brad has been at BMO Nesbitt Burns for over 20 years. His team manages over $700 million for clients with an emphasis on portfolios that grow income year after year while preserving wealth. The team is made up of six professionals with unique backgrounds and over 100 years of combined financial industry experience. As part of the Calgary Eighth Avenue Place Branches, the team also benefits from the combined experience of more than eighty Investment Advisors administering close to $20 billion in assets providing unique access to corporate management teams and institutional investment executives. The advisors connect regularly to discuss portfolio strategy and investment ideas from BMO’s top-ranked research department.

Brad is an Honors graduate from both the Canadian Securities Course and the Professional Financial Planning (PFP) course offered by the Canadian Securities Institute. He received an Award of Excellence from the Institute for his PFP grade being in the top 1% in all of Canada. In addition to his B.Comm from the University of Calgary, he has also undertaken Master’s level studies in Theology.

As an alumni from the University of Calgary Dino's varsity basketball team, Brad was a volunteer coach for his daughter’s school and community teams. This coaching experience culminated in taking 19 girls, ages 13-17, from all over Western Canada on two tour teams to England in the summer of 2015 and again in 2019. Brad is passionate about coaching children and helping them achieve things they never thought possible, particularly in team sports where selfless values lead to the greatest possible rewards. Brad previously volunteered on the Calgary Fundraising Committee for the International Justice Mission, a Global Human Rights organization that rescues victims of slavery, sexual exploitation and other forms of violent oppression: https://ijm.ca/the-problem

Mark has devotedly assisted his clients with building and managing their wealth for over 33 years and he and his team proudly manage over $700 million. Using a wholistic approach, he enjoys collaborating with our many BMO wealth professionals to ensure people have access to the best advice - not only on their investments, but with tax and estate planning, wills, insurance, and of course general retirement planning. He first completed his Finance (Hon) and Economics degrees at the University of Saskatchewan, doing his Honours Thesis on volatility in the stock market caused by derivatives trading, then over the years followed up with many financial planning and portfolio management courses and designations. In 2016 he received his PM (Portfolio Manager) designation, a lengthy process required for managing fully discretionary portfolios; a method Mark firmly believes is the best approach for proper portfolio management.

Mark and his lovely wife have three handsome sons, four if you count Scuppers the mostly Schnauzer rescue pooch. And we can’t forget about Millie the very cute Poodle – doodle cross, also a rescue, who is officially his grand-dog as she belongs to his oldest. The boys are all off to great starts and are in various stages of education and business ranging from Web Design and small business consulting, Red Seal Heavy Diesel Mechanics, and finishing carpentry and custom wood working. One also just auditioned for and was accepted in the world-famous Stampede Show Band, where he is looking forward to playing alto sax and traveling with them for the next few years. Mark is very proud of his family, which he says will always be his greatest accomplishment.

The Sopher family are great fans of boating, fishing, diving and any other water-related activities on the coast of BC or points South, and this is something they will always enjoy together. In his local community, Mark has held many leadership and teaching roles through the Canadian Power and Sail Squadron, helping to promote boater education and safety on the water. He has also been an active supporter of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, the Women in Need Society, and Brown Bagging for Calgary Kids.

Bethany provides invaluable advice and support to affluent families with complex financial needs. Her passion for helping people realize their life goals sees Bethany focusing a great deal of time preparing financial plans. Diligent and detail-oriented, she is familiar with our clients needs and is committed to helping them navigate their financial world. Bethany’s kindhearted nature has drawn her into being a core element in client relationships.

In her spare time Bethany enjoys mountain biking, hiking, and whenever possible taking in a concert.  A casual weekend is spent exploring the city parks or playgrounds with her son or taking it easy with a good book. Bethany has volunteered for charitable causes including the Kids Help Phone and Alberta Children’s Hospital Radiothon.

Bethany has worked in the financial industry for more than 20 years. She completed her Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration at The Ohio State University. She has completed her Canadian Securities Course, Wealth Management Essentials Course, and holds the Professional Financial Planner (PFP) and Chartered Investment Manager (CIM) designations. Bethany also has both the Series 7 & 63 U.S. Securities Course. She is Insurance Licensed in the Province of Alberta and is currently working towards her portfolio management designation.

Astrid Bastiaanssen is our amazing Client Service Assistant. Astrid has an extensive background in the property/casualty insurance industry. Her most recent experience was with Sun Life Financial working to provide administrative support to Advisor’s. Astrid’s role is to assist the team to ensure we are providing great customer service to our client’s. Astrid values the importance of client service and looks forward to expanding her knowledge in all areas of the financial industry. In her spare time she enjoys reading, movies and traveling.