The Totten Wealth Advisory Team Members

David has over 35 years of financial services experience and spent the past 30+ years with BMO Nesbitt Burns. He has built a well-established reputation as one of BMO Nesbitt Burns’ most Senior and respected Advisors within the Aurora – Newmarket area and across Canada.
 
Kindness, honesty and hard work are an expectation he demands from himself and every member on the Team. He is committed to meeting the key needs and issues relating to all clients during these very challenging and unprecedented world events, and has a proven track record of navigating his clients through challenging market conditions and life events.

David is committed to giving back to his community and has served as President and Chairman of Southlake Hospital Foundation and Southlake Regional Hospital Board of Directors. He is also a former member of the Big Brothers of York Region. Every June, David participates in the weekend Ride to Conquer Cancer from Toronto to Niagara Falls in the name and memory of several friends and clients lost to cancer.

He loves to stay active so his leisure time is often spent outdoors with friends and family. Some of his favourite activities include golfing, fishing and cycling.

Annette has been a driving force within The Totten Wealth Advisory Group since 1996. She has earned the Personal Financial Planner (PFP®) designation through the Canadian Securities Institute and is also a certified Law Clerk through the Institute of Law Clerks of Ontario. Prior to joining BMO Nesbitt Burns, Annette worked in corporate, securities, estate and immigration Law for six years with the law firm Torys LLP.

Together with David Totten, Annette was on the forefront of the industry trend to offer complete and coordinated wealth planning as well as investment management to protect and grow their clients’ wealth and maximize after-tax results. Together, Annette and David work closely with BMO specialists to bring our clients customized, integrated expertise in all areas and stay current on industry trends and best practices.
 
Devoted to her community, Annette previously sat on the board of The Rose of Sharon in Newmarket for two years, a not-for-profit organization helping the needs of young mothers throughout York Region. She also volunteers with the Junior Achievement Program, helping young people develop financial literacy, work readiness and entrepreneurial skills and set higher goals for a strong personal future. Annette also speaks fluent German.

Annette has two children, Jessica and Ryan. Outside of her business, her passions include raising and training horses. Born and raised on a farm in Whitchurch-Stouffville, Annette resides on a 25-acre horse farm in York Region. She loves riding her mare, doing dressage, training a promising young Dutch warmblood, watching her daughter show in the Hunter ring, and watching her son play fastball.

Andrew Helfrich entered the financial industry and BMO in 2010, and joined our team in 2021 after building a strong reputation on the institutional side of the business. In his previous roles in BMO Nesbitt Burns investment research, Andrew advised 1,000 Investment Advisors across the country on portfolio construction, ETFs, mutual funds and Responsible Investing (also known as environment social and corporate governance/ESG) to align clients’ personal values with their investment dollars. He now serves clients primarily in York Region, with offices in Newmarket, Aurora, Maple and Bradford.
 
Having previously advised clients directly, Andrew missed the fun, fascination and personal rewards of being part of people’s lives and helping them achieve their goals. As part of our group, he enjoys both client interaction and number crunching. Together with David and Annette, Andrew contributes to our investment research and ideas, portfolio construction, business development, and wealth planning.
 
Andrew holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA®) designation, which is globally recognized and attests to a charterholder's success in a rigorous and comprehensive study program in the field of investment management and research analysis. It is often considered the gold standard in financial analysis. He also earned an Honours Bachelor of Commerce in Finance from McMaster University and the Personal Financial Planner (PFP®) designation.
 
Andrew is also a former entrepreneur. With a friend, he founded and operated The Lansdowne Cone, a growing gourmet ice cream parlour in Toronto from 2011 to 2016 that accommodates regular and specialized diets with indulgent, small-batch frozen treats. He sold the business to a friend and it is still serving ice cream to happy customers today.
 
Andrew lives in Aurora and enjoys the balanced pace of life, and the chance to be close to family. He and his wife were joined by a baby girl in November 2021. They enjoy walking and hiking with their energetic Golden Doodle on local trails and spending time with friends and family. Andrew is an avid golfer who enjoys playing hockey and softball. He also serves as an Executive Director on the Bradford Board of Trade

Lina Rizik Shnoudeh rejoined the Totten Wealth Advisory Group in the summer of 2024, bringing with her extensive experience and a strong commitment to client service. She previously worked with the team from 1997 to 2001 in the role of Sales Assistant, supporting both David and Annette.

In her current role as Client Services Assistant, Lina ensures that client service requests are managed promptly, professionally, and with the personalized attention that defines the Totten Wealth Advisory experience. Her focus is on delivering exceptional service and upholding the highest standards of fiduciary care.

She brings years of experience in financial services, including time at the Bank of Montreal, and a genuine passion for helping people. Friendly, detail-oriented, and deeply committed to client care, Lina is a valued part of the team.

During her time away from the wealth management industry, she devoted herself to raising her three children and has celebrated 24 years of marriage.

Outside of work, Lina enjoys traveling and discovering new places with her husband. She has a passion for exploring different cultures, trying new cuisines, and enjoys cooking, reading, and spending quality time with family and friends. Her warm personality and curiosity about the world around her bring an added depth to her client interactions and team relationships.

Braeden Milburn is a Client Service Associate with the Totten Wealth Advisory Group, where he plays a key role in supporting clients and ensuring seamless day-to-day service delivery. With a strong focus on client care and operational excellence, Braeden brings several years of experience in the financial industry having previously worked out of BMO Nesbitt Burns’ midtown Toronto office & BMO Financial Group’s Corporate Sponsorship team.

He Holds an Honours Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Guelph and is a licensed Investment Representative, having completed the Canadian Securities Course (CSC) and the Conduct Practices Handbook (CPH). He is currently pursuing the Wealth Management Essentials (WME) designation through the Canadian Securities Institute as he works towards becoming a Registered Representative.

Braeden is committed to providing tailored support and ensuring a smooth client experience at every stage. Born and raised in Newmarket, he enjoys spending time outdoors-especially skiing in the winter and relaxing as his family’s cottage in the Kawarthas during the summer.