Advising Representative (Portfolio Manager) – Dedicated Discretionary Advisory
Location: Remote (Canada-wide)
Role Type: Full-Time | Pure Client Advisory & Portfolio Assignment
Sponsorship: Immediate NRD Sponsorship for Advising Representative (AR)
Stop Waiting for "Permission" at Your Current Firm
You earned your CIM® or CFA Charter, put in the work, and built your investment expertise. Yet at traditional IIROC/CIRO dealers or bank branches, true Discretionary Portfolio Manager status is locked behind arbitrary asset thresholds, rigid sales quotas, or decades of seniority.
You’re doing the heavy lifting—reviewing suitability, rebalancing accounts, and managing clients—while your designation sits underutilized.
This role is designed to break that bottleneck.
We are sponsoring qualified investment professionals to step directly into an OSC-registered Advising Representative (AR) role on an established independent platform.
What Makes This Role Unique
- Immediate Registration Sponsorship: Direct NRD sponsorship for full AR status without waiting years in an associate holding tank.
- Pure Client Strategy (No Individual Stock Picking): Focus 100% on client advice, KYC/KYP compliance, suitability, and model portfolio assignment.
- Institutional Investment Support: Our Chief Investment Officer and central research team build the asset models, handle manager due diligence, and execute trades. You apply the framework to real clients.
- Zero Cold-Calling or Product Pressure: Provide unbiased advisory services in a fiduciary environment with no proprietary product targets.
Mandatory Eligibility Criteria (Read Before Applying)
The Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) enforces strict proficiency rules under NI 31-103 Section 3.11 for immediate Advising Representative (AR) registration. Candidates must fit one of the two streams below to qualify.
✅ Stream A: The CIM® Track
- Credential: Full, active Chartered Investment Manager (CIM®) designation in good standing.
- Experience: Minimum 48 months of Relevant Investment Management Experience (RIME), with at least 12 months gained within the last 36 months.
- Qualifying RIME: Hands-on experience in asset allocation, drafting Investment Policy Statements (IPS), portfolio rebalancing, or security valuation.
✅ Stream B: The CFA Track
- Credential: Full CFA® Charterholder in good standing.
- Experience: Minimum 12 months of Relevant Investment Management Experience (RIME) gained within the last 36 months.
- Qualifying RIME: Hands-on experience in fundamental research, security valuation, portfolio construction, or asset allocation.
❌ Who Is NOT Eligible for Immediate AR Status
To ensure transparency, the OSC will not approve immediate AR status if your experience is limited to:
- Under 48 months of experience if relying solely on the CIM® designation (e.g., 24–36 months qualifies for Associate AR / AAR only).
- Pure Financial Planning / Paraplanning: Cash-flow projections, retirement modeling, or estate planning without direct portfolio/asset allocation engineering.
- Pure Client Relationship Management (CRM): Onboarding, KYC collection, and performance reporting without active input on portfolio design or rebalancing logic.
- Non-Discretionary Retail Order Taking: Executing client-directed mutual fund or ETF trades with verbal trade confirmations.
Core Responsibilities
- Suitability & AR Sign-Off: Exercise independent professional judgment to evaluate, approve, and sign off on investment strategies and model portfolio assignments.
- KYC & Investor Profile Oversight: Review and approve Investor Profiles, assessing risk tolerance, financial circumstances, and time horizons for regulatory compliance.
- Direct Client Advice: Conduct consultations on portfolio alignment, asset allocation, and retirement transition strategies.
- Model Portfolio Assignment: Determine and approve optimal model portfolio strategies aligned strictly with client KYC documentation.
Ready to Claim Your Portfolio Manager Title?
If you meet the CIM® + 48 months or CFA + 12 months RIME guidelines and are ready to transition into a registered discretionary advisory role, let's talk.
To Apply:
Send a confidential message and resume directly on LinkedIn to:
David J. Corsini - Principal – Hunter Mercantile Search Consultants