The Team

Meet our dedicated team of financial advisors and support professionals.

The Connect Wealth Team of financial advisors and administrative support staff work hand in hand to provide our clients with exceptional service. With a wealth of experience in financial planning and a steadfast commitment to your success, we help you achieve your financial aspirations.

Our Advisory Team

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Vince Olfert

Founder, Managing Partner, Financial Advisor

BA, CIM, CFP®

Vince Olfert

MBA, CIM, CFP® – Founder, Managing Partner, Certified Financial Planner®

Vince specializes in helping business owners and their employees build and protect their wealth. With extensive experience, he understands the financial and emotional challenges of managing wealth. Vince has been highlighted in Advisor’s Edge magazine for his work with pensions and group retirement services. He continually strives to make complex financial concepts easy to understand for clients. In his spare time, Vince enjoys spending time with his family, coaching community sports, and volunteering with local youth programs.

Mike Erickson

Partner, Financial Advisor

BA, QAFP®

Mike Erickson

Partner, Qualified Associate Financial Planner™

Mike, who joined Connect Wealth in 2013, has a natural ability to connect with clients on both professional and personal levels. He entered the financial planning industry to give clients the confidence they need for their financial futures. Mike oversees the Group Retirement Plan Division, working with companies of all sizes and assisting clients in both saving for retirement and managing decumulation. A graduate of Trinity Western University’s School of Business, Mike holds multiple designations including LLQP and QAFP®. Outside of work, he enjoys coaching his sons’ baseball teams, spending family days at the beach, and volunteering in his community. Mike resides in Abbotsford, BC, with his wife Amy and their two boys.

Julia Friesen

Partner, Financial Advisor

BSc, CFP®

Julia Friesen

BSc, CFP® – Partner, Certified Financial Planner®

Julia is a Certified Financial Planner with a background in actuarial science, providing her clients with valuable analytical and technical expertise. She holds a BSc in Physics, an LLQP designation, and a CFP® designation. Julia excels at helping clients develop plans that align with their values and achieve their goals. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, spending time with friends, playing and writing music, and connecting with her husband and three children. Julia looks forward to continuing to add value for her clients and supporting the team at Connect Wealth.

Mark Smigel

Financial Advisor

BA, BEd, CFP®, EPC™

Mark Smigel

BA, BEd, CFP®, EPC™
Certified Financial Planner®, Elder Planning Counsellor

Mark is dedicated to educating clients and assisting with wealth creation and protection. He serves business owners, professionals, and young clients beginning their financial journey. Known for making complex financial concepts relatable, Mark is a valued resource within the accounting community. When not working, he enjoys volunteering, playing hockey, cooking, and reading. Mark resides with his family, serving on various volunteer boards.

Suzanne Jacob

Insurance Advisor

Suzanne Jacob

Insurance Advisor

With a successful management career at New York Life and Canada Life, Suzanne transitioned to financial advising. Her 20 years in management have given her a deep understanding of the challenges and rewards of financial planning. Suzanne is passionate about helping others achieve their financial goals and securing the necessary safety nets. She is actively involved in her community, mentoring young entrepreneurs, and serving on the boards of several non-profit organizations. Suzanne enjoys the support of her spouse, Gaynal, and her four-legged friend, Sunny, who handles public relations. Suzanne believes it is never too late to start a conversation about your financial plan.

Isaac Landry

Associate Advisor

Isaac Landry

Associate Advisor

Isaac is a graduate of Trinity Western University, where he studied Business Administration and Accounting. He holds his LLQP designation and is working towards becoming a Certified Financial Planner. Isaac is passionate about helping people grow and steward their wealth. In his free time, Isaac enjoys running, reading, and spending time with his wife, family, and friends.

Our Administrative Team

Brittany Potter

Administrative Assistant

Brittany Potter

Administrative Assistant

Brittany is part of our administration team, coordinating investment account needs and ensuring timely and accurate communication. With over 13 years of experience in the investment and financial planning industry, Brittany brings a wealth of knowledge to her role. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, baking, and being creative through arts and crafts. Brittany is dedicated to providing helpful and friendly service.

Eddy Choi

Administrative Assistant

Eddy Choi

Partner, Qualified Associate Financial Planner™

Eddy coordinates account openings, transactions, and information updates, ensuring client inquiries are promptly addressed. With experience in various financial companies and a financial planning course from BCIT, Eddy values customer care and efficiency. She enjoys traveling, spending time with her mom, and working at Connect Wealth. Eddy finds satisfaction in completing tasks timely and making clients happy.

Julie Malo

Administrative Assistant

Julie Malo

Administrative Assistant

As an administrative assistant at Connect Wealth, Julie plays a vital role in ensuring smooth day-to-day operations. Julie has been supporting teams and delivering exceptional service to clients in the financial services industry since 2018. Outside of work, Julie enjoys spending quality time with her children, catching up with friends, traveling, cooking, and reading.

Kathe Atkinson

Accounting

Kathe Atkinson

Bookkeeper

Kathe joined our team in September 2015, bringing her extensive experience in bookkeeping and administration from the travel, legal, and accounting industries. She handles company-related bookkeeping and administrative duties, and also provides administrative services for some of our group clients, facilitating enrollment, withdrawals, and addressing member and employer inquiries. Kathe enjoys working with numbers and is dedicated to supporting the Connect Wealth team. In her free time, she loves planning her next travel adventure, seeking sunshine, and spending time at the lake with family and friends. Kathe is passionate about accounting, accuracy, and looks forward to continuing to serve our clients with excellence.

Lori Smigel

Administrative Assistant

Lori Smigel

Administrative Assistant

With nearly 20 years of experience in administrative support in the financial services industry, Lori enjoys being part of a team and working with her husband, Mark, to support clients. She is organized and excels in building strong client relationships. Lori is excited to be part of the professional team at Connect Wealth. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, paddle boarding, long walks, and spending quality time with her family and friends.

Melanie Tessarolo

Office Manager

Melanie Tessarolo

Office Manager

Melanie entered the financial services industry in 2007 and joined our team in 2012. With extensive administrative experience, she ensures the client services team operates smoothly and efficiently. Melanie is dedicated to excellence, ensuring all team members have the resources they need to excel. Outside of the office, she enjoys spending time at hockey rinks, riding rings, baseball fields, or camping with her husband, young kids, family, and friends.

Michelle Jones

Administrative Assistant

Michelle Jones

Administrative Assistant

Michelle, an Administrative Assistant focusing on insurance products and services, aims to provide high-level customer support and build strong client relationships. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Simon Fraser University and has been working in the financial services industry since 1993. Outside of work, Michelle enjoys spending time with her family, walking her dog, baking, reading, and enjoying nature.

Shannon Stewart

Administrative Assistant

Shannon Stewart

Administrative Assistant

Shannon focuses on servicing our group savings plans clients as well as providing support to the Connect Wealth admin team. Shannon takes pride in delivering a high level of customer support and ensuring client inquiries are promptly addressed. She brings a depth of experience to the team having worked in the financial services industry in various roles since 1994. Outside of work, Shannon enjoys spending time with her family and friends, walking her dog, kayaking, and travelling.