Erika Friesen MBA, CFP®, CIM®
Associate Portfolio Manager
Although Erika grew up in the investment industry through her family’s business, her path to a successful career in finance did not follow a typical route. She pursued her passion for the arts with an undergraduate degree in Art History and a fledging career in the not-for-profit world.
When an opportunity to join a family office presented itself, Erika decided to take the plunge and soon discovered that she had a natural affinity for financial planning. She set her sights on gaining more experience, working at various firms and honing her skills as a wealth planner for high-net-worth families.
A desire to provide holistic wealth management to clients is what led Erika to Newport. “Newport focuses on working with clients on every aspect of their financial well-being to position them in the best possible way,” says Erika. “That approach dovetails with my goal to help clients achieve their long-term financial objectives, particularly those who find investment management daunting.”
She obtained her Master of Business Administration from the Lazaridis School of Business and Economics at Wilfrid Laurier University, where she still mentors current and potential MBA students. Erika has her CFP® and CIM® designations, rounding out her professional credentials.
Erika swam at Carlton University during her undergraduate program and was captain of the varsity swim team. Erika still swims competitively, most recently in Mexico, where she competed in a 10 km swim from Cancun to Isla Mujeres.
Originally from Manitoba, Erika worked in Montreal before settling in Toronto, where she lives with her husband and son. Travel to Europe is high on her list of favourite activities, especially if she can squeeze in a visit to her best friend in Switzerland.