Stephen N. Watson graduated with an Honours Business degree from Wilfrid Laurier University in 1984 before entering the investment industry 20 years ago. During this period, he has completed the Canadian Securities Course (1984), the Chartered Financial Analyst designation (1989), the Canadian Investment Finance courses offered by the Canadian Securities Institute (1993), and the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) program (2003).

Having attained the CFA designation in 1989, Mr. Watson has dedicated his career to the investment research and portfolio management process. Prior to founding Watson Investment Counsel Ltd., he was a portfolio manager and principal at an investment counselling firm with assets under management of over $800 million.

Born in Ottawa, Stephen Watson is past-president of the Ottawa Chapter of Financial Analysts, has served on a panel of judges for the Financial Post Annual Report Awards, and has written financial articles for the Ottawa Citizen. Mr. Watson is a member of the finance committee of the Ottawa Heart Institute Research Corporation and has been a member of the Association for Investment Management and Research (AIMR) since 1985.

Gabriel Di Primio graduated with an Honours Bachelor of Commerce degree majoring in finance from the University of Ottawa in 1994 and completed the Canadian Securities Course in 1992. In 2000, Gabriel became a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charterholder. He is also a member of the CFA Institute and the Ottawa Society of Chartered Financial Analysts (OSCFA).

His career began in January 1989 with The Toronto-Dominion Bank where as an investment officer within their private banking group he delivered investment management services to affluent private and institutional clients. Over the next 11 year period at TD, Gabriel administered and supported an asset base of approximately $60 million where he provided ongoing investment advice and portfolio management services. To complement this experience, in April 2000, Gabriel furthered his investment management skills when he became an equity analyst with a local investment counselling firm with assets under management of over $600 million. While there Gabriel honed his skills performing fundamental analysis and valuation work on major listed North American companies.

Gabriel strongly believes the foundation to private client investment management is built upon the pillars of knowledge, discipline, and above all integrity.

Jim Steel graduated from Queen's University with an Honours Bachelor of Arts in 1992. Immediately upon graduation he joined RBC Dominion Securities as an Investment Advisor where he worked for the next 11 years. During this period he developed a client base of approximately $80 million, managing both private client and institutional accounts.

Jim obtained the Chartered Financial Analyst designation (2003), became a Fellow of the Canadian Securities Institute (2002), Certified Financial Planner (1999) and Canadian Investment Manager (1999). He is a member of the CFA Institute and the Ottawa Society of Chartered Financial Analysts (OSCFA). He has been quoted in The Globe and Mail's Report on Business and is the past-president of Candlelighters (1998-2003), a charity devoted to helping children with cancer.

Born in St. Catharines, Ontario, Jim now lives in old Ottawa south with his wife and two daughters.