About Us
Brownstone Asset Management is an investment firm based in Calgary, Alberta. The firm was established in 2003 and manages investments for high-net-worth individuals, corporations, and family offices across Canada. Brownstone is employee-owned and partners and employees are invested alongside clients, collectively representing about 10% of the firm’s invested capital.
Brownstone utilizes a fundamental, bottom-up research process to select stocks and combines this with a disciplined risk management framework to construct portfolios. The firm is focused on long-term wealth creation, with a bias towards businesses that have a track record of generating cash and paying dividends. The firm specializes in Canadian and US equities and manages three primary equity mandates; two Canadian-focused mandates and one US-focused mandate, all of which can invest across a range of sectors and market capitalizations, or company sizes. The firm also offers fixed-income solutions for select clients that require exposure to this asset class.
The firm offers these investment solutions through Brownstone’s proprietary pooled funds, as well as through customized portfolio solutions for clients with a minimum of $1 million investment. Ancillary services such as financial planning and estate planning are also available through Brownstone’s partner network.
Our Team
Our team has experience in diverse backgrounds across equity research, portfolio management, wealth management, private equity, and capital markets and investment banking. Our combined experience positions us to adapt to changes in the markets and business environment while maintaining best-in-class client service levels. Our people are our biggest assets, and we are fortunate to have built a talented group of people who share similar values.
Bob Thompson
Chairman
MBA, CIM, ICD.D
Bob is a co-founder of Brownstone and serves as Chairman. Bob directs corporate strategy and governance, is a portfolio manager, and sits on the firm’s Investment Committee.
Prior to founding Brownstone, Bob was Vice President and Portfolio Manager at Bissett & Associates Investment Management Ltd. Bob has managed a wide range of portfolios with various investment mandates across equity, fixed income, and balanced strategies.
Bob holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Finance from Arizona State University in 1982, a Master of Business Administration degree from the European University in Geneva, Switzerland in 1989, and earned the Chartered Investment Manager (CIM) designation in 1997.
Bob is a Past President and Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Calgary Stampede and led the community through the “Hell or High Water” flood year. Bob currently sits as a Director of the Saddledome Foundation and the Calgary Stampede Foundation. Bob also sits on the organizing committee of the Lake Louise World Cup Business Forum. In 2012, Bob received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in honor of his significant contributions and achievements as a Canadian.
Bob was born and raised in Calgary, Alberta. In his free time, Bob enjoys spending time with his wife on their ranch in southern Alberta and continues to be an active member of the community.
Direct: 403-266-1172
bob@brownstoneam.com
Bob Thompson, MBA, CIM, ICD.D
Chairman
Jill Angevine
President & CEO
CPA, CA, CFA, ICD.D
Jill is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Brownstone Asset Management. Jill directs corporate strategy, business development, and portfolio management at Brownstone.
Jill has over 25 years of professional experience in the investment management industry including portfolio management, capital markets and equity research roles. Prior to joining Brownstone, Jill was a Portfolio Manager at two asset management firms managing diversified portfolios across a range of investment strategies. Prior to this, Jill was Vice President and Director, Institutional Research at FirstEnergy Capital Corp.
Jill is a graduate of the University of Calgary (B.Comm) and has earned the Chartered Public Accountant (CPA, CA) designation, the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation and the Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD.D) designation.
Jill currently serves on the Board of Directors of Tourmaline Oil Corp. along with additional public board positions in the energy, mining and animal care health sectors. Jill is an active member of the community and serves on the Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund (OCIF) Board and The Fraser Institute. In 2020, Jill received the Calgary Influential Women in Business Award in the Professional Services category.
In her free time, Jill enjoys spending time with her family, getting outdoors and travelling.
Direct: 403-266-1172
jill@brownstoneam.com
Jill Angevine, CPA, CA, CFA, ICD.D
President & CEO
Mario Vachon
Chief Investment Officer
LLP, MBA
Mario is a co-founder and the Chief Investment Officer of Brownstone. Mario is responsible for the investment activities of the firm and oversees the management of the firm’s investment strategies. Mario leads the firm’s Investment Committee and oversees the research activities at Brownstone.
Prior to founding Brownstone, Mario was a partner with Phillips, Hager, and North (PH&N) Investment Counsel, where he was Vice President and Portfolio Manager. Mario’s expertise is in Canadian equities, where he managed several investment mandates across Canadian large and small cap equities, including microcap and special situations. Prior to PH&N, Mario was a research analyst with Burns Fry (Nesbitt Burns) where he focused on Canadian special situation equities.
Mario holds a Bachelor of Law in 1982 and a Master of Business Administration in 1985 from the University of Western Ontario.
In his free time, Mario enjoys spending time with family, staying active, and travelling.
Direct: (403) 262-6598
mario@brownstoneam.com
Mario Vachon, LLP, MBA
Chief Investment Officer
Bill Bonner
Senior Portfolio Manager
PFP
Bill is a Senior Portfolio Manager at Brownstone and participates on the Investment Committee.
Prior to joining the firm, Bill was the founder and President of Brickburn Asset Management, a Calgary-based investment firm that merged its portfolio management business with Brownstone in 2016. Bill has over 40 years of professional experience in the investment management and capital markets industries, where he has actively managed portfolios for individuals, trusts, mutual funds, and limited partnerships. Prior to founding Brickburn, Bill was a senior partner with Peters & Co. Limited, a Calgary-based investment dealer.
Bill holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree, with a Finance major, from the University of Calgary. He has also earned the Professional Financial Planning (PFP) designation.
Bill has always been an active volunteer member of the community, having served as a board member for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Calgary, Calgary Minor Lacrosse and other local community programs. He is currently a board member of the Columbia House Enhancement Society and an active Rotarian in the West Kootenays. In his free time, Bill is an avid outdoorsman and enjoys skiing, golfing, fly-fishing, and biking (with pedals and motors).
Direct: (403) 444-7404
bill@brownstoneam.com
Bill Bonner, PFP
Senior Portfolio Manager
Ryan Thomas
Vice President & Portfolio Manager
CFA
Ryan is Vice President and Portfolio Manager at Brownstone. He supports and oversees Brownstone’s trading activities, operations, and management of clients. Ryan participates on the Brownstone Investment Committee and assists in research and portfolio construction.
Prior to joining the firm, Ryan worked for an investment management firm in Toronto, ON and gained experience in roles across equity & fixed income trading, investment research, and portfolio management. He also sat on the firm’s Investment Committee.
Ryan holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance and Accounting, and has earned the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation.
Ryan was born and raised in Calgary, Alberta. In his free time, Ryan enjoys spending time at the lake, playing hockey and other sports, and spending time with family & friends.
Ryan Thomas, CFA
Vice President & Portfolio Manager
Jay Simmons
Director
CPA, CA, ICD.D
Jay is a Director and Shareholder of Brownstone Asset Management, where he takes an active and supporting role in strategy and business development.
Jay is the Founder and Chief Executive Officers of Durum Capital Inc., a Calgary-based private equity firm that is affiliated with Brownstone. Jay began his career in the Financial & Special Services group at Deloitte & Touche. From this base, Jay migrated to private equity where he has originated and served as lead investor and director in a spectrum of businesses and industries over the past 25 years.
Jay holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Dalhousie University and has earned the Chartered Accountant (CA) designation and the Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD.D) designation. Jay currently serves on the Board of Directors for a number of private companies across a diverse range of industries, including real estate, land development, energy and environmental, and energy services.
In his free time, Jay enjoys travel and spending time with his family on the lake during the summers and the mountains during the winters.
Jay Simmons, CPA, CA, ICD.D
Director
Fariba Shakibani
Portfolio Associate
Fariba is a Portfolio Associate at Brownstone. Fariba supports the Portfolio Management team with various client-related tasks and is a key member of the Client Service team.
Prior to joining the firm, Fariba worked for RBC in various client-facing roles, where she assisted and advised clients on a diverse range of financial and investment related matters.
Fariba holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Manitoba.
In her free time, Fariba enjoys photography and spending time in the mountains.
Fariba Shakibani
Portfolio Associate
Becoming a Client
We look to partner with clients for the long-term. To ensure the right fit, clients are carefully considered and an in-depth conversation takes place to understand a client’s investment objectives and personal circumstances. Our clients receive regular portfolio updates, access to a Portfolio Manager, and periodic meetings to review the portfolio and investment strategy, while staying up to date on any changes that occur in their life. Through our partner network, clients have access to ancillary services such as financial planning, estate planning, business planning, as well as accounting, legal, and insurance services and solutions. At our clients’ request, we collaborate with their existing financial and business professionals, including accountants and lawyers, to best assist in achieving their goals.
If you are interested in learning more, please email clientservices@brownstoneam.com and we will be in touch.