EKCFS announces partnership with MWX

(L-R) David L. McCracken, Terry von Niessen, and Robert Fournier, East Kootenay Community Financial Service providers.

For Immediate Release – May 30, 2013 – Expanded wealth management services are available through a new partnership between three credit unions including East Kootenay Community, Grand Forks, and Nelson & District.

In a marketing agreement with Kootenay Savings, the new company will share the already established and highly successful MoneyWorks name and brand. Delivering financial planning services with a professional and down-to-earth approach, the new company currently employs nine qualified experts in the communities of Cranbrook, Sparwood, Elkford, Fernie, Rossland, Nelson, Crawford Bay, and Grand Forks, significantly increasing the MoneyWorks footprint in
the Kootenay-Boundary region.

“Through MoneyWorks GFCU , we offer residents access to all of the investment, insurance, estate, and disability products and services that people need,” explained Kelly Thomas, CEO of Grand Forks Credit Union. “Partnering with local area credit unions also means we offer a greater pool of products, knowledge, and resources.”

"We each have capable wealth management personnel in our communities and we were looking for a way to share that expertise on a broader scale,” said Doug Stoddart, CEO of NDCU. “Combining our industry knowledge means an enhanced level of service for our credit union members and all regional residents. It’s why we’ve introduced MoneyWorks NDCU.”

Jody Burk, CEO of EKC stated, “Financial planning is a vital part of how people deal with their personal finances. MoneyWorks EKC fits our vision of ‘together through life’ reinforcing our ability to provide services that will assist our residents to reach their financial goals.”

“This approach benefits the region through greater collaboration and economies of scale,” stated Jay Corrado, General Manager of the new partnership. “And we provide products and services for both credit union and non-credit union members.”

The new wealth management company offers financial solutions from Qtrade Financial Group through Qtrade Asset Management and Qtrade Advisor.

Qtrade Financial Group provides comprehensive brokerage and wealth management platforms, services and solutions to the retail public as well as the customers of hundreds of financial institutions across Canada. Since 1999, Qtrade has been dedicated to providing its financial institution partners with a single source for market-leading wealth management products and services including: online, full-service and institutional brokerage services, mutual fund dealer services, insurance dealer services, portfolio management, discretionary money management services and proprietary managed money solutions. For more information, visit qtrade.ca.

MoneyWorks now represents the largest financial planning network in the Kootenay-Boundary region.