Investment Approach
Shelly Appleton-Benko is a Vice President, Director and Portfolio Manager at Odlum Brown, with expertise in strategic wealth management. She has over 25 years of investment experience, working with clients to enhance, preserve and transition wealth. Shelly is committed to providing financial strategies that reflect the best interests of her clients.
Shelly takes the time to understand her client’s priorities, and forms a cohesive and effective wealth management strategy customized for each of her clients’ specific needs. Client investment portfolios are created with a custom blend of individually traded equity and fixed-income securities, using high-quality companies with strong management teams and promising growth potential.
Recognizing that a financial plan is constantly evolving, Shelly provides a full range of financial strategies, relevant to different life stages. Her business focuses on advising families and entrepreneurs in multi-generational wealth planning, as well as not-for-profit organizations and corporations, with personalized financial solutions.
Background
Shelly’s career with Odlum Brown began in 1996, after five years with the Vancouver Stock Exchange. She is a Portfolio Manager and holds the Certified International Wealth Manager (CIWM) designation, the industry-recognized standard for wealth management services for affluent individuals. Shelly is active in the direction of the firm as a Vice President, member of the firm’s Board of Directors and Retail Sales Advisory Team (as past co-chair).
In addition to her Bachelor’s Degree from Simon Fraser University, Shelly is a Fellow of the Canadian Securities Institute (FCSI), the highest designation granted by the Canadian Securities Institute. She has been active in the industry as a past member of FCSI’s National Board of Directors and participated on the Board’s Ethics Sub-Committee. In 2014, Shelly received the Chartered Financial Divorce Specialist designation, equipping her with the knowledge and tools to provide an objective assessment regarding financial settlement scenarios for matters relating to separation and divorce. In 2017, Shelly successfully completed the Certificate in Estate Planning and Trust Strategy.
Dedicated to enhancing the professional development of others, Shelly offers her knowledge and experience as a mentor to new advisors. In 2008, she formalized this commitment by forming STM Wealth Management with colleagues Tannis Calder (Pratt) and Mary MacDonald. More recently, she began mentoring Kim Anh Nguyen, who joined the firm in 2016 and now holds a CIM designation and is a Portfolio Manager. Together with these colleagues and the entire STM Wealth Management support team, Shelly’s clients have access to exceptional service and expertise.
Philanthropy and Volunteer Commitment
Making a difference in the lives of others has always mattered to Shelly. As a leader, speaker and fundraiser, she has given her time and resources to a variety of charities and organizations over the years. In September 2022, she joined the BC Cancer Foundation Board of Directors and is an Ambassador for Golf Canada Foundations’ First Tee British Columbia.
For 15 years, she led Odlum Brown’s employee campaign for United Way of the Lower Mainland and helped the Minerva Foundation (now Minerva BC) get off the ground.
In October 2017, her family was formally recognized as a WE Family Award Recipient by the organization and Canadian Living Magazine. The following year, they were presented with the first Get Doing Award, acknowledging their efforts and encouraging others to make a difference and take action.
As an SFU Alumna, Shelly contributes to the university as a member of its Business Board of Advisors, as a guest speaker for the Finance Club and as a sponsor of the SFU Annual Golf Tournament benefiting athletes with scholarships and golf programming. In addition, Shelly has participated in educational outreach programs through Junior Achievement of Canada.
Sharing a passion for sports with her family, Shelly and her husband actively support their daughter, a former competitive figure skater, and son, who are both active golfers. Like many from the West Coast, Shelly and her family enjoy the outdoors; whether at the lake or on a great hike, they are energized by nature.