April Ward Email & Phone Number

Engages clients on long-term goals and consults with senior executives to plan, create and help execute strategic initiatives and insight-driven transformation, as well as identify new opportunities and areas of investment potential. Utilizes data and analytics to help shape clients’ digital experience, advertising and marketing, product innovation and human capital. Leverages personal brand, expertise, education, training, sound judgment and years of experience and complex decision-making in a fast-moving industry.▪ Business Consulting.o Provides objective appraisals of current systems and creates initiatives to improve them. o Works with business owners to bring a broad, well-informed view of the market and external variables, guiding them in directions that yield the biggest profits. o Assists clients in prioritizing goals and issues after understanding stakeholders and situational factors.o Directs clients in developing successful digital strategy and road map planning, branding and content strategy, mobile strategy, marketing automation and web content management.▪ Management Consulting.o Provides insight on core competencies and practices, and how to incorporate related metrics to gage progress toward business imperatives and objectives. o Creates initiatives focusing on culture, vision, strategic objectives, delivering change, forward planning and managing expansion and growth. o Works with senior management to plan for future while maintaining core values. o Assists in developing strategies at the corporate level for project management.o Facilitates strategizing and clarifying mission statements.▪ Strategic Mergers & Acquisitions Consulting.o Advises Registered Investment Advisory (RIA) firms as a strategic consultant. o Communicates value propositions to advisors and RIA firms interested in strategic partnerships and succession planning. o Helps direct due diligence, financial risk mitigation and integration projects.

Toronto, On, Ca

Key partner of four-person management team; created and maintained a high-performance culture that includes exceptional client experience, strong financials, ongoing growth of business and employee motivation.▪ Led firm to highest new business performance in its history.▪ Drove revenue to achieve growth goals.▪ Developed and executed strategies for succession planning, staffing levels, recruitment initiatives and retention planning.▪ Co-founded firm’s Women & Wealth Initiative and served as Committee Member for U.S. National Women and Wealth Committee and Women in Wealth Employee Advisory Panel for BMO Financial Group.▪ Oversaw financial planning, marketing and business development.▪ Named to Az Business Leaders magazine’s “Visionary with Power and Influence” list in 2014 and 2015.

Toronto, On, Ca

One of the founder’s successors, playing an important role in firm’s succession planning.▪ Coached, developed and empowered young talent; grew firm responsibly through cross-training, mentoring and connecting to community.▪ Led efforts to expand firm’s reputation through creation of marketing collateral, website design and educational initiatives.▪ Introduced a scorecard approach to measure client profitability and retention; delivered customer service and financial planning while consistently achieving client retention of more than 99 percent.▪ Developed and executed initiatives to help BMO plan longer-term goals.▪ Reinforced sales process and client experience by identifying gaps, issues and best practices through the monitoring of targets against plans.▪ Met business plan (new revenue, client retention, positive net income).▪ Successfully reached across enterprise-wide BMO business lines to effectively communicate with executive management and media channels.▪ Strategic Thought Forum Member and Emerging Leadership Conference attendee, BMO Toronto, Canada.

Toronto, On, Ca

Firm’s first female partner and only one for three years.▪ Grew primary staff from seven to 21 members.▪ Helped grow company.▪ Integral contributor to development and execution of succession planning strategies, including staffing levels, recruitment initiatives and retention planning.▪ Developed and implemented a strategic business plan with both an annual focus and a three- to five-year perspective, including clearly defined revenue goals and profitability objectives.▪ Enhanced the firm’s vision and value by introducing niche speaking engagements to provide clients with insights and strategies around wealth planning and financial decisions for a more confident financial future.

Toronto, On, Ca

Began dialogue with prospective clients by listening to and gaining understanding of past financial experiences, tax circumstances, estate structure, succession wishes and overall investment goals.▪ Introduced firm’s brand and offering into new communities, resulting in an important growth driver of newly originated client revenue.▪ Collaborated with team members to ensure financial planning and portfolio management processes were integrated well throughout a client’s relationship.

San Francisco, California, Us

Served high-net-worth individuals in financial advising through relationships based on mutual trust and integrity; developed, maintained and marketed banking and brokerage relationships.▪ Recognized as effective liaison between clients, attorneys, tax advisors and related bank staff.▪ Successfully cultivated referral sources within community through involvement in civic activities, philanthropic organizations and community-sponsored programs.▪ Helped ensure clients’ portfolios and assets aligned to their goals.▪ Offered fee-based advice to private clients.

San Francisco, California, Us

Several roles of increasing responsibility, California and Arizona (1988 – 1994)Began career with First Interstate Bank (which later merged with Wells Fargo) in California and then on Arizona State University’s campus, working while earning undergraduate degree; remained in financial services and progressed steadily.

Stanford Executive Program

Master Of Business Administration - Mba

Bachelor Of Arts - Ba, Communication