Listen on The Move
In a world where ego often overshadows insight, First Avenue’s Kash Pashootan and Michael Newton reveal why humility, curiosity, and true team depth are redefining the future of wealth management.
In this Insight is Capital episode, host Pierre Daillie sits down with Kash Pashootan, CEO, and Michael Newton, Head of Wealth Management at First Avenue Investment Counsel, for a powerful, introspective discussion about the evolution of wealth management, the essence of humility in leadership, and the future of multi-generational wealth stewardship.
Kash and Michael share their personal philosophies and the firm’s mission to bring pension-style investing and true family office depth to Canadian families. They emphasize the importance of curiosity, humility, and hands-on investing, while contrasting the depth of their integrated model with the “by-appointment” approach common in traditional advisory structures. Together, they explore how advisors can evolve from solo operators to multi-disciplinary teams that can truly serve the complex needs of high- and ultra-high-net-worth families.
Pierre draws out reflections on how ego, conviction, and the hunger for relevance must evolve toward humility, curiosity, and collaboration. The result is a deeply human, highly practical conversation that challenges advisors and investors alike to rethink what stewardship means in today’s markets.
⏱️ Timestamps & Chapters
00:00 – Introduction Pierre introduces Kash and Michael, highlighting their industry leadership and the evolution of First Avenue’s vision of stewardship and due diligence.
03:00 – Passion for the Wealth Business Kash and Michael share how curiosity and lifelong learning keep them inspired in an ever-changing industry.
08:00 – A Day in the Life Michael reveals his structured approach to time management and delegation, while Kash discusses balancing hands-on investing with family office oversight.
13:00 – Evolution and Humility in Wealth Management The duo reflects on transitioning from individual expertise to team leadership—embracing humility, curiosity, and diverse perspectives as cornerstones of progress.
24:00 – The Pension-Style Approach Explained Kash details how First Avenue’s investment philosophy mirrors Canada’s leading pension funds, with intelligent exposure beyond stocks and bonds—into private equity, real estate, and strategic income.
32:00 – Building True Family Office Infrastructure Michael contrasts “by-appointment” advisory models with First Avenue’s integrated, permanent team of experts, emphasizing genuine collaboration across tax, legal, and estate disciplines.
43:00 – Planning for Generational Wealth Kash explains why high-net-worth clients value multifaceted planning and proactive, structured processes that anticipate family complexities before they arise.
49:00 – Advisor Evolution and Scaling Pierre and Kash discuss how advisors must adapt, deepen their infrastructure, and build true teams to attract larger clients and deliver holistic value.
50:00 – Client Concerns in Today’s Market Michael and Kash share insights on clients’ current worries—geopolitics, concentration risk, and interest rates—and how preparation creates calm amid uncertainty.
55:00 – The Future of Investing and Advisor Mindset They stress separating emotion from investing, focusing on deep understanding of assets, and maintaining disciplined diversification to reduce volatility.
1:02:00 – Final Thoughts A reflection on humility, discipline, and teamwork as the defining traits of modern wealth stewardship.
💡 Key Takeaways
- Humility Drives Progress: True leadership in wealth management means trading ego for humility—creating space for curiosity, learning, and collaboration. “Curiosity combined with humility is really the ingredient for continued progress,” says Kash.
- The Pension-Style Approach Works: First Avenue’s model of blending public equities, private equity, real estate, and strategic income mirrors Canada’s top pension funds, aiming to deliver consistent returns with lower volatility.
- The Future Belongs to Integrated Teams: As Michael explains, “Advisors need to ask—who stands behind you?” A cohesive, multidisciplinary team—not a “by-appointment” model—is what truly differentiates a firm serving multi-generational families.
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