After graduating from the University of Guelph, Justin spent two years with a large mutual fund company and quickly learned that the financial industry doesn’t always serve its clients well. He spent his lunch hours reading books by John Bogle (the legendary founder of Vanguard) and hoped to one day work with a firm that put investors first.
Justin joined PWL in 2007 and obtained his Certified Financial Planner designation the following year. He earned the Chartered Financial Analyst designation in 2010.
Justin became the lead portfolio manager in the Toronto office in 2013. Under his leadership, the team enjoyed a sixfold increase in assets under management in five years.
As a firm believer in evidence-based investing, Justin backs up his portfolio management strategies with hard data. His pioneering white papers on tax-efficient investing with ETFs have earned him the respect of fund providers and the advisory community.
In 2013, Justin’s innovative idea for a tax-efficient bond ETF won first place in the First Asset Search for Canada’s Next Top ETF, which came with a $10,000 donation to his chosen charity, the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH).
Justin enjoys sharing his knowledge and skills on his website, Canadian Portfolio Manager, which includes a host of downloadable tools. He has also created a YouTube channel, DIY Investing with Justin Bender, which includes detailed video tutorials for ETF investors.
An avid musician, Justin has been known to turn the Toronto office into a jam room after business hours.