Dennis is a proud wealth management professional with over 30 years of experience. He is a team leader and lead Portfolio Manager of the Graves Financial Advisory Group at CIBC Private Wealth Management. The team represents the second and third generations in the Graves family to be immersed in the wealth management industry. It runs an exclusively Advisor Managed Account practice built around Dennis's investment knowledge and philosophy. The team heavily integrates all aspects of financial planning in their approach to wealth management and decisions regarding their clients' unique circumstances.

Since starting his career in wealth management, in addition to being a full-time advisor; Dennis has held roles including; Division Manager, Sales Manager, and Branch Manager. He opened a mutual fund dealership in 1997 which he then sold to a national firm in 2003. Along his professional journey, Dennis never stopped working directly with his clients because that is his favorite part of what he does.

Dennis graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Dalhousie University in Halifax in 1984. In 1986, he entered the financial services industry and began developing his practice. He obtained the Chartered Financial Planner (CFP) designation in 1989 and in the years following, continued expanding his knowledge in all aspects of wealth management, i.e. taxation, investment, estate, insurance. In 2012, Dennis earned his Chartered Investment Manager (CIM) designation and shortly thereafter; he became a Portfolio Manager. All academic pursuits have created the foundation for which his approach to wealth management was built on.

Dennis and his wife Lana have been happily married since 1990. Lana, a retired pharmacist, is enjoying her second career in counselling. They have two children, Jonathan and Andrea. In 2015, Jonathan graduated from Mount Allison University with a Bachelor of Commerce degree and began working with Dennis laterthat same year. Jonathan and his wife Hailey have recently welcomed their first child; Avery, into the family. In 2018, Andrea graduated from Dalhousie University with a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology and has been studying towards her Doctorate of Naturopathic Medicine (2022) at the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine in Toronto.

Dennis has a passion for macroeconomics, the stock market, financial planning and portfolio management. On the weekends when not reading up on all the latest pertinent financial news you can find him in the pool swimming laps, hoping for a walk with his wife, skiing in the winters or visiting with friends and family.

Jonathan is an Investment Advisor in Halifax, Nova Scotia on the Graves Financial Advisory Group at CIBC Private Wealth Management. The team represents the second and third generations in the Graves family to be immersed in the wealth management industry. They run and exclusively discretionary managed portfolio approach practice built around Dennis (Jon’s father) investment knowledge and philosophy. The team heavily integrates all aspects of financial planning in their approach to wealth management and decisions regarding their clients' unique circumstances. 

Jonathan is a graduate of Mount Allison University, where he received a Bachelor of Commerce degree. He was a student athlete during his time at Mount A. His accomplishments during that time included being named a captain of the football team, winning two AUS Championships with the Mounties, Academic All-Canadian in 2013 and 2014, and was invited to the CFL East-West Bowl in 2013. In the classroom, he achieved Dean’s List standing in his final year in the Bachelor of Commerce program and was elected the Class of 2015 Valedictorian. Jon joined the Mount Allison Federated Alumni Board as its youngest serving member, following his successful four-year tenure at Mount A. He is currently in his second term and also is the Chair of Student & Young Alumni Committee. At Mount A he sits on the organizing committee for the Homecoming Golf Tournament, sits on the 5th Quarter Club organizing committee, and has also helped with many events both on and off campus.

Jonathan is a CFA® (Chartered Financial Analyst) Charterholder. As defined by the CFA Institute website: The CFA Program is a three-part exam that tests the fundamentals of investment tools, valuing assets, portfolio management, and wealth planning. The CFA Program is typically completed by those with backgrounds in finance, accounting, economics, or business. CFA charterholders earn the right to use the CFA designation after program completion, application, and acceptance by CFA Institute. CFA charterholders are qualified to work in senior and executive positions in investment management, risk management, asset management, and more.

Jonathan also holds the CFP® (Certified Financial Planner) designation. As defined of the FP Canada Website: Certified Financial Planner® certification is the world’s most recognized financial planning designation and is considered the ‘gold standard’ for the profession. CFP professionals have demonstrated the knowledge, skills, experience, and ethics to examine their clients’ entire financial picture, at the highest level of complexity required of the profession. Jon has just begun his first term on the FP Canada Standards Panel, which is responsible for and has delegated responsibility from the Board over: The Standards of Professional Responsibility, including associated guidance; The FP Canada Standards Council Competency Profile and; The FP Canada Standards Council Projection Assumption Guidelines Committee which is responsible for maintaining and updating the Projection Assumption Guidelines. He is also currently on the committee tasked with the FP Canada Competency Profile Revalidation.  The Competency Profile has been created to help describe competencies that define expectations for FP Canada certificants. Competencies are the focal point of FP Canada certificants’ underlying skills and knowledge.

All education perfectly creates the foundation for which Jonathan’s approach to wealth management was built on.

Jonathan and his wife Hailey met at Mount Allison where Hailey was an assistant captain of the Women’s Hockey team. Hailey just completed her Master’s degree and enjoys her career as a grade 1 French Immersion teacher. They enjoy date nights, exercising and socializing with friends in their spare time. Hailey and Jonathan have just welcomed their first child, a baby girl - Avery Isabell Graves - into their family. Jon’s Dad, Dennis and mom Lana have been happily married since 1990. Lana, a retired pharmacist, is enjoying her second career in counselling. He has one sibling, Andrea who graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from Dalhousie University in 2018. Andrea has been studying towards her Doctorate of Naturopathic Medicine (2022) at the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine in Toronto.

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Originally from Miramichi, NB, Joanne graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce with a double major in Management and Marketing from Saint Mary’s University. Joanne’s financial career has come full circle over the past 20+ years.  She started in 1997 working with Dennis at Graves Financial Services.  Initially working the front desk, quickly moving to preparing client tax returns, running insurance quotes and prepping financial plans. In 2000, there were two exciting events that occurred: she got married and moved to Bermuda where she worked for 6 years in the hedge fund business servicing clients offshore.  After having their first daughter in Bermuda, they missed their families, and Nova Scotia was calling for their return from paradise after almost 8 years away.  They now love living in Fall River just outside of Halifax. Joanne started back at a hedge fund administration company that had recently opened in Halifax at the time.  After 7 years there, she realized she wanted a career that was more accommodating to a young family and coincidentally the stars aligned.  She ended up working with Dennis and team at CIBC Wood Gundy.

Originally from South Western Ontario, Cathi-Jo attended Carleton University in Ottawa, graduating with a major in economics and a minor in business administration. She started her career at TD Waterhouse USA, TD Visa and TD Waterhouse Canada, finally finding her place at CIBC Wood Gundy in Ottawa 2008.  She enjoyed her work and colleagues there until her family relocated to Halifax and she began working at the Halifax CIBC Wood Gundy branch.  Since arriving in Halifax, and up until joining the Graves Financial team, she worked in the back office managing the movement of funds for Atlantic region of Wood Gundy, and finally even managing the team within the cage. However, she missed interacting with clients, so when the opportunity to work with Dennis, Jonathan, Ross and Joanne came, she jumped at the opportunity. When not at the office, you can find her at Air Cadet functions, the arena, soccer pitch or exploring Atlantic Canada.