Kash Pashootan, Chief Executive Officer at First Avenue Investment Counsel Inc., entered the financial services industry in 1999. With more than 22 years of experience, he founded First Avenue Advisory in 2009 at Raymond James while he served as Senior Vice President and Portfolio Manager, which then became First Avenue Investment Counsel Inc.

His passion is in uncovering investment opportunities and in people. As a trusted resource for the most respected news outlets, Kash has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, Washington Post, Hong Kong Times, Canadian Business, National Post and The Globe & Mail.

He lives by the pursuit of success in business, health and family. He enjoys art, documentaries and spending time with his wife, daughter and son.

Brian co-founded STYLUS Asset Management, where for eight years he served affluent and high net worth private clients as Vice President & Portfolio Manager in managing equity investments. Subsequently, he spent five years managing a suite of balanced funds at one of Canada’s oldest and largest mutual fund companies. Immediately prior to joining First Avenue, he spent five years as Senior Vice President & Portfolio Manager with a Toronto-based investment counsel firm, serving high net worth private clients in Canada and the United States. Brian has been a CFA charterholder since 2000, and currently serves as Vice-Chair on the CFA Society Toronto Board of Directors. Brian also holds a CFP and CIM designations and graduated from the University of Toronto in 1997. Away from the office, Brian embraces an ethos of volunteerism, community and mentorship and is the proud father of a teenage son who enjoys spending time with family and enthusiastically exploring far flung corners of the planet.

Joseph leads the finance and reporting functions as the Chief Financial Officer at First Avenue Investment Counsel Inc. Prior to joining First Avenue, Joseph served nearly a decade at PricewaterhouseCoopers in their Asset and Wealth Management practice where he serviced private equity, private debt, hedge funds, pension and asset management clients. Joseph also volunteers as a Fellow in the School of Accounting and Finance Fellowship program at the University of Waterloo where he also earned his Master of Accounting and Bachelor of Accounting and Financial Management degrees. Outside of the office, Joseph enjoys cooking, baking and sharing his love of food and drink with those around him.

Nicholas Allaham, Principal, Family Office Practice at First Avenue Investment Counsel Inc, has a deep background in tax, trust and estate planning. Prior to joining First Avenue, Nicholas served over a decade at Deloitte in tax at their Private Client Group. His 15+ years of experience advising high net worth families on personal and corporate taxation is a key pillar in every Family Office clients’ success with planning and co-ordination of their wealth. He leads Family Office planning and collaborates with any outside advisors clients may engage. This achieves a true Advisory Board approach for families working with First Avenue Investment Counsel. Nicholas enjoys travel with his wife, volunteering with the local hospital, and lecturing on taxation at the Sprott School of Business at Carleton University.

Michael is an experienced global international executive who has enjoyed a remarkable four-decade career leading large-scale transformation programs for clients across multiple industries. He has led many challenging, large-scale programs in multi-stakeholder environments across 26 global geographies and cultures (including Canada, US, UK, Chile, Germany, Netherlands, France, India, Switzerland and Singapore).

He recently retired from Deloitte, having served as a senior advisor to client CEO’s and Boards. He also served on Deloitte’s Board for 8 years, with key roles as Chair or Co-Chair on numerous committees including: Governance; Leader & Talent; Strategy, Ethics and Risk; Finance, Investments & Capital; and a DE&I Working Group. Michael held numerous executive roles with Deloitte including member of the Global Life Sciences & Health Care Executive, European Management Committee (operating across 15 countries for 5 years), Consulting Clients & Industries Leader and Director Operations – Ontario and Quebec regions.

Michael has exceptionally strong client relationship skills, with a proven track-record for bringing creative change strategies to solve complex client issues.

Sammir is a wealth management executive with significant leadership experience in the investment industry and holds the Chartered Investment Management designation. He focuses on client relationship management, portfolio & risk management, and asset allocation for high net worth private clients and institutional clients. Prior to joining First Avenue, Sammir spent 14 years at Gluskin Sheff + Associates Inc., most recently as a Managing Director on their Client Wealth Management team. Prior to that he spent 4 years at KBSH Capital Management as a Senior Analyst. Sammir sits on the Advisory Board for AREF Scholarship Fund and is a current Board Member of Peacebuilders Canada.

Michael has 25 years experience in the financial services industry. He is responsible for managing client relationships as well as developing new business for First Avenue Counsel Investment Inc. Michael previously held sales positions at some of Canada's largest mutual fund companies, as well as boutique investment firms where he serviced high net worth clients. Michael holds a Chartered Investment Manager (CIM®) designation. When not at work, Michael enjoys spending time with his family and is an avid outdoors man.

Prior to joining First Avenue Jesse worked with BMO Private Investment Counsel as an associate portfolio manager where he co-managed a portfolio of high-net-worth and ultra high-net-worth clients. In addition to experience working with Canadian and U.S. equity and fixed-income strategies, Jesse also has experience working with various alternative strategies such as real estate, infrastructure, private equity and private credit. Jesse firmly believes a strong client relationship is the key to every successful strategy and enjoys working closely with clients and their families.

Jesse graduated as a student-athlete from Carleton University in 2016 where he played four years of football for the Ravens. Jesse is a CFA charterholder. Outside the office he enjoys biking, reading and spending time with family.

Jason is a wealth manager and serves the Family Office practice. He is responsible for working with clients and collaborating with their Advisory Board. Prior to joining First Avenue, Jason worked at one of Ontario’s largest credit unions, Alterna Savings. As a member of their wealth management team, Alterna Wealth, he supported the largest practice as an Associate Investment Advisor. He is a Certified Financial Planner practitioner, Chartered Investment Manager, Certified International Wealth Manager, Chartered Financial Analyst candidate, and is a graduate of the University of Ottawa (2012, Summa Cum Laude – Silver Medalist). Jason has been recognized by Wealth Professional Magazine for his work in the community supporting financial literacy (2021) and as a Rising Star in the profession (2022). Jason is active in supporting the financial planning profession, having volunteered with the FP Canada Standards Council, most recently chairing the Qualified Associate Financial Planner (QAFP) exam panel. He also serves on the advisory board of the finance program at the Algonquin College of Applied Arts and Technology. Jason is also an active volunteer in his community, serving the board of directors as the chair of the finance committee of Options Bytown, an Ottawa based not-for-profit seeking to permanently house the chronically under-housed and homeless in the city of Ottawa.

Ian began his capital markets career in 2000 at National Bank Financial and then TD Bank, covering the Communications sector as an Equity Research Analyst. In 2007, he moved to Hong Kong and spent five years working on the convertible bond proprietary desk at J.P Morgan, as well as the equity long/short principles strategies group at Standard Bank PLC. Returning to Toronto in 2013, Ian was a Senior Investment Analyst at Highstreet Asset Management (a division of AGF), where he spent five years covering global equity securities. Prior to joining First Avenue in April 2022, Ian was a Senior Manager at Scotiabank as part of the Portfolio Advisory Group, overseeing the performance of the U.S. and Global equity guided portfolios.

Ian graduated with an Honours Business Administration degree from the Ivey Business School at the University of Western Ontario. He is a Chartered Accountant by training and has been a CFA charterholder since 2003.

Brandon supports equity research and portfolio management at First Avenue Investment Counsel Inc. He began his finance career in 2016, most recently working in M&A at Constellation Software Inc., and before Constellation, he worked within public markets investment analysis at various boutique investment firms located in Toronto. Brandon has an MBA from the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management, a Bachelor of Management from the University of Lethbridge, and he is a CFA charterholder. Brandon enjoys spending time with family and friends outside of the office, reading, and staying active. 

Bushra has over nine years of experience as a tax specialist in public accounting. She has extensive experience in servicing private companies and their owners with both their tax compliance and tax planning needs. Bushra is a CGA, CPA and holder of a Bachelors of Commerce degree from the University of Toronto’s Rotman Commerce program. While working in public practice, Bushra completed the CPA Canada In-Depth Tax Course in 2018. Outside of the office, Bushra is a bookworm and enjoys dabbling in portrait photography.

With 17 years of experience in the financial services industry, Beata is a key component for any financial planning needs clients may have. Taking the time to understand and develop comprehensive financial plans, Beata is committed to capturing the entire picture and believes financial plans are worthless unless they are treated as a dynamic document that is updated at least annually. Beata works closely with Nicholas, which means Financial planning is combined with tax planning for clients of the firm.

Connor joined First Avenue in 2017 and has had a keen sense of learning and exceeding client expectations from day one. He is part of the Family Office practice at the firm and works clients and collaborates with lawyers, accountants and other advisors who make up the “Advisory Board” that the firm leads on behalf of clients. Connor is a licensed Chartered Investment Manager. Outside of the office, Connor enjoys the outdoors at the cottage, travelling and learning about new cultures and making honey as an amateur beekeeper.

Charlotte is a Marketing and Communications professional with over 6 years of experience supporting finance and technology businesses. She specializes in brand management, Public Relations, sponsorships, events, corporate social responsibility, and creative direction. Her passion for arts and culture and keeping up to date with marketing trends allows for her to drive creative and effective solutions. 

Charlotte holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Marketing and Communications from Ted Rogers School of Business Management at Ryerson University. Outside of the office she enjoys exploring new restaurants, travelling, reading, and spending time in the great outdoors.

Katie is a versatile and detail-oriented individual responsible for servicing clients’ needs and prides herself on her outstanding customer service. Her passion for the investment industry keeps her up to date with market related developments while continuously building her knowledge via courses and seminars. Katie holds Honours BA in Political Science/International Relations from University of Toronto and has a Postgraduate Certificate in Human Resources Management from Seneca College: Faculty of Continuing Education & Training. She is a fully licensed Senior Associate with over 8 years of experience in the industry and has a solid foundational understanding of the financial services industry, strong organizational skills, and exceptional teamwork capabilities. Outside of work Katie enjoys spending time with her daughter, reading, practicing yoga, and enjoying her acting hobby.

Prior to joining First Avenue, Myra worked at TD Direct Investing as an Investment Representative providing client support and placing trades for high value clients. Myra graduated with an Honours BSc degree from McMaster University, and has her CSC and CPH completed. Outside of the office, Myra dabbles in some singing lessons and is a huge food connoisseur.

Prior to joining First Avenue, Julie was a licensed Associate Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities. She has diverse experiences managing wealth for high-net-worth clients and is highly committed to delivering a client first service. She is skilled in identifying client financial needs as well as providing solutions that help meet their long-term goals. Julie graduated from the University of Western Ontario and holds a Bachelor degree major in Economics. Outside of work, Julie enjoys spending time with her family and friends, visiting art exhibits and playing classical music.

Stephanie has been working as an Assistant for the past 11 years. Prior to joining First Avenue, Stephanie worked at Holt Renfrew’s head office. She has a strong administration background and loves to collaborate with her colleagues.

Her passions outside of work include travel, exercise and spending time with her family. Her favourite places to travel to are Italy, Spain and Prince Edward Island.