Our team

As a Portfolio Manager, Marcus and his team work together with a select group of affluent clients and their families as well as corporations and foundations who share a common goal: to protect and grow their wealth in a reliable and predictable fashion. He provides highly personalized advisory services within a framework of disciplined, diversified portfolio construction, selecting from among the world’s most successful and exclusive money managers.

Thinking differently about how to ensure a positive impact in his clients’ financial circumstances, Marcus goes beyond traditional portfolio management in the equity and bond markets alone to include conservative and predictable alternative assets, offering more effective diversification and a benchmark that offers protection and peace of mind regardless of market conditions.

Marcus’ designations include the Registered Retirement Consultant, Certified Financial Planner, Chartered Life Underwriter and the Chartered Investment Manager, and his life insurance license.

If you are looking for all types of investment and insurance strategies, as well as financial planning, we are here to help.

For 35 years François Filion has approached wealth planning with an entrepreneurial mindset. It is a mentality he developed at a young age while working alongside his parents in a successful family business. He carried that mentality and work ethic with him when he chose to pursue a career in the financial services industry in 1985.

François built a successful multi-generational practice and has developed long lasting relationships by assisting clients in navigating through various life and economic challenges and providing them with opportunities to achieve their goals and preserve their wealth. In 2020, François made an informed decision to join Richardson Wealth to expand his practice offering by having access to an extensive suite of resources, expertise, and investment opportunities.

In addition to a Bachelor’s in Communication from the University of Ottawa, François holds the following professional designations: Certified Financial Planner (CFP^®), Registered Retirement Consultant (RRC^®) and Elder Planning Counsellor (EPC^®). 

François enjoys spending time with his family, travel, theatre and is an avid sports enthusiast. 

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In addition to helping with trades and products, Lakshmi Varanasi is the in-house insurance expert at Christensen Group. She’s been an associate with Marcus Christensen since 2016.

Drawn to the industry by her interest in curbing stress and helping families establish financial security, Lakshmi started her career in 2000 handling the administrative aspects for Marcus’ mother’s wealth management business. In 2002 she moved into the associate role.

Raised in Montreal, Lakshmi has a Bachelor of Economics and a Masters of Business Administration from Concordia University. She moved to Toronto in 1998 and obtained Certified Financial Planner designation in 2006 through the Canadian Securities Institute. She is currently working towards her Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU®) designation.

Lakshmi attributes her training in classical dance to her love of continuous learning and discipline. She devotes her spare time to travelling with her family and experiencing new cultures. Lakshmi enjoys working out at the gym a few times a week, she also makes time to support cancer research by participating in the Terry Fox Run.

With strong market acumen and attention to detail, Wesley Stephenson is the Christensen Group’s trading specialist. His expertise lies in developing market strategies unique to individual financial plans.

Wesley’s early outlook on sustainability led him to York University’s Glendon College where he earned a bilingual Bachelor’s in Environmental and Health Studies. While in school, he began investing and quickly became captivated by the connections between markets and world events, ultimately leading him to the investment business. Wesley brings over 8 years of industry experience from roles in investment and insurance sales, securities trading, and financial planning.

A competitive athlete from an early age, Wesley was nine when he met Marcus, who coached him through his skating career. That same mentorship and values are what drew Wesley to join Marcus’ team years later.

In addition to being investment and insurance licensed, Wesley holds the Chartered Investment Manager designation, and is currently working towards his Certified Financial Planner designation. Beyond the office, Wesley volunteers for his community association and enjoys playing golf, hockey, and skiing.

Khatrah Popal keeps Christensen Group running seamlessly, tackling administrative duties ranging from planning client events to coordinating meetings all with one common goal – to ensure the team can focus on clients. She’s worked alongside Marcus Christensen since 2017.

After graduating from Durham College with a diploma in Business Administration, Khatrah saw the financial sector as a perfect fit for her skill set. She joined a major financial services firm as an assistant in 2012, working for a senior financial advisor before rising to the role of client service administrator responsible for reviewing consultants’ paperwork and creating client accounts.

Khatrah spends her time away from the practice with friends and family, which she values above all else. She’s fascinated by kickboxing, having picked up the hobby in her 20s, and still includes in her fitness regiment. She enjoys cooking, watching movies, and reading in her downtime.