Who We Are A firm is only as strong as its team.

That is why we take great pride in the quality of our people. Our team is committed to serving the long-term financial success of our clients. They also have the years of experience, work ethic, and commitment to get the job done.

Your Spectrum Financial Strategies Team MEET OUR DEDICATED FINANCIAL SUPPORT TEAM

Karen Roy of Spectrum Financial Barrie

Karen Roy

Karen started her career with National Life in downtown Toronto but when her first child was born, visions of purchasing an affordable home led her to Barrie. After a short attempt at commuting, she found Richard McCaw, an advisor at the local North American Life office, who was in need of clerical support. She started as his assistant in October of 1991 and was thrilled to begin working closely with such wonderful families. So different from a Head Office background.

Learning the ropes and mentoring under a veteran in the industry led Karen to realize that this was where she was meant to make her mark. Karen purchased and incorporated Spectrum Financial Strategies in January of 2011.

Karen is committed to ongoing professional development in the financial services industry and proudly holds the Certified Financial Planner and Elder Planning Counselor designations and is a Fellow of the Life Management Institute.

Karen has been a long standing and contributing member of Advocis, the Financial Advisors Association of Canada, and has supported and been on the executive of many local associations, such as LiveUp2, the Tourette Syndrome Association and Autism.

Karen enjoys spending time with her family, traveling with partner Dave, a challenging jig saw puzzle and her latest attempts at Paddleboarding.

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Richard McGraw of Spectrum Financial Barrie

Richard McCaw (Retired Dec. 31st, 2023)

Richard has been educating and helping his clients achieve financial security for almost 55 years, initially as a representative with North American Life in Montreal and the Eastern Townships of Quebec and then becoming an independent advisor in Barrie, Ontario.
Richards long tenure comes from his absolute love of people and his passion for helping others. In his words “Why would I retire when I love what I do!” As evidence of his commitment to his clients and his professional development, Richard has earned the Certified Financial Planner, Chartered Life Underwriter, Chartered Financial Consultant and his Elder Planning Counselor designations. Richard has been a long standing and contributing member of Advocis, the Financial Advisors Association of Canada and spent many years actively participating and supporting many local associations, such as Scouts Canada and the Gryphon Theatre. In his spare time, Richard enjoys the outdoors and spending time traveling with his lovely wife Melvina.
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Janet Farrell of Spectrum Financial Barrie

Janet Farrell

Janet is our Senior Administrative Assistant responsible for managing all aspects of a clients file. Janet joined our Spectrum Team in May of 2000 and with her long tenure comes a wealth of experience in all areas of our business. She takes great pride in ensuring the families we work with are serviced to the highest standards. Janet is the strength behind the scenes that keeps our systems running smoothly.

Janet is renowned for her baking and enjoys spending quality time with her two daughters and her puppy Jaxx.

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Cathy Bricker of Spectrum Financial Barrie

Cathy Bricker

Cathy is our newest administrative assistant, just joining the team in June of 2023. Cathy comes to us with strong administrative experience in the Financial Planning field – both in Canada, and the US. Cathy is enjoying getting to know our clients and loves the family atmosphere at Spectrum.

Cathy is a proud mom of 2 grown sons, and Gam Gam to her grandson, Watson. When she is not out trying new restaurants or visiting with friends, she is home with her two felines Boo and Buster.

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Our Promise to You

This is what we promise to do…

  • We promise to continually enhance our knowledge, resources, and infrastructure to ensure we provide enduring value in our relationship.
  • We set high benchmarks and consistently pursue betterment in everything we do.
  • We take full responsibility for our commitments and see them through to fruition.
  • We concentrate on building trust through honesty, reliability, and delivering exceptional service.
  • Our recommendations are rooted in your unique circumstances, gained from a thorough understanding of your personal aspirations and objectives.
  • We promise to keep you informed about shifts in the financial landscape. We also encourage you to keep us updated on changes in your life, enabling us to offer the best possible service during life’s transitions.

This is what we promise not to do…

  • We do not make promises about performance; instead, we report the actual results.
  • We do not chase maximum returns at the expense of your financial security. Our recommendations aim for a balance that aligns with your goals without unwarranted risks.
  • We do not engage in market timing. Our approach keeps you invested in the markets, irrespective of market conditions.
  • We do not favor specific companies based on promotions or limited-time offers. We prioritize the right fit for you over short-term incentives.
  • We will not act in contravention to any provincial or federal laws or guidelines set out by our licensing or governing bodies. Our integrity and ethical business practices are the cornerstone of our business.
our-legacy

Our Legacy & Succession A TIMELINE OF OUR SUCCESS IN HELPING OUR CLIENTS

  • June 1969 Richard McCaw began his career as a life insurance advisor with North American Life in Montreal, QC. Map Point
  • May 1983 Richard moved his family to Ontario and settled in beautiful Barrie, transferring to the local North American Life office. He became dually licensed and continued to work with his QC clients, travelling 5 times per year to meet, while building his business in Barrie. Map Point
  • October 1991 Realizing that he could not keep up with the administrative side of the business, Richard hired his first administrator, Karen Roy who had been with National Life in Toronto and also choose to make Barrie her families new home. Map Point
  • January 2011 After 20 years of mentorship and education, Karen took over the management of the Ontario families, while Richard continues to maintain clients in Quebec, New Brunswick, British Columbia, Alberta and Manitoba ~ he loves to travel! Map Point
  • October 2018 Richard began working with Danny Sirignano of Quebec to transition his clients in that province, in anticipation of an upcoming retirement one day. Map Point
  • May 2020 Karen purchased a lovely building in downtown Barrie and after 3 months of renovations, it became Spectrum’s new home. Map Point
  • December 31, 2023 After 54 ½ incredible years, Richard retired from doing what he loved most! Map Point

Words from our Clients We pride ourselves in the exceptional work we do for our client families