Walter Global Asset Management and W Investments Group partner with Michael Grondin and team to launch 'Samara' multi-family office

Walter Global Asset Management (Walter GAM), W Investments Group LP (W Investments) and the Grondin Group have launched Samara – a multi-family office that will offer 'a personalised, values-based approach to clients and a full range of wealth management services and institutional-calibre investment solutions'.

With more than 20 years of private wealth investment experience, Michael Grondin will lead Samara as president and CEO. He will be supported by Catherine Janson, partner and chief investment officer, and by a team of seasoned investment, financial planning and operations professionals.

"Samara will carry a family focus extending beyond investment management by achieving cohesion and prosperity objectives across generations," says Grondin, who himself comes from a family of entrepreneurs. "Our institutional investment approach will ensure that we have the latitude and flexibility to meet our clients' needs while offering all of the asset classes available to major investors."

Samara is unaffiliated with any financial institution, thus maintaining independence and the ability to provide unbiased, objective and trusted advisory services. As partners, Walter GAM and W Investments will help underpin Samara's efforts through their complementary expertise in investment and business management.

"It's an exciting time to invest in a multi-family wealth management firm, because Samara will be active in a high-growth sector that is underdeveloped in Quebec, says Sylvain Brosseau, CEO and founding partner of Walter GAM. "We are thrilled to bring this project to life with such strong partners as W Investments and Michael's team."

"W Investments itself stems from private entrepreneurs coming together to better meet their investment needs, so we understand first-hand the challenges of integrated wealth management and appreciate the emerging business opportunities in the market," says Maxime St-Laurent, co-founder and managing partner of W Investments. "Samara's market position will undoubtedly generate interest from wealthy families, as Michael and his team possess a thorough understanding of their needs and will deliver comprehensive services to meet them."

Samara's board of directors will be comprised of an impressive roster of established leaders in investment management, including Jean-François Courville, managing partner of Purpose Advisor Solutions, François Rivard, president and CEO of Innocap, René Fournier, president and CIO of Walter Financial, as well as Sylvain Brosseau and Michael Grondin.