- Words by Darcy Nybo Photography by Lia Crowe

Some people know in the core of their being what they want to do with their life. Darren Morcom is one of them.

And one of the drivers behind his decision to start his own firm害羞草研究所擳he Morcom Wealth Management Group (a member of Wellington-Altus Private Wealth)害羞草研究所攚as his love for helping others.

害羞草研究所淭he whole investment game is also about the passion of the people who work behind the scenes. Everyone is in it for different reasons害羞草研究所攁nd my reason is quite personal.害羞草研究所�

About six years ago Darren and his wife Lee-Ann害羞草研究所檚 eight-year-old son was diagnosed with brain cancer. He underwent over 40 intense radiation and chemotherapy treatments and had more than 25 blood transfusions. Today, their son is five years cancer-free.

害羞草研究所淭his really made me look at things differently,害羞草研究所� Darren says. 害羞草研究所淭here were so many people and organizations involved in helping him get well. It all ties into my life and my work, and wanting to help people. I can better relate to my clients who may be going through similar situations.害羞草研究所�

He adds: 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 become a passion of mine to help people, especially when they are going through hard times.害羞草研究所�

As a young man attending the University of Regina, in his home province of Saskatchewan, he worked at the RCMP training academy doing whatever was needed. Then in 1997, having just met Lee-Ann, the 害羞草研究所渓ove of his life,害羞草研究所� he moved to Kelowna.

害羞草研究所淥nce I got to Kelowna,害羞草研究所� Darren recalls, 害羞草研究所淚 reaffirmed that finance really was my passion, so I went with it. I worked as a bank teller while I attended Okanagan University College. When I graduated, I was able to rise through the ranks and become a financial planner.害羞草研究所�

Starting in 2002 and for the next 19 years, he was employed by a well-known bank and worked his way up to portfolio manager. Somehow, it still wasn害羞草研究所檛 quite what he wanted. Something was missing.

Darren, a self-described 害羞草研究所減eople person,害羞草研究所� wanted to do more for the families he worked with. He wanted to be able to offer independent solutions and independent advice and to be truly objective for his clients, and to do it all in an environment with like-minded advisors.

害羞草研究所淚 learned about an independent private wealth management firm called Wellington-Altus Private Wealth, a Canadian company with headquarters in Winnipeg. After meeting with the founders of the company and realizing their Prairie roots and their values matched mine, it was easy to see why this firm had become the number-one ranked advisory firm in Canada.害羞草研究所�

The decision to move to the independent side of this business became an easy one. The Morcom Wealth Management Group was born, and Darren says he is extremely proud to be part of Wellington-Altus Private Wealth.

Darren and his team are not alone in joining the top-ranked Wellington-Altus Private Wealth. In the past 18 months, he says, several senior investment advisors and their teams moved from banks and other independent wealth management firms to be part of this growing company.

害羞草研究所淲e officially opened the Kelowna office in September of 2020, and we already have over 30 employees and billions of dollars in assets under our management,害羞草研究所� Darren says.

害羞草研究所淲ith this explosive growth, the decision to relocate our offices into the 23rd-floor penthouse of the new Landmark 7 office tower was an easy choice. The new offices are expected to be completed in August, with 360-degree views of the city, lake and surrounding vineyards and orchards. We are fortunate to be able to share some of the most spectacular views of any office in North America with our clients.害羞草研究所�

Asked about the allure of his industry, Darren says: 害羞草研究所淪ome people think what we do is sexy and daring, like they show in the movies. It害羞草研究所檚 not like that at all. We have to be steady and consistent.害羞草研究所�

He says planning ahead is one of the most important things a person can do when it comes to the health of their finances害羞草研究所攁nd it害羞草研究所檚 not just about the money.

害羞草研究所淚n a lot of cases we may have one spouse who looked after the finances their whole life and when they pass, the other spouse has to take over. People really need to realize that it害羞草研究所檚 not just about investing, it害羞草研究所檚 also about what happens if anything happens to you. You need to plan for the unforeseen.害羞草研究所�

During stressful times, he adds, the last thing people need is to worry about how their finances will hold out.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 important, no matter what your age, to make sure your affairs are in order. The financial world is more complicated now than ever before. It害羞草研究所檚 important to make sure that all facets of your family害羞草研究所檚 wealth are fully understood, properly integrated, administratively maintained and fit your life, both now and in the years ahead.害羞草研究所�

When Darren isn害羞草研究所檛 helping people plan for financial stability, you害羞草研究所檒l probably find him at the hockey rink, playing or coaching his sons. He also loves to relax with his family, spend time on the golf course or up at local ski hills, or cool off on the water.

害羞草研究所淲e enjoy the wineries here, as well,害羞草研究所� he says. 害羞草研究所淚n fact, if I hadn害羞草研究所檛 gone into financial advising, I害羞草研究所檇 probably own a winery.害羞草研究所�

And keeping in line with his passion for helping others, Darren also volunteers for various organizations.

害羞草研究所淎fter our son害羞草研究所檚 cancer situation,害羞草研究所� he says, 害羞草研究所渨e害羞草研究所檝e been very involved in raising money and awareness for BC Children害羞草研究所檚 Hospital, Ronald McDonald House and Canadian Blood Services.害羞草研究所�

Asked where he sees himself in 10 or 20 years, Darren says: 害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檒l be doing exactly what I害羞草研究所檓 doing now: helping people with their finances. That truly is my life and what I enjoy doing.害羞草研究所�

Story courtesy of , a Black Press Media publication
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