About Varsity Strategic Management
The Vision behind Varsity Strategic Management is simple in concept and complex in delivery. Our aim is to bring together the best team of international service providers from around the globe so our clients can have truly independent advice and international planning services.
The name "Varsity" means "The Premier Team" and that is what we have built.
By providing true independent services, VSM can avoid conflicts of interest that often result when financial institutions develop and sell their own investment and planning services. We will seek out the best services and products available and will be hold them accountable to the most important people - our clients.
Our Logo
VSM chose stylized keys as its logo as we feel they demonstrate many aspects of our business. They represent the trust and faith our clients put in us, our clients trust us enough to give us the keys to their financial future and VSM is the key to our clients international success.
Experience
The principals of Varsity Strategic Management are all ex-senior executives of offshore investment and financial services firms and have diverse experience in the realm of international investment and planning services. They have come to VSM to better apply their respective skills and talents directly to the guidance of our client’s international lifestyles.
Maurice Fortier
With ten years of international investment experience, Maurice Fortier has worked with clients all over the world. Most recently he held the position of Vice President, Investment Services with Bayshore Bank & Trust (Barbados) Corporation.
He specializes in working with high net worth individuals, trusts and active business companies. Mr. Fortier’s career began in 1991with BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc., a Canadian Bank owned investment dealer. After moving to Toronto he worked with the Strategy Institute where he gained considerable experience researching and developing education programs on a wide range of topics including equity derivatives, hedge funds, succession planning and international trusts and holding companies.
Direct experience in the offshore investment business began with CIBC’s International Private Banking Group (now CIBC Global Private Banking and Trust). While with CIBC Mr. Fortier was charged with developing and co-ordinating the marketing of offshore banking in Barbados. Following this he spent three years with Assante Asset Management Ltd. as Director International Business Development coordinating all trust, corporate and investment services provided by Assante’s Bermuda affiliate, Assante Asset Management Bermuda Ltd.
In addition to his experience in international investment planning, Maurice also holds a Bachelor of Journalism and has written numerous articles for international investment publications.
Kwame Harris
Kwame D.R Harris is the Investment Services Manager with Varsity Strategic Management Ltd. He has almost three decades of experience in the banking and client services sectors having started his banking career in 1994 with the Royal Bank of Canada in the Commonwealth of Dominica.
In 2000 Mr. Harris moved to Barbados and took a position with the Bank of Nova Scotia where he spent the next nine years and held various roles before leaving the position of banking services officer to join Varsity Strategic Management Ltd. in 2009. Mr Harris holds bachelors with honors in the social sciences which he received from the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus in 2006.