Mr. Zhang, thank you for agreeing to do this interview.
To start, please tell our readers who you are.
Thank you for the honour of this profile. I am very passionate about
the private capital markets in Canada and would be pleased to
share my story with your readers. I am a registered
dealing representative with Pinnacle Wealth Brokers and the Vice
President of the Asian Division. I have been with Pinnacle since
2011 and currently reside in Surrey, British Columbia with my
wife and two children. I have been living in British Columbia since
2013 and manage a Pinnacle office in Richmond, British Columbia.
Mr. Zhang what is your role as Vice President of Pinnacle’s
Asian Division?
I am a dealing representative like others in my office but also the
Branch Administrator of Pinnacle’s Richmond, BC office location.
Additionally, I am also responsible for managing and growing
Pinnacle’s Asian Division throughout Canada with a current focus
on BC and Alberta that have large Asian - speaking communities.
I regularly communicate and meet with the Executive Team at
Pinnacle’s head office in Calgary, Alberta as we build the Division
and execute our business plan and strategy.
Why does Pinnacle have an Asian Division?
Pinnacle developed the Asian Division since there are many
Asian-speaking investors in Alberta, British Columbia and Ontario.
These investors have available capital and are looking for
investment opportunities other than the public markets. However,
cultural and linguistic issues were often a barrier, therefore,
Pinnacle dedicated its resources to focus on this burgeoning
investor base that I now have the privilege of leading. Moreover,
as an Asian Canadian, private markets investor and dealing
representative, I believe I am best suited to can overcome these
cultural and linguistic barriers and help Asian investors understand
and invest in suitable private market investments.
You know, Chinese investors are very interested in real estate
since many of them made a lot of money in China in this asset
class which allowed many to immigrate to Canada. I find many
Chinese investors have limited knowledge about investing in
the private markets and I see myself foremost as an educator of
the rules and regulations involving the exempt market in Canada
and of the various products that are available for investors. I find
myself often explaining how things work in Canada versus China
and this facilitates a better understanding. Once this is done, I can
focus on the investor’s needs including risk tolerance and explain
various investments and risk factors and determine which are the
most suitable for the client.
Ok, so now that we know what you do, let’s back up and tell us
where you were born and your educational background.
I was born in a small town in the Jilin Province of China. Going to
university was really the only way to better your life. I did well in
school and I was fortunate enough to attend the Jilin Chemical
Institute of Technology where I graduated in 1989 with a Bachelor
Degree in Chemical Engineering.
After graduation, I worked as a Chemical Engineer for 11 years
[1989-2000] at JiHua Petroleum PetroChina. I gained tremendous
knowledge and experience while working there, which allowed me
to hone my Engineering skills and work ethic as I advanced in the
company. While working at PetroChina, I also completed my Masters’
Degree in 1998 at the Beijing University of Chemical Technology.
As my career advanced within PetroChina, I was provided with
increasing responsibilities including project management involving
process improvements that included feasibility studies, risk
assessments, market analysis and decisionmaking for new
projects. It was an exciting and very busy time in my life.
How and why did you make the decision to immigrate to
Canada?
Actually, I never imagined that I would have the opportunity to
immigrate to Canada. In fact, I wasn’t event aware that it was
possible for a Chinese citizen to come to Canada until 1999 when
I had the opportunity to leave China as part of building a joint
venture that allowed me to travel to Singapore and Hong Kong.
Pinnacle dedicated its
resources to focus on this
burgeoning investor base
that I now have the
privilege of leading.
I see myself foremost as an
educator of the rules and
regulations involving the
exempt market in
Canada and of the
various products that are
available for investors.
