Industry Experience

Marvin has over 30 years of comprehensive knowledge and experience across several areas, including portfolio management, risk management, alternative asset class strategies, business sales, taxation, succession planning, insurance, family legacy and continuity planning, private and public foundations, philanthropic consulting and institutional consulting. Marvin is the Chair of the Investment Committee and the Chair of the Wealth Strategy Group at Schmidt Family Office™ which develop tailored wealth management solutions and advanced planning strategies for clients.

Designations & Degrees

Marvin was educated at The Wharton Business School at the University of Pennsylvania where he earned his Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA) designation, one of the highest designations that can be attained by an investment consultant. Marvin further holds the Certified Financial Planner® designation and is a member of the FP Canada Standards Council. The CFP certification is considered the standard for the financial planning profession worldwide and attests that designation holders have demonstrated the knowledge, skills, experience and ethics to examine their clients’ entire financial picture, at the highest level of complexity required of the profession. Marvin also holds the Canadian and International Trust and Estate Practitioner designation (TEP) which formally identifies him as a qualified practitioner dealing with trusts and estates. He is a member of the Edmonton Estate Planning Council and a member of the Edmonton Chapter for the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners. He is a former board member of the Canadian Association of Gift Planners.

Marvin is a University of Alberta graduate from The School of Business. In 2002, the University of Alberta recognized Marvin’s outstanding early career accomplishments, honouring him with the University of Alberta Horizon Award. Early in his career, Marvin was named one of the youngest Vice-Presidents in Merrill Lynch’s global firm history.

Marvin has also earned the Family Enterprise Advisor (FEA) designation, equipping him with specialized expertise to work with business families on the unique opportunities and challenges they face as they transition wealth and leadership across generations.

Boards & Councils

Marvin has always been active in his community, locally, nationally and internationally, and has been appointed to many boards. Marvin is currently a member of the Council of Founders for Innovation Masterminds (imYEG) which is a highly prestigious group of key opinion leaders from a diverse range of industries in North America who mentor CEOs and innovation leaders during the early stages of commercialization of their innovations. Marvin served six years on The Canadian Hunger Foundation’s International Board of Directors. Finishing his term as Vice Chair, Marvin stepped down from this position in 2014. With its Headquarters in Ottawa and Field Offices around the world, The Canadian Hunger Foundation was a non-profit organization dedicated to enabling poor rural communities in developing countries to attain sustainable livelihoods. Marvin is a regular participant at the Annual World Business Forum in New York, which brings together 4,500 of the top business leaders and global thinkers from around the world.

In 2015, Marvin founded the only national public foundation of its kind in Canada, Expand Hope, and is currently Chair of the Board. Working tirelessly to eradicate poverty in some of the most vulnerable communities in the world, Expand Hope is a unique social impact organization connected to the social enterprise and wealth management practice of Schmidt Family Office™ and their Wealth for Good ™ platform. Together, the platform provides access to education and opportunities in areas where access is currently limited or non-existent. Through their Global Impact Trip program, they create life changing and transformative experiences by bringing together some of the most privileged people in the world to intersect with some of the most vulnerable people in the world to learn from each other and experience mutual transformation.

Accomplishments & Accolades

Marvin was principal of a high-performance professional coaching company serving the wealth management industry and was the founder of a software company that was later sold to one of the 5 major banks in Canada. Marvin attributes some of his greatest learning to spending time with and interviewing some great leaders such as Mark Victor Hansen, Dan Sullivan, Sir John Templeton, John Gray, Thayer Willis, Brian Tracy, Kathy Kolbe, Hyrum Smith, David Foot, and Harry Dent, to name a few. In 2002 Marvin finished 2nd in a Global Race and Scavenger Hunt that took him around the planet in 23 days competing in 22 cities and 14 countries while raising funds for various global charitable organizations. In 2008 Marvin competed in the Ironman Canada triathlon.

Outside of the Office

Marvin is married to Leah, and they have three children. Together, they are active within their church and their children’s school. They enjoy travel and their active lifestyle.

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