Sheldon Rice, CIM, FCSI
Since becoming a Canadian Investment Manager (CIM) in 1994, Sheldon has earned a reputation for top-quality service, careful financial management, and the ability to consistently listen and respond to the needs of his clients. In 1997, he qualified to be a Fellow of the Canadian Securities Institute (FCSI), a premier industry designation requiring the highest levels of professional competence and ethical conduct. He rounds out his qualifications in 2001 with the Professional Financial Planning Course (PFP). Sheldon believes it is important to make access to financial planning easy for his clients. With this in mind he completed the Disability and Life Insurance Program and is now licensed to provide his client with financial solutions through Life Insurance & Estate Planning.
A strong believer in giving back to the community, Sheldon is currently: a member of the Algonquin College School of Business Advisory Committee, Vice-Chair for the Ewashko Singers, member of the University of Ottawa Heart Institute Foundation Leaders At Heart, and member of Project North.
In the past Sheldon has been: Vice Chair Ottawa Arts Court Foundation , Chairman of the nominations committee for the Ottawa Chamber of Commerce Business Achievement Awards, member of the Ambassadors Circle with the Community Foundation of Ottawa, a member of the Royal Ottawa Foundation for Mental Health Inspiration Awards; Treasurer and "Crayons & Cravats Gala" Chair for the Canadian Institute of Child Health (CICH); Treasurer and Program Champion for the Ottawa Chapter of Canadian Advanced Technology Alliance's Women in Technology (WIT); Chair of Volunteers for Capital Talk's Capital Night Fever (raising money for the Élisabeth Bruyère Health Centre), 2005, 2006 Title Sponsor for St Joe's Women’s Centre Quality of Life Awards and Annual Sponsor for the Women's Business Network (WBN)
In addition, he has taught financial courses at local high schools, Women and Wealth Seminars at Algonquin College & Carleton University and Early Retirement Seminars for Carleton University.
Sheldon stays involved in the business community with memberships in the Ottawa Chamber of Commerce where was a member of the Ambassadors Core (2005, 2006 and 2007); the Canadian Club of Ottawa, Women of Influence; and the Ottawa Whisky Lovers Society (Single Malt Whisky tasting and dinner club). He is past president of the Manotick and District Kinsmen and past Treasurer of the Ottawa Chapter of the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers (CAPS),
Other achievements include being one of eight finalists in the 2006 Ottawa Chamber of Commerce "Business Person of the Year". Also, in 2006 he was selected as a "Forty Under 40" Award recipient. Between January 2008 and December 2014, Sheldon’s timely and interesting financial article could be found on a quarterly basis in Fifty-Five Plus Magazine
Sheldon knew early on in his career that his purpose was to help women achieve personal and professional financial security. As a young adult, Sheldon observed his mother’s dedication and strength as she juggled two jobs to support the family after her husband passed away without life insurance protection. This influential role model laid the foundation as Sheldon noticed that women, in addition to working full-time, often ‘wear many hats’ in the family - raising children, operating businesses, managing households, caring for elderly parents, and giving back to the community. He knew that since Women Business Owners are so busy they have little time to devote to financial planning and investing. With this in mind, Sheldon creates innovative personal plans which are simple to understand and easy to follow. His focus is on growing your investments so you can focus on growing your business.
Sheldon founded the first networking group of its kind in Ottawa - The Women Business Owners IDEX (Ideas Exchange) Forum - as a safe and supportive get together where Business women can network, share experiences and take away tangible skills and ideas that benefit them personally and professionally. Local Women experts present topics ranging from “How to Gain a Competitive Edge” to “Deciphering a Wine List for a Successful Business Dinner”. WBO IDEX Forum events are complimentary to Rice Team clients and held from 4:30pm-6:30pm on the second Thursday of every month at the Raymond James office located at 750-45 O'Connor Street in Ottawa.
Sheldon has made it his team’s focus to build a financial planning practice with the purpose of supporting women business owners in their financial planning and day-to-day financial decision making. The Rice Team realizes that money and investments are not gender specific, however, the realities of financial planning often are. For example, according to Statistics Canada, women outlive men by an average of 7 years; also, as business owners, women do not receive maternity benefits, although it is often the woman who takes time from her career to raise the children. The Rice Team makes it their focus to understand the realities of women business owners, and help them achieve their goals.
In addition to the traditional areas of financial and retirement planning, wealth management, minimizing taxes, income protection and estate planning, Sheldon encourages his clients to call him when they face any large financial decision – whether they are buying or selling a business, settling a family estate, leasing or buying a car, or buying or selling investment property- Sheldon is known for helping his clients evaluate their options, and he directs them to other professionals and experts if necessary. This allows women business owners to make the healthiest decision, spend less time worrying about how to design a secure financial future, and spend more time on developing their businesses and doing other things that are important to them. Things like spending time with family and friends or giving back to the community.
Sheldon loves traveling, camping, reading books on personal & professional development and entertaining at his home in Crystal Bay in Ottawa's beautiful west-end.