Monday, 17 November, 2025
1 pm EST

Accelerating ETF Adoption in Wealth Management

Practical Strategies for Dealers to Bridge the Gap Between Innovation and Advisor Usage

In partnership with

Why attend

ETFs are reshaping wealth management, offering new avenues for growth and innovation. Yet, many advisors are still navigating the practical considerations of integrating ETFs into their practices. At the same time, many MFDA dealers are still in exploratory mode when it comes to enabling ETF access for their advisors. They’re navigating complexities around trading, settlement, and custody—functions that are standard for IIROC dealers but often require custom solutions in MFDA environments.

In this concise, 45-minute webinar, industry leaders from CIBC and Univeris will guide you through the current ETF landscape, highlight key trends, and share actionable strategies for enhancing adoption.

We’ll start by setting the stage with an overview of ETF growth and the importance of addressing adoption in today’s market. Next, we’ll explore recent innovations in ETF products and flows, including—but not limited to—bond ETFs, and discuss how these developments are driving change. The session continues with a reality check from advisors, focusing on why ETF adoption matters for client access, retention, and business growth.

A practical demo will illustrate how technology can streamline ETF enablement for advisors, followed by a real-world success story from a dealer who has successfully enhanced their ETF offering. We’ll wrap up with a summary of key takeaways and an open Q&A session.

The key take-aways

Understanding the ETF Integration Gap:

Learn about the current state of ETF adoption, particularly the challenges MFDA dealers face in complex areas like trading, settlement, and custody, and why this is a barrier for advisors.

Key Trends and Product Innovations:

Gain insights into the latest trends in the ETF landscape, including growth drivers, product innovations (like bond ETFs), and how these developments are reshaping the market.

Actionable Strategies for Enhanced Adoption:

Discover practical, real-world strategies and technology solutions to streamline ETF enablement for advisors, leading to better client access, retention, and business growth.

Leveraging Technology for Operational Efficiency:

See how technology can directly simplify the operational complexities of integrating ETFs, moving MFDA firms past the "exploratory mode" and into successful deployment.

The webinar panel

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Markus Otema, Executive Director, Automated Market Making | CIBC Capital Markets

Markus is the lead ETF trader within the Automated Market Making team at CIBC Capital Markets. He has 18 years of international capital markets and asset management experience which he has gained through working in fixed income trading and portfolio management roles at a variety of financial institutions spanning New York City, London, Frankfurt, and Toronto. Prior to CIBC, Mr. Otema was at Grayhawk, a Canadian- based multi-family office where he was a portfolio manager. Previously, he was a fixed income portfolio manager at BMO GAM, a partner at Algonquin Capital, and a market maker of European government bonds at Jefferies and Desdner/Commerzbank.

Cam Gil, Head of Execution Services - Managing Director | CIBC Capital Markets

Camilo (Cam) Gil is the Head of Execution at CIBC within Global Equities, overseeing teams responsible for all cash equity execution and market-making activities, including high-touch (single stock, portfolio trading, Exchange-Traded Funds) and electronic trading, as well as the management of retail trading desks. In this capacity, CIBC is dedicated to providing structuring, liquidity, and trading expertise to a diverse client base comprising Asset Managers, Pension Plans, Life Insurance Companies, Hedge Funds, Banks, Central Banks, and Sovereign Wealth Funds. He also co-heads CIBC’s Clearing business.

Sam DiTella, Executive Director & Head, ETF Distribution | CIBC Global Asset Management

Sam DiTella provides strategic direction and leadership in the overall management of Exchange Traded Funds (ETF) distribution activities across CIBC Global Asset Management. He leads the ETF Specialist Team and works collaboratively with the channel distribution leaders to build CIBC’s ETF footprint and assets under management.

Mr. DiTella joined CIBC Global Asset Management in 2025 and brings with him more than 25 years of experience in the investment industry, specializing in mutual fund, ETF, and institutional distribution. Most recently, he served as Head of Intermediary Sales & National Accounts at a Big 6 Canadian bank. In this position, he played a pivotal role in expanding their ETF business. Earlier in his career, he led both institutional and product development teams at major Canadian asst managers.

Reggie Alvares, Vice President, Dealer | Sun Life Financial Investment Services

Reggie Alvare joined Sun Life in January of 2025 as Vice President, Dealer and leads Sun Life Financial Investment Services Inc. Canada (SLFISI) – Sun Life’s registered mutual find distribution organization supporting 2,500 advisors in more than 1,000 communities.

Reggie is an accomplished financial services executive with over 20 years of experience in the wealth and asset management industries; most recently with Alpha One Advisory, where he served independent advisors and business partners committed to revolutionizing and transforming their offering and practices. Prior to Alpha One Advisory, Reggie spent an impressive 20 years at Investment Planning Counsel (IPC), most recently as Executive Vice-President. Reggie is well-respected in the wealth management industry, and a proven leader in driving innovation through platform transformation, thought leadership, building talent, and fostering a culture across organizations that helps advisors build a better business. He brings a comprehensive skill set that stretches from strategic planning to operations and execution, and the ability to adapt to fast changing regulatory, product and technology environments.

Jennifer Li, CFA, Director, Institutional ETF Sales | CIBC Capital Markets

Jennifer leads ETF sales and business development efforts for CIBC Capital Markets, collaborating with investors, issuers, and other stakeholders to deliver ETF exposure ideas, support product innovation, and showcase the full breadth of the firm’s integrated capabilities. She combines creativity, data-driven insights, and thought leadership to elevate CIBC’s institutional presence and deliver holistic value to clients, bringing a multidimensional perspective shaped by her expertise in asset allocation, index solutions, sustainability, and institutional coverage.

Carmine Tullio, President and Chief Executive Officer | Univeris

Carmine founded Univeris in 1991. Previously named CTA Systemsource, the company started as an innovative mutual fund dealer system and has since grown to become a trusted leader in enterprise-level wealth management technology in Canada. Carmine's strong commitment to innovation, corporate integrity, and delivering real value to clients has shaped Univeris into what it is today, a global leader in WealthTech, offering a unique business and technology model with a distinct reputation for technology excellence, product reliability, and a strong focus on client service.

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This webinar is in partnership with

UNIVERIS

Univeris is the leader in enterprise-class retail wealth management solutions for Canada's financial services industry. At Univeris, our focus is to build the best technology to help our clients grow their business and to provide superior competitive advantage.

The Univeris platform, which supports mutual funds, segregated funds, GICs, cash and individual life and health insurance, is the leading retail wealth management solution for wealth firms across Canada. Univeris is the definitive, enterprise-level and single system for wealth management through its integrated management of back office operations, retail product distribution and compliance requirements, and a front office practice management system for advisors.

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