Fisgard Asset Management | Our Investment and Mortgage Specialists

Executive Team

Rafer Strandlund

Chief Executive Officer

Rafer Strandlund

Chief Executive Officer

Rafer’s professional career, starting in 1989, includes field and executive experience in real estate (marketing, assessment, property management, project management, development and construction) mortgage financing, banking and investments. A graduate of the British Columbia Institute of Technology, Rafer’s early experience includes positions with one of Canada’s largest credit unions and a Canadian chartered bank.

Sharing approval processes and working with Fisgard’s Mortgage Portfolio Manager, Rafer participates with Fisgard’s executive team developing and implementing time-sensitive mortgage investment guidelines and monitoring real estate values, emerging legislation and economic trends.

Rafer is particularly prominent amongst Fisgard’s trusted mortgage managers and investors in the syndicated mortgage speciality where his practical experience, conservative approach, risk assessment knowledge and reliability are highly respected.

Rafer is a noted work-out manager, successfully deploying such vehicles as special-purpose Limited Partnerships to resolve complex mortgage difficulties. Over three decades of executive and on-the-ground experience Rafer has honed an array of skills that are regularly called into play by lenders, brokers, borrowers and investors.

Dawn Paniz

President

Dawn Paniz

President

Dawn Paniz is President & CFO of Fisgard Asset Management and oversees corporate governance, securities reporting, accounting, audit procedures, investment strategy and mortgage investment selection, staffing as well as managing a client book of business.

Since starting with Fisgard in 1994, Dawn has completed her Real Estate course, property management course, Partners Officers & Directors course, Level 1 CFP, Securities Course and a post Degree in Business Administration specializing in accounting. She served as Director for NEMA and BCMMA and is currently serving her second year on the BCSC Corporate Finance Stakeholder Forum. Dawn is also a founding shareholder of both Fisgard Capital Corporation and Fisgard Capital II Corporation and a member of the credit committee of the FAMC. She is also currently licensed with the Mortgage Brokers Association of British Columbia and has held this license since January 1997.

In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her four daughters, walking her dogs and traveling. She also loves the opportunity to meet with investors to get recommendations on where to travel.

Hali Noble

Managing Director

Hali Noble

Managing Director

Hali is the Managing Director at Fisgard Asset Management. She is a real estate and mortgage professional having spent her entire career as a realtor and mortgage lender. She has been involved in numerous trade associations, having been the Chair of Mortgage Professionals Canada and President of CMBA-BC (Canadian Mortgage Brokers Association – BC) and currently serving as a Director and member of the executive committee for CAMLA (Canadian Alternative Mortgage Lenders Association).

She is a highly-respected and sought-after speaker, panelist and moderator at industry events nationally and internationally, specializing in non-bank/private lending.

Hali has received several industry awards for her dedication to the mortgage industry and business practices. Most notable of these recognitions are the induction to the Canadian Mortgage Hall of Fame, being presented with the CMBA-BC Pioneer Award for Lifetime Achievement, awarded the Business Development Manager of the Year by Mortgage Professionals Canada and named one of WXN Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women in the category of Trailblazers. She is proud of her Metis heritage and is a member of the British Columbia Metis Nation.

Wayne Strandlund

Founder

1947-2023

Wayne Strandlund

Founder

1947-2023

Founder of Fisgard Asset Management and Fisgard Capital Corporation, Wayne Strandlund spent his entire career in the real estate, mortgage lending and investment business.

An Honors graduate of the University of Victoria, Wayne has been licensed under the British Columbia Real Estate Act and the British Columbia Mortgage Brokers Act since June 1968. In addition to being a member (and former president) of the Victoria Real Estate Board, a member (and former president) of the British Columbia Real Estate Association, the Canadian Real Estate Association, the Mortgage Brokers Association of British Columbia, the Mortgage Investment Association of British Columbia and the Canadian Association of Mortgage Professionals, Wayne also served six years as a member of the British Columbia Real Estate Council, a regulatory body, and six years as a governor of the Notary Foundation of British Columbia.

While a member of the British Columbia Real Estate Association, Wayne represented the Association on the BC Expropriation Association as well as the Provincial and Territorial Advisory Group (formerly the Treaty Negotiations Advisory Committee). Wayne is also a former President and Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Victoria Conservatory of Music and a former Director of the Victoria Symphony. He is presently the Chancellor and Chairman of the Board of Governors of Royal Roads University while previously serving on the Finance & Audit Committee, the Governance & Nominating Committee and the Program & Research Council.

Management Team

Aaron Power

Financial Controller

Angela Bull

Mortgage Portfolio Manager

Scott Chan

Manager Investment Markets, Dealing Representative

Sonny Strandlund

IT & Project Manager

Sonny Strandlund

IT & Project Manager

Born and raised in Victoria, Sonny has been with Fisgard for over 18 years. Initially working in the mortgage department, he quickly moved over into technology and marketing, both areas he’s particularly passionate in and where he could use his creative touch. He also quickly rose to become Fisgard’s “Jack of all Trades.” Marketing, technology, construction, etc. Whatever we throw at him, he can do it.

As Fisgard’s IT & Project Manager, Sonny oversees all facets of Fisgard’s technology footprint. This includes managing hardware and cloud infrastructure, software development, marketing, web development and more.

Outside of the office, Sonny loves to be with his family, playing golf and testing his palette with some tasty local craft beers.

Investment Team

Jaclyn Hull

Dealing Representative

Fran Atherton

Dealing Representative

Mary-Lou Warren

Dealing Representative

Mortgage Team

Reaza Ali

National Broker Relations Manager

Reaza Ali

National Broker Relations Manager

Reaza has an extensive background in mortgage underwriting, brokering, investment and insurance sales along with a wealth of business development.

He is currently Vice President of CMBA-Ontario and an active member of Mortgage Professionals Canada, the Northern Ontario Lending Partners and the Eastern Ontario Lenders Association. Reaza provides education and support through speaking engagements and has helped develop educational material for the benefit of all mortgage industry participants.
Recognized as an industry leader, Reaza has received numerous industry awards. Most notable of these was being honoured as BDM of the Year at both the Canadian Mortgage Awards and the Mortgage Awards of Excellence. He was also part of the team when Fisgard received the Mortgage Awards of Excellence Lender of the Year (MIC/Private Lender) in 2019, 2020 and 2021 and is regularly highlighted in CMP’s magazines Industry Hotlist and Top BDMs.

In his personal time Reaza enjoys sports, travel, exploring, fast cars, watching his boys grow and learn and having quiet moments in which to think and reflect.

Amy Chen

Broker Relations Manager – Western Canada

Amy Chen

Broker Relations Manager – Western Canada

Amy began her financial services career in 1994, starting with RBC Royal Bank, RBC Dominion Securities, Scotiabank and CIBC, holding various positions from Senior Account Manager, Private Banking Associate, Investment Advisor Associate and Mortgage Specialist. In 2015 she switched gears and joined the mortgage industry as an underwriting manager for a leading brokerage.

Capitalizing on her extensive industry knowledge, outgoing personality, and natural business development skills she became a Business Development Manager with various lenders before finding her home at Fisgard. She is grateful for the variety of positions she has held which provided her with a wealth of knowledge and experience that she now shares with Fisgard and our broker partners.

She is a dedicated member of CMBA-BC, AMBA, MPC and WIMI and is eager to educate mortgage professionals about the benefits of working with non-bank alternative lenders such as Fisgard.

In her spare time, you will find her on the water or a golf course. She is involved in her local community as a softball coach and is a member of the PAC at her daughter Charlie’s school.