Profile
“Our mission is simple: we empower financial planners to spend more time building trust, deepening client relationships, and growing their business”
Chris Arthur, Bold Wealth
Catherine Milum, president and CEO of iA Clarington Investments, has spent more than two decades shaping the Canadian wealth management landscape.
Her career includes impactful leadership roles and high-profile industry honours, such as being named one of Canada’s Most Powerful Women by the Women’s Executive Network and earning the Women in Capital Markets Champions of Change award.
As the 2025 Leading Woman in Wealth, Milum exemplifies a leadership style rooted in learning, collaboration, and empowerment – principles that extend beyond her team to the advisors and clients her organization serves.
“From the moment I stepped into my first leadership role, I knew I wanted to build my career around leadership,” she says. “I’m deeply passionate about supporting my teams and mentoring emerging talent.”
In an industry historically dominated by men, Milum’s rise to CEO required resilience and adaptability. She has transformed both positive and challenging experiences into a leadership approach that prioritizes inclusion and growth. “I take my responsibility to uplift and support others very seriously,” she explains.
Rather than relying on rigid hierarchies, Milum focuses on creating clear paths and shared visions for her team. Early in her leadership journey, she drew inspiration from military leaders, discovering that true strength lies in loyalty and care.
“In military leadership, ‘love’ is understood as a deep commitment to the well-being of others – building trust, loyalty, and unity by putting the team’s needs first and standing by them under all circumstances. It means going to the wall for people and having their backs.”
This philosophy of trust and collaboration informs how Milum leads iA Clarington’s business strategy. By listening and learning from her team, she fosters an environment where ideas thrive – an approach mirrored in how the firm partners with advisors.
“I prioritize creating opportunities for engagement and growth,” she says. “That starts with listening.”
In today’s volatile markets, Milum’s leadership translates into actionable solutions for advisors and their clients. Under her guidance, iA Clarington has introduced innovative products like the Multi-Strategy Alternative Pool, designed to deliver steady, long-term return potential amid uncertainty.
“Private markets are increasingly important as investors become more sophisticated,” she notes. “It’s about protecting client outcomes, not chasing short-term gains.”
Education is another cornerstone of Milum’s strategy. Her team ensures advisors have direct access to portfolio managers and timely insights, equipping them to guide clients confidently.
“We make it a priority to get in front of advisors as often as possible,” she emphasizes.
For Milum, leadership is not just about managing people – it’s about shaping an ecosystem where advisors, clients, and teams can succeed together. Her ability to blend vision, empathy, and strategic thinking makes her a true trailblazer in wealth management.
26 Wellington St. E., Toronto, ON M5E 1S2
647 588 4440
catherine.milum@ia.ca
ca.linkedin.com/in/catherinemilum
iaclarington.com
Catherine Milum
President and CEO
iA Clarington Investments
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“Whether I’m in a strategy session or a hiring meeting, I try to lead with understanding. Financial planners are under immense pressure, and so are our internal teams. The best way to earn trust is to truly listen”
Chris Arthur,
Bold Wealth
2003–2013
2013–2022
2022–2023
2023–Present
2022–Present
VP Sales, Ontario at Manulife Investments
2003–2013
2013–2022: Head of Wealth Sales at Manulife Investments
2019: Named one of Canada’s Most Powerful Women by the Women’s Executive Network
2019: Women in Capital Markets Champions of Change Award
2013–2022
Head of Retail Distribution at Manulife Investments
2022–2023
President and CEO at iA Clarington Investments
2023–Present
2022–Present: Managing Director at Medicus Pension Plan
2024: Industry Leadership Finalist for Workplace Benefits Awards
2025: Named to Benefits and Pensions Monitor’s Hot List
2022–Present
Assistant Vice President and Senior Broker at MJ Hall & Company since 2018
Present
Milestones
Aug 2022
Milestones
Sept 2021
Feb 2022
Apr 2022
Jul 2022
Aug
2022
Suncorp Bank introduces Solar Home Bonus offer for customers who are choosing renewable energy for their homes
Sept 2021
Month-on-month market share growth commences
Feb 2022
Suncorp Bank wins the Canstar award for most outstanding value in investment loans
Apr 2022
Suncorp Bank wins Money Magazine’s Bank of the Year and Business Bank of the Year awards for the fifth year in a row
Jul 2022
Suncorp Bank’s turnaround times are the lowest they have ever been. The lender becomes Australia’s first certified carbon neutral bank for both its operation and transaction services
Aug 2022
Milestones
