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About Moat Financial
Moat Financial was founded in 2023 by Chris Thom after fifteen years at a respected Vancouver based firm. The goal at Moat is to put clients first, provide independent advice and use a variety of investment tools to deliver quality service. Our investment philosophy is based on the principles of value investing. We build investment policy statements and portfolios for each individual client based on their specific financial goals.
We are a Registered Portfolio Manager with the BC, Alberta, Ontario and Nova Scotia Securities Commissions.
Safety of Client Assets - While Moat is responsible for making all client investment decisions, they are safeguarded at another institution. We outsource the custody and other “back-office” functions of our business to Raymond James Correspondent Services. This means that clients have the same safety and CIPF coverage they would have at any larger or bank owned firm. By using an outside custodian, clients have an extra layer of protection against misappropriation or insolvency.
We are also members of the Portfolio Managers Association of Canada (PMAC).
Chris Thom CIM, DMS, FCSI®
Investment Philosophy
Chris Thom’s investment philosophy is based on the principles of value investing—finding quality businesses that are trading at attractive valuations. He works with each of his clients to develop an Investment Policy Statement to act as a roadmap for how their assets will be managed. Each portfolio is constructed specifically for that client and their needs over the short, medium, and long term using a variety of investment tools. An integral part of Chris’s investment strategy for clients is the use of options. Incorporating various options strategies in client accounts helps to increase investment income, reduce portfolio volatility, and hedge against large market declines.
Commitment to Clients
Building great relationships with clients is one of the most important goals Chris has. His number one commitment as a Portfolio Manager is to put the interest of clients first. Clients know that he understands their financial goals so they can work together to help achieve them. While individuals have more access to markets and information than ever before, the world is a more cluttered and complicated place than at any time in history. Chris’s clients can count on him to work through the noise, stick with the plan, and invest their assets accordingly.
Professional Qualifications
Since starting in the industry in 2008, Chris has completed numerous industry courses and achieved the Canadian Investment Manager (CIM), Derivatives Market Specialist (DMS), and Fellow of the Canadian Securities Institute (FCSI®) designations. Options are an area of great focus for him. Using them as a tool to help clients generate income, reduce risk, and enter or exit positions has been an important value-add for his clients over the years. Chris has been a panelist at a number of Montreal Exchange events to discuss these strategies with both retail investors and industry professionals. He has also made numerous guest appearances on BNN Bloomberg segments such as Business Day and The Close and is currently the host of a bi-weekly show called Know Your Options. In 2022, he was named one of Business in Vancouver's Top Forty Under 40 which recognizes professionals who demonstrate excellence in their fields, leadership and community contribution.
Community Involvement
Chris is currently the President of the Westsider Wrestling Club which is a non-profit organization that provides wrestling programs in Vancouver and the North Shore for children, teens and adults. As of 2022, Westsider is the largest wrestling club in BC. He is also past Board Chair of the BC Wrestling Association which was a volunteer role he held from 2020 to 2024. From 2016-2022 he was a Board Member at the Vancouver Society of Children's Centres (VSOCC) where he served as Treasurer and Nominations Committee Chair. In addition to these board roles, he coaches Vancouver Community Baseball.
Contact
Direct: 604-602-7321
Media
Links to recent articles, webinars and interviews:
- BNN - Market Call July 31, 2025
- BNN - Know Your Options July 17, 2025
- BNN - Know Your Options July 3, 2025
- BNN - Know Your Options June 19, 2025
- BNN - Know Your Options - June 5, 2025
- BNN - Know Your Options - May 22, 2025
- BNN - Know Your Options - May 8, 2025
- BNN - Know Your Options - April 24, 2025
- BNN - Know Your Options - April 10, 2025
- BNN Bloomberg February 18, 2025
- BNN Bloomberg February 11, 2025
- Globe and Mail February 10, 2025
- BNN Bloomberg January 9, 2025 (no link)
- BNN Bloomberg November 7, 2024
- BNN Bloomberg August 7, 2024 (Start 14:10)
- BNN Bloomberg July 12, 2024
- BNN Bloomberg June 14, 2024
- BNN Bloomberg May 28, 2024
- BNN Bloomberg May 2, 2024
- BNN Bloomberg Dec 20, 2023
- BNN Bloomberg Nov 24, 2023
- Globe and Mail Nov 1, 2023
Miguel de Sousa CIM, BA (Economics)
Professional Qualifications
Since 2016, Miguel has worked in a variety of different areas of the investment industry, which has solidified his understanding of all aspects of the business.
From an early age, Miguel has been passionate about wealth management. He holds a degree in Economics from Simon Fraser University and has achieved the Canadian Investment Manager (CIM) designation.
Miguel comes from a combat sports background, where he achieved numerous provincial, national, and international titles in wrestling and judo. In 2012, he was selected to represent the Canadian wrestling team as a training partner at the London Olympics.
Community Involvement
Since 2017, Miguel has coached at the Westsider Wrestling Club. In addition to passing on knowledge as a coach, he has acted as a training partner for numerous elite athletes, helping to push them to their maximum potential. In 2023, he was a member of the Hosting Committee for the U15/17/19 National Wrestling Championships in Vancouver, which hosted over 1,000 athletes. The committee delivered the largest budget event of its kind in Canada and managed a profit for the BC Wrestling Association.
Another passion of Miguel’s has been mentoring SFU Economics students, where he hopes to pass on the same passion for investing that he has developed over the years.
Contact
Direct: 604-602-7322