Our Team

 

Taryn Gunnlaugson, B.Sc., CFA, CFP

Senior Investment Counsellor & Portfolio Manager

Taryn Gunnlaugson is a dedicated wealth professional with more than 30 years of experience in building client trust.
 
Originally intending to forge a career in chemical forensics, Taryn earned a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Carleton University and did a job orientation with the RCMP. She soon realized that she needed a career with more people contact. Having excelled as a customer service representative at BMO during school, Taryn was chosen to attend the BMO Career Bridge program, spending four intensive days at the BMO Institute for Learning in Toronto. The firm identified her aptitude for an advisory role, taught her the analytical side of the business and trained her as a mutual fund advisor. Taryn began earning the rigorous Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA®) and Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) designations and was promoted to Investment Specialist before becoming an Investment Counsellor. Taryn has been with BMO for 30 years and is grateful for the firm’s incredible career support.

In her local community, Taryn has been an active supporter of The Snowsuit Fund of Ottawa for 12 years. She has served as Chair, Past Chair and board member, and in 2021 stepped down after 10 years of service but remains active with Fund.
 
Taryn lives with her partner and his three teenage children live with them half the time. They are constantly out and about, staying active and close by skiing, golfing, swimming, hiking, challenging each other to a game of tennis or backyard volleyball, and travelling together.

Brooklyn Gauntsmith

Brooklyn Gauntsmith, CPA

Portfolio Associate

Brooklyn earned a Bachelor of Business Administration with an advanced major in Accounting from St. Francis Xavier University in 2019. Brooklyn successfully passed the Common Final Examination (CFE) in September 2020. Since joining our team in January 2022, Brooklyn has obtained her Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) designation, completed the Canadian Securities Course (CSC) with the Canadian Securities Institute, and has passed the CFA Level 1 examination as she works towards the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation. Brooklyn oversees daily administrative tasks along with Connor, and works closely with our BMO Private Wealth Specialists to ensure we have up-to-date and extensive Wealth Plans for our clients.

 

At St. Francis Xavier, Brooklyn was actively involved on campus and within the local community. Brooklyn was the Vice President of Sponsorship with the Women in Business (WiB) Society during her final two years of studies. She developed and implemented a successful sponsorship strategy which enabled the society to hold an Atlantic WiB conference with over 150 female students in attendance. After graduating, Brooklyn was accepted into and completed the Graduate Diploma in Professional Accounting program (GDIPA) at University of Toronto. She lived in Toronto for 4-months before moving across the country to Calgary, working as an auditor with Ernst & Young. After two years, Brooklyn came back to Ottawa, her home-town, and began her career with BMO Private Wealth.

 

Brooklyn enjoys exploring various Gatineau trails with her dog, trying out local restaurants, visiting her partners family out West (Calgary & Kelowna) and a new hobby – learning to play golf. She is excited to be back home, and is looking forward to joining community initiatives again.