Unpacking Alternatives With Chad Larson

When it comes to alternative investments, few advisors have reshaped the landscape as profoundly as Chad Larson, Partner and Senior Portfolio Manager at MLD Wealth of Canaccord Genuity Wealth Management. At the Wealth Professional Awards 2025, Larson earned the ICM Asset Management Award for Advisor of the Year – Alternative Investments, celebrating his visionary leadership and deep expertise in one of the industry’s most dynamic sectors.

“Winning this award comes down to bold leadership rooted in deep expertise,” Larson said. “We’ve built a niche in the alternative investment landscape by consistently delivering innovative solutions beyond traditional stocks and bonds.”

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A trailblazer in private market access, Larson began integrating alternatives into client portfolios long before they entered the mainstream. Over a decade ago, he helped design a first-of-its-kind, RSP-eligible structure for U.S. multifamily real estate, giving Canadian investors unprecedented direct access to private markets. “I’ve been doing alternatives since before they were cool,” he said with a smile. “It took effort to educate clients, but that foundation of trust and performance set the stage for everything that followed.”

Education remains central to Larson’s philosophy. His book, Beyond Traditional: A Modern-Day Guide for Alternative Investors, simplifies complex concepts and empowers both clients and advisors to navigate the expanding world of alternatives. “Too often, alternatives are treated as a mystery bucket of ‘everything that isn’t stocks or bonds,’” he explained. “I wanted to add clarity and context—because education is the only way forward.”

That same spirit of innovation inspired Larson to create the Alterna Private Income Portfolio—Canada’s first one-ticket alternative income solution featuring 13 curated managers, all rigorously vetted through third-party due diligence. “Alternatives must be treated as portfolios in themselves, not single-use strategies,” he emphasized.

Whether structuring cross-border, tax-efficient vehicles or advancing transparency through education, Larson continues to set a new standard for excellence in alternative investing.

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