Meet Your Advisors

Stuart Sutton, B.Comm, CFP is a recognized Financial Educator, Speaker and Certified Financial Planner, whom you may have seen featured in The Business Advisor, Thrive and Living55 Plus magazines. Stuart is the author of the “5 Serious Barriers to your Retirement Plans” and co-author of the “Is Now the Opportune Time to Upgrade Your Lifestyle (And Your Financial Advisor)” special reports and the facilitator of “The Big Three Retirement Fears” and “Simple Strategies To Reduce Income and Estate Taxes” seminars.

As a second-generation owner and partner at Sutton, Stuart and his team have been helping families and individuals preserve, protect and pass on their wealth for over 25 years.  Stuart brings a meticulous approach to wealth planning. With a commitment to thorough analysis and technical soundness, Stuart ensures that every decision is backed by data and tailored to meet the unique needs of corporate executives, technical professionals and family business owners.

Stuart joined the family business out of his passion to help people more fully enjoy their hard-earned wealth.  He co-created the Abundant Retirement Process ^TM because he knows that money can be a two-edged sword.  Mismanagement can produce devastating consequences. Proper stewardship can yield great rewards.

It doesn’t take long with Stuart to see why people trust their money and their future to him. He is a warm and personable communicator with a “down-home” style who loves to share his financial wisdom and insights as a presenter to many organizations, such as his church (Calvary Church in Eastview), the Western College of Veterinary Medicine and Teen Challenge Saskatchewan, among others.  His loyal and collaborative nature, combined with a strong educational reputation, makes him a trusted partner in achieving financial success.

Having spent most of his life in Saskatoon, Stuart graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce (Distinction) from the University of Saskatchewan, with a major in Finance.

Stuart shares his leadership experience as a board member at Calvary Associated Gospel Church and Impact Canada Ministries, and he is a past board member of Family Business Association Saskatoon and YFC Saskatoon.  He has also been involved with Family Enterprise Exchange (formerly known as the Canadian Association of Family Enterprise), who recognized Sutton with the national Family Enterprise of the Year Award in 2016.

Stuart has been married to Keri since 1995 and they have three daughters, Ella, Abby, and Emmy.  Stuart and Keri enjoy travelling together and have done their best to pass this travel bug on to the next generation.  Ella has taken this to heart as she decided to move away after high school, enrolling in Architectural Engineering at the University of Waterloo.  Abby is pursuing her education at the College of Kinesiology at the U of S while Emmy is finishing off high school.  Stuart’s favourite team is the Montreal Canadiens, the winningest professional sports franchise in North America (never mind what happened the past 30+ years…)  When he’s not lamenting the latest season’s results, you’ll find him hacking around the golf course, riding the mountain bike trails along the river, or walking their Goldendoodle, Hugo.

Jay Stark, B.Comm., CFP, MFA-P is a recognized Financial Educator, Author, Speaker and Retirement Planner, with a specialized focus on Philanthropy, whom you may have seen on CTV Saskatoon, The Star Phoenix and Thrive magazine.  Jay has released his Special Report, titled “The 7 Mistakes Canadians Make When Giving to Charities”, which can be obtained through Sutton Wealth Planning.

As a Partner and Wealth Advisor, Jay has been successfully advising individuals, families and business owners on how to significantly reduce their income and estate taxes for more than 25 years.

He co-created the Abundant Retirement Process TM out of his passion to help people fulfill their true potential and impact their families and communities in a meaningful way. His expertise has helped hundreds of families realize their goals of giving back and create a lasting legacy.

Jay was honored as the recipient of the 2023 Community Leadership Award at the National Wealth Management Conference for embodying the qualities of an exemplary financial advisor and demonstrating unwavering commitment to giving back.  His dedication to community, rooted in his personal experiences, has allowed him to see firsthand the impact we can have.

After graduating with a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Saskatchewan in 1997, he began his career in the financial services industry. Jay is a member of the NSBA, Family Business Association Saskatoon, and was the Treasurer of the Canadian Association of Gift Planners Saskatchewan chapter for several years. He earned his Master Financial Advisor – Philanthropy designation during Covid, and was appointed to the Saskatoon Community Foundation Board in 2019.

Jay has been married to his high school sweetheart, Sheri, for over 25 years, and they have two lovely daughters, Lexie and Sydney. His daughters are pursuing their education at Edwards School of Business. Lexie enjoys her dad’s unique sense of humor so much that she joined the Sutton team as an intern during the summer and continues to assist as her schedule permits throughout the year.  Sydney does get enough of it, so she works with Blue Moose Media to support her way through school. Jay loves to explore with his family by going on long canoe adventures in Northern Saskatchewan, being sure to stop at Barker Island, a cherished spot they visit annually. The Chicago Blackhawks are his favorite hockey team; however, he prefers to play sports rather than watch them. His favorite activities include pickleball, hiking, skiing, and zip-lining.

Tim Hansen, B.Comm., CFP, CEA is a recognized Speaker, Financial Educator, Author and Wealth Planner, whom you may have seen on CTV and CBC and in the Business View and Thrive magazines. He delivers Ted Talks and other educational presentations for the community and organizations including Advocis, Family Enterprise Exchange and the Praxis School of Entrepreneurship. He is of the 31 authorities across the United States and Canada that was invited to contribute a chapter to the Amazon #1 Best Seller Build Wealth Like A Shark featuring Kevin Harrington, original Shark on ABC TV’s Shark Tank, who has grown 20 companies to over $100 million in revenue each. For the past several years Tim has been a mentor in the Raj Manek Mentorship Program, which pairs experienced business mentors with young entrepreneurs, and he produced the Financial Toolkit they provide on their website.

As a partner and Certified Financial Planner at Sutton, Tim has been helping successful families and business owners preserve, protect and pass on their wealth since 2004. Tim is a specialist in Group Retirement Savings and he enjoys working with his wife Andrea (also a partner with Sutton) in building Total Rewards Strategies for businesses. Tim is passionate about helping successful people take control of their wealth and fulfill their dreams. He knows that for most families, their wealth is in control of them, and this leads to confusion, fear and worry. Through the Sutton Abundant Retirement Process™, which Tim co-created, his clients instead achieve a unique impact, while enjoying a lifestyle of freedom and peace of mind about their wealth.

Originally from Theodore, Saskatchewan, Tim graduated from the University of Saskatchewan in 2001 with a Bachelor of Commerce. Tim is a member of Advocis, as well as the NSBA, Chamber of Commerce, and Benefits Alliance.

Tim and Andrea have two children, Victoria and Broderick. Tim enjoys being involved in his children’s activities and has coached both of them in minor hockey. An avid sports fan, Tim’s teams are the Vancouver Canucks, and the Saskatchewan Roughriders, where he is a season ticket holder, and he enjoys taking in as many games as possible. He also plays hockey recreationally, and he is known for his powerful skating stride and soft hands around the net.

In his spare time, Tim enjoys many outdoor activities, from hunting, fishing, boating, hiking and skiing, many of which they enjoy together as a family at their cabin at Fishing Lake. Tim also enjoys the arts, collecting coins, drawing, painting and dabbling in photography, as well as reading personal development books. Tim tries to keep everything light through his keen sense of humour, and he puts those around him at ease through is easy-going and fun-loving nature.

Find Out More About Tim Hansen and how a single screw changed his career trajectory forever in his 2021 interview with My Business Magazine.

Melanie is a Senior Service Manager with Sutton Wealth Planning, working closely with and assisting Tim Hansen.  As Senior Service Manager, Melanie develops and manages the relationship with Sutton’s personal clients to ensure their needs are being met and they are connected to the firm.

Melanie graduated from the Saskatoon Business College with Honors in Administrative Assistant in 2002.  She started with Sutton Financial Group in 2012 and has worked in the Financial Services industry since 2004.  Melanie holds her Life Insurance and Accident & Sickness Insurance Licence and enjoys the additional challenge this designation brings.  Melanie is also working to obtain her Human Resources Management certificate through Saskatchewan Polytechnic.

Melanie has been married to her husband, Dave for 34 years.  Together, they have three sons, Andrew, Matthew and Daniel.  Melanie and Dave have four beautiful grandsons and one long awaited granddaughter, aged 9 to 16, that they enjoy spending time with and attending their various sporting events and activities.  She enjoys gardening, cooking and sewing in her spare time, as well as the peaceful aspects of small-town living. During the summer months, Melanie and Dave enjoy fishing and spending time at Delaronde Lake.  They welcomed a Goldendoodle named “Bella” to their family in September 2021 and in November 2022 they adopted Bella’s Dad “Dane” when he retired from duties.  They enjoy activities, long walks and many cuddles with their furry family members.

Danae Scott, BBA., is a Service Manager at Sutton Wealth Planning of Assante Capital Management Ltd. She joined our Sutton team in 2020. She assists Stuart Sutton with client meeting preparation and processing and also provides administrative to support directly to clients. In addition to wealth team support, she consults pension clients on plan recommendations and leads education sessions and individual consultations with employees of our Sutton Benefits & Pension division.

Danae graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from the University of Regina, currently holds her Life Insurance License and Canadian Securities Course.

Danae is originally from a small Saskatchewan town and embraces the city life here in Saskatoon. She is a proud auntie and loves spending time with her two nephews. She also has 2 cats, Penny and Piper, who are very cute and cuddly. In her spare time, she likes to socialize and play team sports, such as hockey and beach volleyball. Outside of the extraversion, Danae likes to maintain her health and wellness by practicing self-care activities.

Justin Primeau, B.Comm is a Service Manager with Sutton Wealth Planning, providing a supportive role to Jay Stark.  He joined our team in October of 2022 and works as part of our team to manage and enhance the client experience and services we provide.

Justin convocated from the University of Saskatchewan in April 2022, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce in Finance. Justin completed the Canadian Securities Course and Wealth Management Essentials this past year and is currently working towards his Registered Representative licensing. Justin’s previous experience includes roles in customer service and financial service in the banking industry.

Justin enjoys spending time with his family, friends, and partner Sydney, while maintaining an active lifestyle through various outdoor activities including golfing, running, and biking. He officiates elite hockey in his spare time as well, working up the ranks into U SPORTS and the Western Hockey League.

Marsha Luiten joined the team in February 2024 as the Office Manager and brings with her over 20 years of industry experience.  She is passionate about collaborating with others and fostering a productive work environment. She leads in areas of efficiency and streamlining processes to enhance the day-to-day operations and support the success of the team.

Marsha earned her Business Admin Certificate in 1990 and continues taking courses throughout her career to further her understanding in the areas of technology, administration practices, accounting, sales, and marketing. She is fueled to make things easier for everyone so you will often find her watching a tutorial to better understand a program to get the most out of it.

Originally from Regina, Marsha moved to Saskatoon in 2012 and loves exploring the city’s great restaurants and great walking areas.  She married her husband Kevin in 2016 and they love spending time together reading, walking, and cycling.  During the summer months you will find Marsha spending time in her garden and enjoying the sun on her front porch, while in winter she will spend long hours knitting scarves, hats, blankets for those in need.

Renee Zacharias, Executive Assistant, joined the team in December of 2022 and is the coordinator for the wealth team, providing support for meeting preparation and data integrity.

Renee graduated from Saskatoon Business College with her Business Administration Diploma in 1990. She spent 16 years in a supportive role and had 5 years of managerial experience before joining us. She loves learning new things and has a superpower helping others with organization and efficiency to achieve success.

Renee loves to be active and spend time with family. She met her husband, Derek, on her first day of kindergarten. They are only 5 days apart in age and they have been married for over 30 years. They have 3 adult daughters and 2 sons-in-law, Samantha, Ash & Mitch, Jess and Caleb. Renee and her husband feel privileged to be grandparents in 2022 when Ash and her husband Mitch had their precious baby boy, Luca.

Renee enjoys playing sports with family whenever the opportunity arises, puzzling on a cold winter night, and doing escape room games with friends. A highlight every year is vacationing at Fairmont Hot Springs with family doing as many outdoor activities together as possible and playing games around the table in the evening.

Lorraine joined the team April 1, 2019. She is responsible for reception and assisting the team in the day-to-day activities to help keep Sutton running smoothly.

Lorraine graduated from Saskatoon Business College in 1987. After graduation, she worked for a law firm for 4 years. She used the experience she gained there to work for an agriculture lender for 2 years and then decided to raise a family and run a daycare business for 25 years.

Lorraine and her husband, Brad were married in 1990. They have two grown children, Michelle and Ryan. Michelle and Kris were married in 2021. Ellis was born October of 2022. They enjoy going out to the lake, have a permanent site at Poplar Beach, Wakaw Lake. She enjoys reading and playing golf. She is also a Rider fan and enjoys warm vacations.