Wellington West Capital, a full-service brokerage company with an office in Campbellville, recently requalified to maintain its status as one of the 50 Best Managed Companies in Canada.

It also ranked as the No. 2 Best Employer in Canada -- last year it was ranked No. 1 -- and the No. 3 Brokerage Firm in Canada; 2007 marked its fourth consecutive year as the No. 1 ranked brokerage firm.

The employer ranking came from the 2008 Hewitt Associates/Report on Business 50 Best Employers survey, while the brokerage firm recognition came from the 2008 Investment Executive Broker Report Card.

Although the awards weren't specifically given to the local staff -- they're for the firm as a whole, which encompasses all its 48 locations -- Senior Investment Advisor Tracey McGrath explained the four-person staff really feels proud of the accomplishments.

That pride is compounded by the fact the firm is employee-owned, which means they're all partners.

"There's a spirit of ownership," McGrath said, adding being designated one of the 50 best managed companies is probably the most notable achievement.

Canada's 50 Best Managed Companies program is sponsored by Deloitte, CIBC Commercial Banking, National Post and Queen's School of Business.

Each year, hundreds of entrepreneurial companies compete for this designation in a rigorous and independent process that evaluates their management skills and practices.

After it has won -- which it did in 2006 -- it can retain the designation for two additional years, subject to annual reviews.

All in all, Wellington West Capital has qualified for the award for 12 years, McGrath said.

"This tells (the public) we're a terrific Canadian company," she said.

Wellington West, which started in 1993, has become one of the largest and fastest growing independent full service investment operations in Canada, McGrath said.

The Campbellville branch -- located at 69 Main St. N. -- opened two years ago and specializes in dealing with multi-generational families and the transfer of wealth.

McGrath has been a financial advisor for 18 years and said she loves her job because it combines the two things she enjoys -- working with money and working with people.

When a client hires an advisor from a firm like Wellington West, it's like he's enlisting a chief financial officer to become a partner in his life, McGrath explained.

She added although the company deals with wealth management, it's not only wealthy people who benefit.

And, she said, its approach is low-key and the staff doesn't talk down to their clients.

"We're very non-pressure," she said.

Stephanie Hounsell can be reached at sthiessen@miltoncanadianchampion.com.