And the Visionary award winner is…

Your ballots have been counted. Advisor.ca readers have spoken. We are pleased to announce the winner of the ‘Name That Visionary’ poll is Eric Sprott, the founder of Sprott Asset Management LP. To claim the title was no easy task. Sprott had to beat out a vast array of esteemed financial heavyweights that included Bank of Canada governor, Mark Carney.

“I’m honoured to be recognized as a financial visionary. I’m excited to think that other people believe we have something important to say, and that’s been hopefully helpful to listeners and readers and clients of ours,” Sprott told Advisor.ca in accepting the honour.

A 35-year veteran of the financial industry, Sprott began his career as a chartered accountant. His first job was as a research analyst at Merrill Lynch. He founded Sprott Securities (now Cormark Securities Inc.) in 1981.

The investment management division of Cormark Securities Inc. was spun-off by Sprott to form a separate entity now known as Sprott Asset Management LP. Currently, he is the senior portfolio manager of the Sprott Canadian Equity Fund, Sprott Hedge Fund LP & LP II, and Sprott Bull/Bear RSP Fund.

Sprott’s veteran abilities and proven track record can be seen in his management of the Sprott Hedge Fund L.P., Sprott Hedge Fund L.P. II, Sprott Bull/Bear RSP Fund, Sprott Offshore Funds, Sprott Canadian Equity Fund, Sprott Energy Fund and Sprott Managed Accounts.

Eric Sprott, the founder of Cormark Securities Inc.

Well-known as an outspoken industry leader, Sprott values the industry he is in and has worked tirelessly to improve the way advisors do business.

“We have spoken out on many things over the last decade and most of those things we’ve anticipated happening have happened. We have had a very good track record of being on the leading edge of developments in the financial market,” he said.

Sprott is no stranger to accolades or awards. In 2004, the Sprott Hedge Fund L.P. was awarded the Opportunistic Strategy Hedge Fund Award at the Canadian Investment Awards and in 2006, the Sprott Offshore Fund Ltd. won the 2006 MarHedge Annual Performance Award under the Canada-Based Manager category.

In 2006, Sprott himself was the recipient of the 2006 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award (Financial Services) and the 2006 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year for Ontario. In 2007, he was named Fund Manager of the Year by Investment Executive.

“It (the Advisor.ca Visionary Award) is very special, particularly knowing that it’s the first time around. Obviously, we are deeply honoured to be the first person selected,” said Sprott.

Closing out the top five in the reader poll were Simon Reilly (the founder of Leading Advisor Inc.), Robert Frances (the founder, president and CEO of PEAK Financial Group), Keith Brown (Daystar and president, founder of Financial Confidence Advisors Inc.) and CIBC Toronto’s director, tax & estate planning and regular Advisor.ca columnist, Jamie Golombek.