Five People. One Table. Your Capital.

Credentials MBA, Queen's University Smith School of Business. CFA charterholder (2005). Chartered Business Valuator (2008). 11 years at TD Securities and CIBC World Markets, where he led mid-market transaction advisory and structured over $800M in private placements. Philosophy Marcus founded Cook Direct Trade in 2010 because he believed institutional-grade deal access shouldn't require institutional-grade fees. He personally co-invests in every deal the firm recommends — putting his own capital alongside yours. He reviews every investment memo before it reaches a client, and he's the one who picks up the phone when you call. Personal Avid woodworker who builds furniture in his Glebe workshop. "You can't rush joinery, and you can't rush due diligence." Coaches minor hockey and has never missed a team dinner.

Credentials PhD Financial Economics, University of British Columbia. CFA charterholder. 5 years at Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB), where she developed quantitative risk models for the $500B+ portfolio. Joined Cook Direct Trade in 2013. Philosophy Nadia designed the proprietary 42-variable scoring framework that underpins every deal recommendation at the firm. Her academic rigour means nothing gets past the numbers — she stress-tests cash flows, models downside scenarios, and won't sign off on a deal unless the risk-adjusted returns meet her thresholds. She's the reason our due diligence process goes deeper than most. Personal Bilingual (English/French). Coaches her daughter's competitive swimming team in Gatineau. Published researcher — her paper on illiquidity premiums in Canadian private equity has over 300 academic citations.

Credentials CPA, CA. 8 years in transaction advisory at Deloitte Canada (2004–2012), specializing in mid-market M&A, tax-efficient structuring, and cross-border transactions. BComm (Honours), Carleton University. Joined Cook Direct Trade in 2012 as one of the earliest team members. Philosophy Graham is the architect behind every deal structure at the firm. He negotiates terms, builds waterfall models, designs tax-efficient entry and exit strategies, and ensures every legal document protects client interests. Over 60 completed transactions and counting. He's particularly skilled at structuring deals that minimize withholding taxes for Canadian investors accessing U.S. and international assets — a nuance most firms outsource entirely. Personal Seven-time Ottawa Marathon finisher with a personal best of 3:12. He says the discipline of marathon training mirrors deal execution: "You plan every kilometre. You don't sprint early. You finish."

Credentials CFA charterholder. Previously at RBC Dominion Securities, managing high-net-worth portfolios with $200M+ in AUM. BBA (Finance), Schulich School of Business, York University. Joined Cook Direct Trade in 2016. Philosophy Priya is the person who ensures every deal recommendation actually fits your life — your risk tolerance, your liquidity needs, your tax situation, your time horizon. She manages over 40 active client relationships and conducts quarterly portfolio reviews with every single one. When clients share their experiences with us, Priya's name comes up more than anyone's. She translates complex deal structures into plain language and never recommends something she wouldn't hold herself. Personal Volunteer financial literacy instructor with Junior Achievement Ottawa — she teaches high school students about budgeting, investing, and compound interest every Saturday morning.

Credentials BComm (Finance & International Business), University of Ottawa. Previously at Export Development Canada, where he assessed credit risk for Canadian companies operating in emerging markets. CFA Level III candidate. Joined Cook Direct Trade in 2019. Philosophy Thomas is the firm's boots-on-the-ground operator. He conducts every site visit, runs reference checks on management teams, audits operational processes, and performs the stress tests that validate — or invalidate — a deal before it ever reaches clients. Since joining in 2019, he's personally visited over 45 operating businesses across Canada and the U.S. He also manages the firm's KYC and AML compliance workflows, ensuring every client onboarding meets regulatory standards. Read more about our process in our FAQ. Personal Competitive cyclist and co-founder of the Glebe cycling club. Bilingual (English/French). Known around the office for his espresso — and for finding the one line item in a financial statement everyone else missed.