Guiding Founders and CEOs Through Complex Financial Transactions

At Trusted Financial, we specialize in assisting founders and CEOs of middle-market companies navigate critical financial milestones. Whether you're looking to sell your business, expand through strategic acquisitions, or secure financing to fuel growth, our team is dedicated to delivering tailored solutions that maximize value and drive success.

Our Expertise

  • Mergers & Acquisitions: Providing comprehensive sell-side and buy-side advisory services, including support for independent sponsors and industry consolidators.
  • Corporate Finance: Offering traditional bank financing, alternative debt solutions, recapitalization strategies, and access to private equity.
  • Strategic Advisory: Delivering personalized guidance on capital raises, IPOs, and financial restructuring to support your company’s growth objectives.

Our Team

Nino Silvestri

Nino Silvestri

President

Nino Silvestri brings over four decades of expertise in the North American energy sector, specializing in risk management, marketing, retailing, and regulatory affairs. He holds an Honours Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Wilfrid Laurier University, and a Master of Arts in Economics from York University. Nino began his career at TransCanada PipeLines before transitioning to Direct Energy Marketing, where he rose to the position of Senior Vice-President, overseeing operations in Canada and the United States. In 2000, he founded Silvestri Energy Services and later served as President and COO of Universal Energy Corporation, leading to its successful IPO in 2007. Nino’s entrepreneurial ventures continued as he co-purchased Planet Energy in 2012 and served as CEO until June 2023. Since 1995, Nino has been actively involved in the capital markets, working with both public and private companies. His extensive expertise includes IPOs, RTOs, private placements, prospectus financings, investor relations, business acquisition reports, public company filings, corporate finance, and corporate strategy and development. Nino has successfully developed listings and sales strategies, built substantial listings pipelines, and established relationships with key influencers both in Canada and globally. His work has included compiling and analyzing institutional ownership in public equities.

Dan Posner

Dan Posner

Chief Executive Officer

Dan Posner, a seasoned professional with a background in automotive financing, served as CEO of a leading company in the sector for 15 years. Following this, he founded Trusted Financial, where he provided growth capital advisory services to small and medium-sized businesses for 5 years. He was also a private lender for real estate for 3 years, providing over $20MM in capital. At Trusted Financial, Dan continues to bring his extensive experience and expertise to guide clients in navigating complex financial transactions and achieving their strategic goals. He has funded over $80MM in debt financing and $50MM in equity to date. With a commitment to professionalism and integrity, Dan ensures clients receive top-tier service and support, making Trusted Financial a trusted partner in the finance sector.

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Dale Wang

Managing Director

Mr. Dale Wang is the Partner & COO of Alpha West Capital, a Cayman based Long/Short hedge fund with a U.S. sector rotation strategy. Mr. Wang previously advised single family offices in alternative investments prior to the launch of the fund. Mr. Wang also has over a decade of corporate M&A advisory experience spanning across Bay Street and Wall Street in investment banking and GP minority staking transactions. Mr. Wang is a graduate of the Honors in Business Administration program at the Richard Ivey School of Business, Western University.

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Derek de los Reyes

Managing Partner

Derek is an Investment Banking Associate at Trusted Financial, where he advises clients on
complex transactions, including mergers, acquisitions and capital raising. Derek’s expertise includes negotiating deal structures, conducting in-depth due-diligence, and developing tailored financial strategies to align with client goals. Before joining Trusted, Derek served as an Equity Research Analyst at Gabelli Funds in New York where he conducted detailed buy-side equity research and engaged with company management to derive valuable insights. Prior to this, he held various roles at the Bank of the Philippine Islands, including Foreign Exchange Sales Trader and Corporate Banker, managing over $3.5 billion in loan portfolios and offering strategic credit solutions to top-tier clients. His foundation in corporate finance and investment banking, coupled with a strong analytical background, make him a key asset to Trusted’s client-focused team.

Campbell Ohrlis

Campbell Ohrlis

Managing Partner

As an investment bank managing partner, my career is defined by driving significant results and sustainable growth. I’ve successfully overseen multi-million-dollar operations, consistently delivering strong ROI and accountability. My leadership at Aikarotech led to a 300% increase in client acquisition in six months and expansion into three international markets. At Trusted Financial, I implemented strategies that significantly improved sales closing rates. As CRO of Excellerate, I generated $12 million in new revenue. Furthermore, I grew Brain Weave Solutions’ revenue from $100K to $65M, demonstrating a consistent ability to scale impact and achieve measurable outcomes.

Kalen Johnson

Managing Partner

Kalen is a seasoned executive and strategic advisor who has served as Partner, Chair, and Board Member across a wide range of organizations in both the private and public sectors. With a career spanning investment, technology, and advisory services, she brings a multidisciplinary perspective to growth, governance, and enterprise transformation. Kalen holds a Master of Finance from Queen’s University’s Smith School of Business and a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Human Kinetics from the University of Guelph. She is also the founder of the Johnson Foundation, a philanthropic initiative committed to advancing opportunity, equity, and leadership development in underserved communities. Known for her ability to bridge vision with execution, Kalen continues to lead and advise ventures that drive meaningful impact at scale
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Gurpreet Singh Matharu

Investment Banking Associate

Gurpreet is a results-driven finance and sales professional with 20+ years of international experience across the automobile and financial services sectors. He has proven expertise in business development, client relationship management, credit analysis, and structured financing solutions. His expertise spans sales & business development, client servicing, channel and relationship management, financial consulting, and automobile leasing and sales. He specializes in identifying client needs, offering tailored financial and transportation solutions, and guiding them through complex decision-making with clarity and confidence. He believes in continuous learning, ethical selling, and creating long-term value for clients and partners. His approach combines industry knowledge, personal integrity, and a deep commitment to helping people and businesses thrive.
Valen Vergara

Valen Vergara

Investment Banking Associate

President at the Team Made Hub, a leading entrepreneurial network. Valen has led this investment group to accomplish over 5,000 business transactions, totaling more than $250 million in equity, and raising over $150 million in capital. Chief Operations Officer at BMV Ventures, a premier Canadian-based venture capitalist firm with over 30 years of collective experience in investments, real estate, acquisitions, and startups. Board Member for Origenne Corp., a multinational company dedicated to addressing the global waste pollution epidemic. Chief Human Resources Officer at Neo Fuel, the future of the Canadian gas station industry.

Shane Lowry

Investment Banking Associate

With over 25 years of experience in both the private and public capital market sectors, Mr. Lowry has participated in every aspect of business development; from nurturing startups, to facilitating large corporate mergers and acquisitions, to acting as the majority financier of various successful enterprises, Mr. Lowry has a uniquely overarching perspective. Shane has served on various boards within both the Canadian and American corporate climate as Executive Director, and has also held the position of CEO.
Harmanjit Singh Dadwal

Harmanjit Singh Dadwal

Investment Banking Associate

Harmanjit Singh Dadwal brings a dynamic blend of private equity experience and entrepreneurial drive to Trusted Financial. With over $60 million in transaction experience as a lead analyst, he has worked across a range of industries, supporting growth-stage companies with capital raising and strategic advisory. Harmanjit is passionate about helping businesses scale efficiently and is committed to delivering tailored financial solutions that create lasting value.

Ashketh Tiwari

Investment Banking Associate

Ashketh is a finance professional with a background in Computer Science and experience in Wealth and Asset management, where he helped scale AUM to $180 million by serving HNI and institutional clients in India. He has worked across portfolio management, trading systems, and compliance. Currently pursuing an MBA at Fordham University’s Gabelli School of Business in New York City, he is focused on investment banking and corporate finance.

Clinton Sequeira

Investment Banking Associate

Clinton brings a strong background in investment banking risk and capital markets, having supported IPOs, M&A, and debt issuances across global jurisdictions. He has advised top-tier institutional clients on complex derivative and FX hedging strategies, delivering tailored solutions and market insights to strengthen portfolio positioning and risk management. His expertise spans regulatory due diligence, financial risk management, and firm restructuring strategies.
Clinton is currently pursuing his MBA in Finance at Fordham University’s Gabelli School of Business, where he continues to deepen his expertise in financial analysis, risk evaluation, and capital markets strategy.
His combined experience across risk advisory and institutional markets makes him a valuable asset to the Trusted Financial team.

Aayush Kansal

Investment Banking Associate

Aayush brings a diverse background in investment due diligence, financial modeling, and capital markets advisory, with experience spanning equity research, M&A analysis, and fundraising strategy. He has evaluated high-growth companies, built valuation models, and supported strategic initiatives across industries, helping leadership teams strengthen decision-making and capital allocation. His work includes developing DCF and comparables analyses, preparing investment memos, and advising on corporate finance strategies with an emphasis on risk management and value creation. He is currently pursuing his MBA in Finance at Fordham University’s Gabelli School of Business, where he continues to deepen his expertise in financial analysis, risk evaluation, and deal execution. His combined experience across equity research, corporate finance, and capital markets strategy positions him as a valuable asset to firms navigating complex transactions and growth opportunities.

Jason Dehaan

Investment Banking Associate

Jason’s background in proprietary trading and capital markets provides a distinct, analytical edge to our client advisory services. Prior to joining Trusted Financial, Jason gained direct experience executing trades and managing risk at a proprietary trading firm, developing a keen understanding of market dynamics and valuation. This experience in making high-stakes, data-driven decisions is directly applied to identifying and evaluating strategic opportunities for our clients. Jason holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree with a major in Finance from the University of Alberta.

Sharan Kothari

Investment Banking Associate

Sharan Kothari holds an MS in Finance from Babson College and brings hands-on experience in equity research, valuation, and financial modeling. Before joining Trusted Financial, he co-founded a startup where he successfully raised capital and managed business development, giving him firsthand insight into the challenges founders face. Sharan is passionate about guiding companies through critical financial decisions and is eager to contribute his analytical skills and entrepreneurial perspective to the firm’s clients.

Samuel Owusu-Ansah

Investment Banking Associate

Sam is a finance professional with an MBA in Finance from Fordham University and a track record in financial modeling, valuation, and operational analysis. His experience spans working with corporate and public pension clients and large-scale enterprises. He developed bottom-up forecasting models, conducted due diligence, and delivered insights that shaped strategic decisions. Prior to joining Trusted Financial, he supported institutional clients at Segal Group, managing reporting and analytics for over 100 corporate and public pension plans. In that role and all roles moving forward, he was passionate about providing white glove service, combining meticulous analysis with clear, proactive communication to address client needs and meet fiduciary standards. He holds Series 63 and SIE certifications, has completed advanced financial modeling training, and is pursuing CFA Level I. Sam’s blend of analytical rigor, client service excellence, and operational insight positions him to deliver value to Trusted Financial.

Nirmal Parab

Investment Banking Associate

I am a finance professional with 7+ years of experience across credit risk, structured finance, fixed income, and investment management, having worked with global institutions in both developed and emerging markets. My expertise spans capital markets, securitizations, valuations, and risk analytics, with a strong record of safeguarding multi-million-dollar portfolios and delivering actionable insights through in-depth financial and credit analysis, advanced financial modeling, and the design of risk dashboards. I hold an MS in Finance from Brandeis International Business School, am a Chartered Accountant (CPA equivalent), and have cleared CFA Level I. I bring strong technical proficiency in DCF and LBO modeling, underpinned by a passion for financial markets and a drive to leverage my skills to support strategic decision-making, optimize performance, and contribute meaningfully to the continued growth of Trusted Financial.
Trina Ortiz

Trina Ortiz

Head of Marketing

I am a marketing and business development professional with over 5 years of experience helping B2B startups and SaaS companies scale through data-driven strategies. At Trusted Financial, I serve as Head of Marketing, where I lead branding, growth initiatives, and strategic campaigns to drive client acquisition and retention. I previously held the role of Business Development Specialist, supporting pipeline growth, lead generation, and sales enablement initiatives across multiple verticals. Prior to Trusted Financial, I worked closely with Silicon Valley startups as a sales development and operations consultant. I helped launch and grow inside sales teams, designed ICPs, and ran outreach campaigns using tools like Hunter.io, MixMax, Drift, and SalesLoft. I’ve also sourced videographers and managed social media channels as an Executive Assistant and Content Manager. In addition, I’m the Founder of Funnel Consulting Company, where we specialize in building target account lists and running lead research for B2B companies globally. My skill set includes lead generation, content marketing, research, CRM management, and virtual team coordination. I thrive in fast-paced, remote-first environments and bring a proactive, results-driven mindset to every project I take on.

Why Choose Trusted Financial?

Our approach is built on four key principles:

Long-Term Relationships

We prioritize our clients' needs and interests, aiming to build enduring partnerships based on trust and confidence.

Progressive Thinking

Innovation is at the heart of our solutions, enabling us to provide practical yet inventive strategies that help our clients grow and prosper.

Execution Excellence

We believe that execution is the key to success, continuously striving for excellence and rejecting complacency.

Integrity and Confidentiality

We are dedicated to delivering impartial advice in every circumstance, ensuring the best outcomes for our clients.

Our Mission

To be a recognized industry leader in providing impartial, innovative financial advice that empowers businesses to achieve their strategic goals.

Our History

Founded by Dan Posner in 2016, Trusted Financial has grown from its roots in auto sales to become a leading Financial Advisory Firm in Canada. With a network of close to 30,000 financial institutions, we have facilitated numerous transactions, helping businesses across North America and overseas access the capital they need to grow and succeed.

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Ready to Achieve Financial Excellence?

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