Meet our team

Katie Deering

CFP® , CLU® , QAFP™

Financial Advisor*

Mutual Fund Investment Specialist**

Katie is the owner and lead advisor at Deering Financial and Insurance Services. With over a decade of experience, she is passionate about helping individuals, families and business owners make confident financial decisions. Katie believes in clear communication, thoughtful planning and long-term relationships. Her client-first approach ensures every recommendation is tailored to each client’s unique goals and stage of life.

Speciality

Katie specializes in financial planning, life insurance, estate planning and wealth management. As a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) and Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU), she works with clients on retirement planning, tax-efficient investing, risk management and legacy planning. Katie advises on mutual funds, segregated funds, registered and non-registered investments and insurance strategies designed to protect both personal and business interests. She is experienced in complex planning situations, including business succession, insurance-based tax planning and estate preservation.

Hobbies

Outside of work, Katie enjoys spending time with her family, reading, building Lego, swimming, thrifting and discovering great food. She values creativity, community involvement and lifelong learning.

Location

Courtice

Email

Joelene Schriver

Associate Insurance Agent

Joelene is a valued member of the service and administration team, known for her reliability, organization and friendly approach. She helps ensure clients receive timely and consistent support.

Speciality

Joelene specializes in home and auto insurance service and billing administration. She manages credit card expiries, receipts, NSF follow-ups and general billing inquiries. Joelene also supports administrative coordination, contributing to a smooth and efficient client experience.

Hobbies

Joelene enjoys community involvement, staying organized and supporting team initiatives.

Location

Courtice

Email

Melissa Deering

Associate Insurance Agent

Melissa is the office manager and a property insurance specialist at Deering Financial and Insurance Services. She plays a key role in supporting both clients and advisors while keeping daily operations running smoothly. Melissa is known for her attention to detail, and dependable approach to client service.

Speciality

Melissa specializes in property insurance, including home, farm and business coverage. She assists clients with policy setup, changes, renewals and coverage questions, ensuring policies remain accurate and up to date. In addition to her insurance expertise, Melissa oversees office operations and administrative coordination, helping ensure a seamless client experience.

Hobbies

Melissa enjoys spending time with her friends and family, traveling and exploring the outdoors and supporting her community. She values balance and consistency both at work and at home.

Location

Courtice

Email

Naomi Amagai

Client Contact Representative*

Mutual Fund Investment Specialist**

Naomi is the Mutual Fund Administration Specialist at Deering Financial and Insurance Services. She supports the advisory team by ensuring investment transactions and documentation are handled accurately and efficiently. Naomi is detail-oriented, organized and enjoys contributing behind the scenes to a strong client experience.

Speciality

Naomi specializes in mutual fund administration, including processing transactions, managing NIGOs and maintaining investment account documentation. She ensures regulatory requirements are met and helps keep client investment accounts in good order, allowing advisors to focus on planning and client relationships.

Hobbies

Outside of work, Naomi enjoys riding her motorcycle, doing puzzles, cooking, crafting and trying new foods. She loves exploring different cuisines and creative, hands-on activities.

Location

Courtice

Email

Penny Zerf

Associate Insurance Agent

Penny brings over 24 years of experience and is a trusted advisor within the Deering Financial team. She is known for her depth of knowledge, professionalism and commitment to helping clients protect what they’ve built.

Speciality

Penny specializes in business insurance, group benefits, group RRSPs and life insurance. She works closely with business owners to protect operations, employees and long-term business interests. Penny also supports complex renewals and collaborates with the broader planning team to ensure client needs are fully addressed.

Hobbies

Penny values meaningful connections, lifelong learning and staying engaged within her community.

Location

Courtice

Email

Sayanthan Kopalapillai

Associate Insurance Agent

Sayan is a home and auto insurance specialist who enjoys helping clients feel confident and informed about their coverage. He is known for his approachable style, strong communication skills and dedication to ongoing growth.

Speciality

Sayan specializes in home and auto insurance and is life licensed. He is expanding his expertise into business insurance and employee benefits. Sayan focuses on identifying coverage gaps, applying appropriate endorsements, and ensuring policies are structured correctly. He also works closely with newcomers to Canada, helping them understand insurance in a clear and supportive way.

Hobbies

Sayan enjoys staying active, learning new skills and spending time with friends and family. He has a strong interest in personal development.

Location

Courtice

Email

Shireen Zerf

Associate Financial Advisor*

Mutual Fund Investment Specialist**

Shireen brings over 20 years of insurance experience and is passionate about protecting families and delivering exceptional service. She is known for her thoughtful approach and strong follow-through.

Speciality

Shireen holds general, life and mutual funds licences. She is the team’s primary life insurance producer and supports mutual fund administration and post-meeting follow-ups. Shireen works closely with clients on life, health and investment planning and ensures applications and transactions are completed accurately and efficiently.

Hobbies

Shireen enjoys spending time with family, staying active and maintaining strong community connections.

Location

Courtice

Email

Thulasigan Srikugathas

Associate Insurance Agent

Thulasigan is a home and auto insurance specialist dedicated to providing clear, efficient and client-focused service. He values accuracy and strong communication in every interaction.

Speciality

 Thulasigan specializes in home and auto insurance, assisting clients with policy reviews, renewals and changes. He focuses on ensuring coverage is accurate, comprehensive and aligned with each client’s needs while delivering timely and reliable support.

 

Hobbies

Thulasigan enjoys staying active, personal growth and spending time with family and friends.

Location

Courtice

Email