MEET THE TEAM
Get to know the talented individuals behind our successful and innovative business solutions.
Founder, Gold Key Insurance Services Ltd.
Specializing in Estate & Financial Planning
With over 30 years of experience in the insurance and financial services industry, Sharn Bhinder is the visionary founder behind Gold Key Insurance Services Ltd., now one of Canada’s largest independent brokerages. Known for her forward-thinking leadership and client-first approach, Sharn has been instrumental in shaping Gold Key’s success since taking the helm in 1998.
Her career began in the early 1990s, where she quickly gained a reputation for her deep knowledge of insurance, strategic planning, and business development. Drawing on these strengths, Sharn launched Gold Key with a mission to bring innovation, integrity, and unmatched client service to the industry. Under her direction, the company has expanded across British Columbia and continues to grow nationally, supporting over 300 thousand clients nationwide.
Sharn specializes in estate and financial planning, helping clients protect their legacies, reduce tax exposure, and grow their wealth with tailored life insurance strategies. Her expertise lies in structuring comprehensive solutions for families, professionals, and business owners using permanent life insurance, mortgage protection, corporate-owned insurance, and more.
Today, Sharn’s role is focused on high-level advisory and strategic initiatives. She remains deeply connected to the company’s values, clients, and long-term vision—guiding the Gold Key team as they continue to deliver trusted advice and industry-leading solutions.
Sharn Bhinder
LLQP CAIB
Managing Director of Operations
Katherine Smith is the Managing Director of Operations, bringing over a decade of leadership experience in driving organizational performance and operational transformation. Known for her strategic mindset and detail-oriented execution, she excels at aligning business operations with long-term objectives while enhancing efficiency and accountability across all levels of the organization.
Katherine has a strong track record of identifying and resolving structural inefficiencies, leading enterprise-level projects, and fostering high-performing teams that deliver measurable results.
Her expertise spans operational strategy, process improvement, budgeting, compliance, risk mitigation, and cross-functional collaboration. She is particularly skilled at implementing workflow automation and integrating technology to streamline systems and support scalability. Katherine leads with a collaborative and outcomes-driven approach, creating a culture of continuous improvement and innovation. Her ability to balance strategic oversight with hands-on leadership has made her an invaluable force in building resilient, agile, and high-growth operational frameworks.
Katherine Smith
©2023