Meet our partners

Coming from one of the major global accounting firms, Yat-Sze brings a broad range of experience to her role as Vice President, Financial Planning Specialist.

In her previous role, she spent many years working with private companies, high-net-worth individuals, trusts, and partnerships. Her work included tax minimization through appropriate tax planning (corporate and personal, including estate planning) as well as corporate restructuring.

Yat-Sze is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA) and a Certified Financial Planner (CFP). She completed her Bachelor of Commerce at the University of British Columbia and has completed all three levels of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants’ In-Depth Tax Course. She has also completed the Advanced Tax Course for Owner-Managed Businesses.

As a Financial Planning Specialist, Yat-Sze’s role is to work with and support your advisor in preparing and presenting your Compass Financial Plan and to identify and assess any related financial and tax planning concerns you might have.

Melissa obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree from Simon Fraser University in 1999 and earned her Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Victoria in 2007. She was called to the Bar in British Columbia in 2008.

Prior to joining RBC Wealth Management, Melissa practiced law in Vancouver and specialized in estate planning and estate administration as well as small business corporate and commercial matters. Melissa assisted clients with a range of estate planning matters including drafting Wills, Powers of Attorney and Representation Agreements as well as matters related to the administration of an estate, including applications for Letters Probate and Letters of Administration. Melissa also assisted clients with matters relating to a variety of corporate transactions including incorporations, corporate reorganizations, corporate financing, share and asset purchase and sale transactions as well as the drafting of various corporate commercial documents including shareholder agreements and partnership agreements.

Melissa is a member of the Canadian Bar Association Wills and Trusts Section (Vancouver).

Melissa’s role with RBC Wealth Management is to work with you and your advisor to review and/or structure your Will, estate and trust matters to ensure that your plan is organized in an effective and tax-efficient manner.

As a Premier Banking Advisor for North, West and Downtown Vancouver, Aleisy Amirghahari works as a single point of contact, providing banking and credit solutions for select clients of Wealth Management Canada and their families. Partnering with Investment Advisors and Counsellors across the region, she provides personalized service and tailored advice to help clients save time and effectively manage their day-to-day banking needs.

With more than 12 years of experience in financial services with RBC, Aleisy is respected by her clients, her peers and the industry, and has received top performer recognition. Aleisy is committed to giving back to her community and acts as a volunteer member for BC Children Hospital (BCCH). She also supports the United Way annual fund raising campaign.

Born and raised in Iran, Aleisy migrated to Canada in 1997. She received her Bachelor of Computer Science, Software Systems from the University of Concordia, Montreal, Quebec.

Aleisy currently resides in the North Vancouver area with her husband and her daughter. Her son is pursuing his PHD in Robotics, in Georgia Tech University, Atlanta, US.

When she is not hard at work for her clients, Aleisy enjoys swimming, and playing Ping Pong. Aleisy speaks fluent English, and Persian.

Jeremy Cruz brings more than 25 years of experience in financial services. As a dedicated relationship manager, Mr. Cruz and his team provide personalized, discreet financial counsel to high-net-worth business owners, entrepreneurs, professionals, and their families throughout the Greater Vancouver Area.

Mr. Cruz’s clients' have access to sophisticated banking, personalized short and long-term credit solutions and flexible cash management. Depending on his clients' needs, these services may include estate planning, domestic and international trusts, financial planning and discretionary & non-discretionary investing. Mr. Cruz draws on the expertise of a broad group of specialist across RBC and works closely with other professionals, such as lawyers and accountants, to ensure that RBC's capabilities are fully aligned with his clients’ needs.

Prior to joining Private Banking, Mr. Cruz was an Investment Advisor with RBC Dominion Securities, and has extensive experience as a Commercial Account Manager. During his time in these advisory roles, he helped clients navigate the complexities of wealth management strategies, developed an expertise with investment management, and creating credit and banking solutions for both personal and business owner clients. Mr. Cruz has held a succession of roles in the branch and retail network including, Account Manager for Small Medium Enterprise, Senior Business Advisor, and Financial Advisor.

Mr. Cruz holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with Business minor from the University of Calgary. Outside of the office he is an avid tennis player and enjoys running, staying active with his son, and spending time with his family.

As a Senior Trust Advisor, Phylicia Rye serves clients throughout the Eastern Greater Vancouver and North Vancouver Island areas. Her focus on providing estate and trust advice and solutions to high net worth families has garnered her a strong reputation among her peers and is well known within the estate and trust industry for her ability to deal with complex issues.

Phylicia graduated from Simon Fraser University with a Bachelor of Arts (Economics). She also holds both the Personal Financial Planner (PFP) and Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designations, and the Trust and Estate Practitioner (TEP) designation. She has over 24 years of industry experience and has leveraged the necessary technical and business development skills to provide clients with the right solutions for their unique circumstances.

Phylicia works with individuals, families, and businesses providing customized estate, trust and incapacity solutions. Whether it is helping someone to settle an estate, establishing a trust to ensure the successful transfer of family assets, or arranging to assist with the administration and responsibilities for a Power of Attorney, Phylicia can help.

Darren specializes in tax and estate planning for high net worth families.

Prior to joining RBC, Darren was a tax partner with a national accounting and advisory firm where he focused on providing tax planning services to high net worth families and shareholders of privately held businesses. Darren guided clients through many of the complex personal and corporate issues faced by high net worth families and business owners by developing strategies for wealth preservation and tax minimization, the transfer of wealth to the next generation, and estate and succession planning.

Darren, together with your primary RBC advisor, helps you explore succession, tax, retirement and estate planning issues you face as a high net worth client. Darren specializes in tax and estate planning for business owners and high net worth families.

Darren is a Chartered Professional Accountant, Chartered Accountant and has completed the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants In-Depth Tax Course, the Corporate Reorganization Course and the Tax Planning for the Owner Manager Course. Darren is a TEP designated member of STEP (The Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners) and is a member of the Canadian Tax Foundation. Darren is a graduate of the University of British Columbia and the British Columbia Institute of Technology.

Ask great questions. Listen. Educate, inform and implement.

When Cheryl meets with clients, she takes the time to truly understand their financial situation and then helps to guide them in making the right decisions for their needs.

Building caring, long-lasting relationships, Cheryl has spent over 30 years, collaborating with affluent families, professionals, executives and business owners, while partnering with their trusted advisors. She believes risk management is at the foundation of every wealth plan, and is known for simplifying complex financial situations.

Cheryl has earned multiple industry designations, along with the Family Business Strategy Essentials Certificate from the Sauder School of Business. In her spare time, she enjoys riding horses, skiing, boating and traveling.