Stephen Wiffen, CLU, CH.F.C.
Estate Planning Specialist, RBC Wealth Management Financial Services Inc.
For over 30 years, Steve has helped families and business owners develop a framework using integrated wealth planning solutions. Clients and their advisors trust Steve’s ability and expertise to develop a solution based on client-centred needs and a values-based approach.
Steve examines insurance planning differently and recognizes that each client situation is unique. His approach is to plan first and then educate clients about their options, so they can make an informed choice best suited to their goals and objectives. Whether it be protection needed during income-earning/business-building years, the preservation of capital or ability to transfer accumulated wealth, Steve is there to help implement a solution that addresses your personal and corporate needs in a tax-efficient manner.
Evaluating the various insurance offerings from Canada’s top-ranked insurance providers, Steve will work together with your professional advisors to ensure you receive high-quality, cost-effective insurance solutions.
Abby Kassar, CPA, CA, CFP, TEP, FEA
Vice President, High Net Worth Planning Services, Family Office Services, RBC Wealth Management
Abby specializes in tax and estate planning for high-net-worth and ultra high-net-worth families.
Her guidance supports clients in their relationships with their external professional advisors, with whom she frequently interacts.
Prior to joining High Net Worth Planning Services, Abby provided tax, retirement, estate and financial planning advice to RBC advisors and their clients. She has written articles on various topics including charitable donations, executive compensation, tax planning and retirement planning.
Prior to joining RBC, Abby worked in a medium sized accounting firm assisting business executives and high net worth clients with their tax planning and estate planning. She worked closely with owner-manager shareholders to assess and recommend the best tax planning strategies, the best corporate structure and the most suitable succession plan.
Abby is a Chartered Accountant and has a Bachelor in Economics and Commerce from the University of Toronto. She completed the In-Depth tax courses I and II and the In-Depth Tax Issues for the Owner-Managed Business as well as the Canadian Securities Course. She is also a Registered Trust and Estate Practitioner (TEP) with the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) and has obtained the STEP Advanced Certificate in Family Business Advising. Abby is also a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) and is a member of the Canadian Tax Foundation. Lastly, Abby is a certified Family Enterprise Advisor (FEA), which allows her to address the complex needs of family enterprise clients.
Andrea Heard brings over 19 years of experience in the financial industry to her role as Private Banker. For the last 13 years, she has been a Financial Planner with RBC Royal Bank and brings strong relationship management skills to her high-net-worth clients in Waterloo and Southwestern Ontario.
As your dedicated Private Banker, Ms. Heard will take the time to discover what is important to you and your family, as well as your personal financial goals. Along with her team, who include a Private Banking Associate and a Manager, Credit Structures, she will create a strategy and make recommendations on a plan of action that is right for each client situation. She also has access through the RBC network to call on a further team of specialists, in Canada and in key markets worldwide. This team enables her to provide a complete range of services – including delivering comprehensive, integrated financial solutions to help meet clients’ goals through investments, business banking, estate planning, and domestic and international trusts.
Ms. Heard graduated from Wilfrid Laurier University and soon after earned her designation as a Personal Financial Planner (PFP). As a long-time resident of the Waterloo Region, she enjoys volunteering in her community and attending local fundraising events. Most recently she joined the committee of a local organization that recognizes people in the community doing amazing things.
When not working, she enjoys spending her time with her husband and two sons. In her leisure time, she is often is found reading, biking, golfing or entertaining family and friends.
Alessandra Prioreschi, MA, JD
Will & Estate Consultant, Family Office Services, RBC Wealth Management
After completing a Master of Arts degree in English at the University of Waterloo, Alessandra obtained a Juris Doctor from the University of Toronto, Faculty of Law in 2000. She was called to the Ontario bar in February of 2002, and commenced her career as a tax lawyer with the Toronto office of
a prominent national law firm, completing Levels I and II of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants’ In-Depth Tax Course.
Over her years in private practice, Alessandra served a variety of business clients and their owners ranging from technology start-ups to established manufacturing, property development and retail businesses, advising on tax and estate-planning, including wills and trusts.
Alessandra is now pleased to offer her years of advisory experience to provide Will and Estate Planning services to RBC’s valued clients.
Complimentary Will & Estate planning consultation
In appreciation of your valued business relationship with us, your advisor is pleased to offer you a complimentary Will & Estate Planning consultation with Alessandra, a Will & Estate Consultant.
Alessandra works closely with your advisor to provide you with information on structuring your estate in an efficient and tax effective manner. Following your meeting, Alessandra will provide you with a report outlining various estate planning issues for you to explore in further detail with your own lawyer or accountant.
To schedule a meeting with Alessandra Prioreschi, please contact your advisor.
As a Premier Advisor with RBC Wealth Management Private Banking, Marian provides personal service and tailored advice to help clients save time and effectively manage their day to day banking needs.
Working as a single point of contact, Marian will access specialists from across the organization in order to provide a complete range of complementary services to support the individual short and long term goals of our Wealth Management clients in the Waterloo/Guelph-Cambridge-Orangeville area.
Marian draws on 16 years of experience within RBC. She was recently a Financial Advisor in our North Guelph community for 8 years and prior to that, she worked at Dominion Securities for 2 years as an Investment Advisor Assistant. She had the opportunity to engage in several aspects of our retail growth and client retention helping drive RBC's direction for the future and foster long-term client relationships across multiple channels within our Communities.
Marian has successfully attained her Bachelor's Degree in Psychology and currently holds accreditations through the Canadian Securities Institute which includes IFIC, PFSA and FP1. Her focus is to deliver an Exceptional Advice Experience for high net worth households that work directly with our Wealth Management partners.
Marian resides in Guelph with her husband and 2 children.