Arthur Y. Wang, MAcc, CPA, CA, CFP, CLU, CHS, TEP, FEA
Estate Planning Specialist, RBC Wealth Management Financial Services Inc.
A Chartered Accountant by training, Arthur spent time with a Big 4 accounting firm and a leading Canadian life insurer prior to RBC. A personal experience led him to rethink his career choice and he decided to dedicate himself to helping clients create, protect, and preserve wealth by implementing holistic insurance planning solutions. Wealth planning is personal; Arthur is here to support you.
Formerly an auditor of publicly traded insurance companies, Arthur's previous experiences allow him to speak with confidence, skill and knowledge regarding the nuances of accounting, taxation, and financial planning. Utilizing his unique understanding of the industry and in-depth insights, he works collaboratively with business owners, high-net-worth families, and their personal advisors to implement the most appropriate insurance solutions for their needs.
Fluent in both English and Mandarin, Arthur is able to confidently communicate with clients in their preferred language.
Some members of our Family Office Services team, available for consultations with our clients:
Susannah Musselman, CPA, CA, CMA
Vice-President & Financial Planning Specialist, Family Office Services, RBC Wealth Management
Susannah is a Chartered Accountant, Certified Management Accountant and Certified Financial Planner. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Waterloo, specializing in Chartered Accountancy.
Prior to joining RBC, Susannah provided comprehensive financial planning guidance and advice to executives, business owners, professionals and high net worth families. Susannah uses a holistic approach to helping clients address all areas of their financial planning.
Susannah’s role is to work with and support your Investment Advisor in preparing and presenting comprehensive Compass Financial Plans.
Steve Mogdan, CPA, CA, CFP
Financial Planning Specialist, Family Office Services, RBC Wealth Management
Steven completed his Bachelor of Business Administration at York University in 1989 and subsequently completed the CICA In-Depth Tax course. He has also achieved the advanced designations of Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA) and Certified Financial Planner (CFP).
During his time as a tax and financial practitioner with several professional service firms, Steven specialized in Canadian, U.S. and cross-border personal income taxation, and provided planning and preparation services to clients. He also has professional experience with the RBC Tax Advisory Group and RBC Dexia, where he provided tax advice to various business units within RBC.
As an experienced practitioner in financial matters, Steven has written or contributed to many research articles, industry publications, training materials and client presentations.
Steven’s role as a Financial Planning Specialist is to work with, and support, your advisor in preparing and presenting comprehensive financial planning solutions.
Alleen Sakarian
Will & Estate Consultant, Family Office Services, RBC Wealth Management
Alleen earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from York University and her law degree from the University of Windsor, Faculty of Law in 2008. She was called to the Ontario Bar in 2009.
Prior to joining RBC, Alleen practiced in the areas of Estate Planning and Administration, Corporate/Commercial law and Real Estate law in a mid-sized law firm. Alleen advised her clients on a breadth of legal issues, including key considerations in setting up legal business structures, succession planning and estate planning.
Alleen fosters a multidisciplinary approach to each client’s unique needs, drawing on various advisors’ expertise and offering her own to identify issues for further consideration and review, together with information and guidance which are both sensible and practical.
Connie Freitas, BA, LL.B
Vice President and Will & Estate Consultant, Family Office Services, RBC Wealth Management
Connie obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Toronto and a Bachelor of Laws degree from Osgoode Hall Law School. She was called to the Bar of Ontario in 1994.
Prior to joining RBC in 2012, Connie practised law for 18 years. As a partner in a mid-sized full-service law firm, her practice was varied and covered the areas of corporate/commercial law, real estate, and Wills, trusts and estates law. In that role, Connie advised her owner-manager clients on a broad range of business and personal needs, from purchases and sales of businesses, to shareholder agreements and corporate reorganizations, to Will and estate planning.
For many years Connie taught the Business Law section of the Bar Admissions Course and was involved with preparing the licensing exams for Ontario lawyers. Throughout her career, Connie has been involved in her broader community, serving on many non-profit boards as well as providing pro bono legal services.
Andrea Pontoni
Vice President, High Net Worth Planning Services, Family Office Services, RBC Wealth Management
Andrea is a highly experienced professional qualified as a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA), Chartered Accountant (CA), Chartered Business Valuator (CBV) with the Canadian Institute of Chartered Business Valuators, Accredited Senior Appraiser (ASA) in business valuations with the American Society of Appraisers and Certified in Financial Forensics (CFF) with CPA Canada and the AICPA. Andrea has also completed the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada’s three-part in-depth tax specialty program.
Andrea has over 30 years of experience with 17 of those years at KPMG and Baker Tilly Windsor (formerly Collins Barrow) where he held senior positions including that of a Tax and Valuations Partner. His entrepreneurial spirit led him to manage his own Financial Advisory Services practice for a period of 10 years, providing advice, expert reports, and direction to Owner-Managers in business valuations, corporate finance, business planning, personal tax, corporate tax, and financial litigation matters.
Andrea’s experience also includes being a Director of Finance for a significant full service Tier 1 automotive company located in Windsor, Ontario. Andrea was a senior member of a multi-disciplined team at KPMG, who successfully sold this business to a private equity group which included financing from a syndication of four financial institutions. After the completion of this divestiture, Andrea was asked by the senior management team of this automotive company to assume the role as Director of Finance.
Andrea’s 30 years plus of experience includes dealing with Owner-Managers on issues varying in size, industry and geographical regions. The combination of his experiences and qualifications are ideal to assist Owner-Managers with business succession, corporate finance, estate and business planning matters.
Andrea has been a frequent presenter and lecturer to legal firms, financial institutions, the University of Windsor, and other organizations such as the Canadian Association of Farm Advisors and the Canadian Institute of Chartered Business Valuators. Andrea has spent over 25 years on boards and committees primarily focused on children, social, cultural and health initiatives.
Andrea prides himself in being technical yet pragmatic in providing Owner-Managers with options and solutions as they navigate their complex business environment.
Prashant Patel, ASA, CFP, TEP
Vice President, Business Owner Specialist, Family Office Services, RBC Wealth Management
As a Business Owner Specialist, High Net Worth Planning Services, Prashant, together with your primary RBC advisor, helps you explore succession, tax, retirement and estate planning issues you face as a business owner.
His guidance supports clients in their relationships with their external professional advisors, with whom he frequently interacts.
His expertise includes tax and estate planning for business owners, executives, retirees, sports professionals and individuals with U.S. issues. He also assists individuals facing significant financial events (sale of business, financial windfall, retirement, job loss, moving to Canada, leaving Canada, etc.)
Prior to joining RBC in 1999, Prashant honed his expertise by working as a Canadian and U.S. tax specialist for two of the big four accounting firms in downtown Toronto.
Prashant is a Certified Financial Planner, Associate of the Society of Actuaries and member of both the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners and Canadian
Tax Foundation.