Business Owner Planning
Abby Kassar, CPA, CA, CFP, TEP, FEA
Vice President, Business Owner Specialist, Family Office Services, RBC Wealth Management
As a Business Owner Specialist, High Net Worth Planning Services, Abby, together with your primary RBC advisor, helps you explore succession, tax, retirement and estate planning issues you face as a business owner.
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.
Robyn Solnik, LL.B, TEP
Vice President, Business Owner Specialist,Family Office Services, RBC Wealth Management
As a Business Owner Specialist, High Net Worth Planning Services, Robyn, together with your primary RBC advisor, helps you explore succession, tax, retirement and estate planning issues you face as a business owner.
Prior to joining RBC, Robyn acquired her expertise in estates, trusts and succession planning in both private practice and with a major trust company, practicing law in Toronto for 8 years with an emphasis on trusts, estates, succession, planning for incapacity and charities law, and as a will and estate consultant for a well-known Canadian trust company. In 2001, Robyn joined RBC, assisting clients with their overall tax and estate planning, and in 2011, assumed her present position, specializing solely in assisting business owners with their succession, tax, retirement and estate planning.
Robyn obtained her law degree from Osgoode Hall in 1991, and she was called to the Bar in Ontario in 1993. She has completed her in-depth tax courses, levels 1 and 2, as well as the Advanced Tax Issues for the Owner Managed Business Course and the Corporate Reorganizations Course. She has co-authored two books, “Drafting Wills in Ontario: A Lawyer’s Practical Guide” and “Drafting Wills in Canada: A Lawyer’s Practical Guide”.
In addition, Robyn was an instructor at the Estate and Trust Bar Admission Course at the Law Society of Upper Canada.She is an active member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) and has obtained the STEP Advanced Certificate in Family Business Advising.
Financial Planners
Chris Leslie, CPA, CA, CFP
Financial Planning Specialist, Family Office Services, RBC Wealth Management
Chris is a Chartered Accountant (CPA, CA) with over 25 years of experience in financial services. He holds his Bachelor of Commerce Degree (Accounting) from Carleton University.
Chris began his career with a major international public accounting firm for 5 years upon graduation from university. Chris then started his role in wealth management services as an investment advisor in 1997 providing clients with investment management, financial planning and insurance solutions. Chris utilizes his experience as a Chartered Accountant and investment advisor to provide comprehensive financial planning services to professionals, business owners and other high net worth clients.
Insurance Specialists
Michael Keyes, CLU, B.Comm.
Vice-President & Estate Planning Specialist, RBC Wealth Management Financial Services Inc.
Mike believes in making clients’ lives better and that long term success doesn’t happen by accident. He understands that financial decisions need to be made with precision and loves knowing that his work helps people succeed in achieving their tax, retirement and estate planning goals. Working closely with clients and their advisors, Mike puts together high-caliber solutions while providing simplicity to complex situations.
For nearly 30 years, Mike has dedicated himself to the financial services industry where he has focused on family wealth planning and the benefits of life insurance solutions. He joined RBC in 1997 and is a member of Advocis, the largest voluntary professional membership association of financial advisors in Canada.
When not at work Mike enjoys spending time with family, on the golf course, travelling and being outdoors.
Will & Estate Consultants
Jonah Rabinovitch, BA, LL.B, CFP
Will & Estate Consultant, Family Office Services, RBC Wealth Management
Jonah attended the University of Ottawa where he completed a Bachelor of Arts Degree in 2003. He subsequently attended Dalhousie University where he completed his Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) degree in 2006. Upon completion of his articling position, Jonah practiced law for four years in the areas of tax and estate planning and corporate law where he worked closely with individuals and business owners to implement complex solutions to meet their particular needs.
In 2011, Jonah entered the financial services industry where he has spent his career completing comprehensive estate and financial plans and acting as a resource for high net worth and business owner clients.
Jonah received his CFP designation in 2013 and is a member of FP Canada as well as the Law Society of Ontario.
As a Will & Estate Consultant, Jonah provides comprehensive estate planning services to clients, offering sensible and practical solutions to meet their individual needs..
Royal Trust
As a Regional Trust Advisor, Claudia Morrison serves clients throughout the Northeastern Ontario and Atlantic regions and is located in the Ottawa office. Claudia provides strong organizational and relationship-building skills to deliver comprehensive estate and trust solutions for executors, trustees and beneficiaries. Clients appreciate her ability to explain complex concepts of estate and trust administration in terms that they can relate to and with sensitivity.
A graduate of Carleton University with a Bachelor of Arts Honours degree, Claudia has continued to deepen her knowledge and expertise with key industry designations such as the Personal Financial Planner (PFP) and Chartered Investment Manager (CIM) designations. She has also completed the Canadian Securities Course.
Claudia has held various roles in banking, investment counselling and estate and trust administration that provide her with a unique depth of understanding around integrated solutions to meet client needs. With more than 20 years of financial services experience, Claudia brings to each client the necessary skill set to provide both the technical expertise as well as the genuine understanding of the emotional complexities that underlie these issues. Claudia understands that no two clients are the same and so together with her RBC Royal Trust partners, she can find the solution that’s right for you.
RBC Private Banking
As a Private Banker with RBC Wealth Management, Ian O'Keefe works with families, business owners, and professionals to provide counsel and solutions to their unique and sophisticated banking needs. He offers his clients the value of over 15 years' experience in financial services and a team of professionals who help simplify the complexity of their borrowing and banking decisions.
Many affluent individuals view credit as a wealth management tool, one that can help them take full advantage of business and investment opportunities as they arise. Whether in personal name, Family Trust, Holding Company or Professional Corporation Ian designs personalized short and long-term lending and flexible credit packages for this purpose.
With his personal and customized service, Ian can simplify their complex financial lives so they can focus on their career and personal goals. Because he works with a relatively small number of clients, Ian is able to ensure responsive service and the level of attention his clients require to help their businesses and lives run more smoothly. When necessary, he works with his clients' existing professionals to deliver comprehensive, integrated financial and borrowing solutions.
Born and raised in Brockville, Ontario, Ian and his family have enjoyed calling the greater Kingston area home since 2003. Ian is a graduate of the University of Guelph Agricultural Business program. He is married and the father of a son and daughter.
As a Premier Banking Advisor for Ontario North and East (ONE), Jag Swamy 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, he provides personalized service and tailored advice to help clients save time and effectively manage their day to day banking needs.
With over 10 years of industry experience in financial services and 4 years with RBC, Jag has gained the respect of his clients and his peers through his experience, knowledge and customer focused attitude, while also being recognized as a leader and top performer.
Born and raised in Montreal, Jag holds a Degree in Business Administration from the University of Ottawa, a Diploma of Information Technology Professional, holds the Financial Planning 1 and Branch Compliance Officer accreditation, while continuing work to build on his financial acumen.
Jag and his family live in the Kingston area, where he has joined RBC's disability awareness initiative. When Jag is not working hard for his clients, he enjoys spending time with his family, swimming, meditating, yoga, travelling and cheering on his kids' baseball.
His passion for learning, a focus on teamwork, and a true desire to make a difference in clients' lives will deliver an Exceptional Experience with the Private Banking Premier team.