Our Team

Kelly received her law degree from the University of Western Ontario in 1993 and was called to the bar in 1995.

She practised in the areas of litigation, family law and estate planning at a law firm until joining a major trust company in 1996, where she worked in a variety of roles involving estate administration and planning. Kelly joined RBC Dominion Securities in 2003.

Kelly received her Certified Financial Planning (CFP) designation in 1998 and is a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) as well as the Law Society of Upper Canada. She has completed Parts I and II of the CICA in-depth tax course.

Kelly’s significant practical experience in the estate planning and administration field, coupled with her financial planning expertise, allows her to offer guidance on both the tax and personal implications of your estate plan.

Anthony brings over ten years of extensive banking and lending experience to RBC Private Banking. As your Private Banker, Anthony's main purpose will be to enhance your banking experience, delivering discreet and personalized financial counsel. Anthony will bring speed, efficiency and knowledge to your requests and needs.

As a trusted financial advisor, Anthony works closely with his clients to build customized advice and wealth management solutions that cover estate and succession planning, credit, cash management and sophisticated, convenient day-to-day banking offerings. Anthony also partners with top experts from across RBC to bring his clients an unparalleled range of innovative product solutions and services. When necessary, Anthony will work with his clients' other professional advisors to deliver comprehensive, integrated financial solutions.

Having spent most of his life in Montreal, Anthony is perfectly bilingual, fluent in both English and French. Anthony started his banking career while completing his Bachelors of Commerce degree in Finance from Concordia's John Molson School of Business. From there, he climbed the ladder of retail banking, starting as a Customer Service Representative all the way through to Branch Manager. During this time, Anthony decided to deepen his business acumen and successfully completed his Executive MBA from Concordia University. Anthony's personal interests include hockey (playing and watching) and understanding the complex maze of airline reward programs.

As a Private Banker with RBC Wealth Management, Laurence Donovan leads a team of banking and credit professionals who provide comprehensive wealth management and financing strategies to high-net-worth business owners, executives, professionals and their families.

Mr. Donovan's extensive career spans 25 years in the wealth management industry with RBC. This experience enables him to provide insight, counsel and develop innovative financial solutions to help his clients achieve their long-term financial goals.

As trusted advisors, Mr. Donovan and his team provide customized and integrated solutions that include complex credit structures, tax and retirement planning and sophisticated packages for managing the daily banking and cash management needs of his clients. Mr. Donovan and his team partner with a broad range of experts across RBC to deliver investment management, Wills and estate planning, commercial banking, business succession planning and trust structures to meet both the domestic and international needs of their clients. He frequently works with external counsel to provide the necessary opinions and advice for complex planning needs.

Mr. Donovan holds an Honours Degree in Economics from Carleton University, is a Certified Financial Planner and a Trust and Estate Practitioner. He is also a member of RBC's Executive Council, in recognition of the excellent service he consistently provides his clients.

Mr. Donovan is an active participant in his community and volunteers as a hockey coach. He is married with two children and enjoys golf, hockey, travel and spending time with his family.

Sandy brings over 30 years of experience to her role as Vice President, Private Banking.

She leads a team of highly talented Private Bankers in Toronto, who provide multifaceted wealth solutions including sophisticated banking, credit and leverage packages to high net worth households and their holding companies. She also works closely with enterprise experts for other Wealth Management needs.

Sandy has served in a variety of roles within RBC including Retail Banking, Commercial Banking and RBC Wealth Management.

As a Premier Banking Advisor for the greater Toronto area, Claudia Diaz works as a single point of contact providing banking and credit solutions for select clients of Dominion Securities and their families. Partnering with Investment Advisors across the region, she provides personalized service and tailored advice to help clients save time and effectively manage their day-to-day banking and credit solutions.

With 15 years of experience in the financial industry with Royal Bank of Canada, Claudia is well respected by both her clients and peers alike. Prior to her current role Claudia was a Financial Advisor, Banking Advisor, as well as an Operational support role at RBC. Clients appreciate Claudia’s extensive experience as a banking and advisory professional and her commitment to efficiently meeting their needs and simplifying their financial affairs.

Committed to giving back to her community, as part of RBC’s community events Claudia has volunteer for the Aga Khan Museum, Evergreen Brickworks and the Daily Bread Food Bank. In addition, she is very passionate in helping the less fortunate here at home as well as in other countries.

Born in El Salvador, Claudia moved to Canada in 1993 and lives in Toronto with her husband, three children and grandson. In her spare time, Claudia loves spending time with her family and friends who inspire and motivate her life.

A former tax lawyer with over 25 years of experience in the insurance industry, Joel brings a unique perspective to the estate planning needs of his clients. Joel works closely with you and your team of professional advisors to develop and implement tax-efficient strategies to help you achieve your wealth management goals.

Joel received his BA (Economics) from Brandeis University, his LL.B from the University of Toronto and LL.M in Tax Law from Osgoode Hall Law School. He is a Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) and a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (TEP). Joel is a frequent speaker at industry and professional conferences. His articles have appeared in numerous publications including the Canadian Tax Journal and the Canadian Business Law Journal. He is the founding co-editor of the leading text on tax planning with life insurance, Canadian Taxation of Life Insurance.

Andrew loves the insurance business. It’s not the products, it’s the opportunity to learn about you, your family and your life as a whole and how insurance may help you to reach your most cherished goals. That accounts for Andrew’s core purpose: to focus on people and provide the optimal solution for their unique circumstances.

Fundamentally, Andrew is an educator. He says, “If I hadn’t chosen the insurance business I would probably be a teacher. As an Estate Planning Specialist, my role is to educate clients on which situations these products are for, and how you make them work.” It is not about the sale. It’s about helping people discover an insurance solution that works for them, if any. It’s always about people, not product.

Andrew has been an Estate Planning Specialist since 1993. He lives in Toronto with his wife, daughter and their dog. An amateur boxer until 1992, he was the Ontario middleweight champion. Now he’s an avid squash player and fisherman.

Zain is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) and Certified Financial Planner (CFP). He has completed the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada’s In-Depth Tax Course and holds an Honours Bachelor of Commerce degree from the Smith School of Business at Queen’s University (major in Accounting). In his previous role as a Senior Tax Manager at one of the global major accounting firms, Zain specialized in providing tax planning and compliance services to high net worth individuals, private businesses, estates, trusts and partnerships. 

Specialized financial planning 

At RBC, we recognize that with greater financial resources, comes greater financial complexity. To help you properly coordinate your financial matters and optimize the unique opportunities available to you, we are pleased to offer you our highest level of financial planning. Personally prepared by Zain, a Financial Planning Specialist, your comprehensive Financial Plan will provide recommendations specific to your situation. Your plan will consider strategies to maximize your cash flow, reduce taxes, ensure your retirement lifestyle, protect your financial security, transfer wealth to your next generation taxefficiently and make the most of your philanthropic legacy. In appreciation of your business, your advisor is pleased to offer this service to you on a complimentary basis. 

Michael has been in the Wealth Management Industry since 1997 where his primary area of focus has been in investment advisory and wealth advisory services. Michael joined RBC Wealth Management in 2020 as Vice President, Private Wealth Consultant; a role in which he will support advisors and fellow professionals in engaging enterprising families in broader discussions with respect to their family, their businesses and their wealth.

Prior to joining RBC Wealth Management Michael held several progressive roles at other financial institutions. Michael was the former Head of HNW Wealth Planning Services at another Canadian financial institution where he was involved in the development of: financial planning software, a HNW service delivery model, specialized planning services including the introduction of business advisory and cross border wealth planning.

Michael’s experience in conjunction with his completion of many industry leading designations suit him well as he helps initiate client discussions on family governance, family business succession, and legacy. Michael is dedicated to working as part of a multidisciplinary team guiding enterprising families to greater success.

Michael is committed to ongoing personal and professional development and is a continuous lifelong learner. Michael’s greatest skill comes in his ability to listen and work effectively with his peers at any level.

Prashant has assisted high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth families with tax, estate and retirement issues since 1992.

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 executives, business owners, 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.

Murray has been providing advice and technical support in relation to high-net-worth family wealth planning since 1994. Conversations include scenarios to be aware of in transitioning, including the costs of transitioning, your assets to your intended heirs. Additional areas of concern may include tax, asset preservation and philanthropic planning.

Murray’s expertise encompasses both domestic and international family circumstances, and in many cases is focused on the challenges of transitioning a family business. His guidance supports clients in their relationships with their external professional advisors, with whom he frequently interacts.

Before joining RBC’s Canadian Wealth Management Services team in 2008, Murray worked with RBC’s Global Private Banking group as the senior resource in their global trust business for over 13 years.

Prior to joining RBC, Murray practised law for six years in the areas of estate and tax planning, as well as various areas of business law.

Murray was a Director of STEP Canada (Society of Trust & Estate Practitioners) from its inception until 2009, and has been a member of the International Tax Planning Association and the Canadian Tax Foundation over the years. He has been a featured speaker at Estate Planning Councils, Law Society and STEP practitioner education conferences in Canada and abroad.

As a Senior Trust Advisor, Karen Snowdon-Steacy is responsible for managing a complex book of accounts, and services clients throughout the Greater Toronto Area. Karen works with individuals, families and businesses to provide 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, Karen can help. Karen also has expertise and experience in advising on Philanthropic and Charitable Giving strategies for clients who wish to leave a lasting legacy.

A graduate of Victoria University at the University of Toronto specializing in history and political science, Karen has continued to deepen her knowledge and expertise with key industry designations such as Trust and Estate Practitioner (TEP). Karen is a full member of STEP.

With 25 years of experience, Karen is well known within the local Estate and Trust industry and delivers well-balanced advice by staying abreast of product, industry, investment, tax and legislative developments. With a career focused on building client relationships, she is dedicated to providing assistance in the preservation, management and transfer of wealth between generations by providing solutions to implement clients’ estate, trust and philanthropic plans.