Will & Estate Consultant
Grace received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of British Columbia in 2000 and graduated from Dalhousie Law School in 2003.
She was called to the British Columbia Bar in 2004. Prior to joining RBC, Grace practised law in Vancouver, specializing in estate planning and estate administration. Most recently, Grace worked at a hospital foundation advising the charity on legal matters as well as its donors on charitable giving.
Grace is a member of the Canadian Bar Association Wills and Trusts Section and Charities Section. She is fluent in Cantonese and Mandarin.
Will & Estate Advisor
As the Will and Estate Advisor for the Vancouver and Okanagan regions, Rick brings an approach to estate planning that centers on understanding and addressing the unique needs of each client, working collaboratively with both the client and their trusted advisors to help craft a comprehensive, effective estate plan that meets their particular needs.
A graduate of Simon Fraser University with a Bachelor of Arts degree and a law degree from the University of Victoria. He is currently a member of the Law Society of British Columbia, the Wills and Estates Subsection of the Canadian Bar Association (BC), and the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP).
Rick joined RBC Estate & Trust Services from private practice and brings over 15 years of experience as a full time estate planning lawyer with a downtown Vancouver law firm. He has extensive experience dealing with all facets of personal estate planning, including wealth preservation, asset protection, income splitting and tax minimization issues. During that time, Rick also dealt with court appointed committees for incapacitated individuals, and matters arising from the administration and wind up of estates.
Whether clients hope to protect a disabled heir, incorporate succession planning for their business, address the unique concerns arising from second spouses and blended families, minimize family conflicts, or deal with beneficiaries or assets that are situated outside of Canada, Rick can help craft a tailored estate plan that meets their individual needs.
The combination of his professional expertise and his commitment to provide practical solutions makes Rick an invaluable resource for both clients and their financial advisors.
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.
HIgh Net Worth Planning Specialist
Darren Bank, CPA, CA, TEP
Vice-President, High Net Worth Planning Services, RBC Family Office Services
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.
Business Owner Specialist
Zora Booker, CPA, CGA, MBA, TEP
Vice President, Business Owner Specialist, RBC Family Office Services
Prior to joining RBC in 2014, Zora spent over a decade with a mid-size Canadian accounting and business advisory firm where she focused on assisting owner- managers and their families with personal, trust and corporate tax planning and compliance. Zora focused on development and implementation of strategies for wealth preservation in the context of tax, estate and succession planning.
Zora, together with your primary RBC advisor, helps you to explore succession, tax, retirement and estate planning issues you face as a business owner. Zora specializes in tax and estate planning for business owners and high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth families.
Zora received a Bachelor degree in Science from Simon Fraser University and a Master in Business Administration from the University of British Columbia. Zora is a Chartered Professional Accountant, Certified General Accountant. Zora
has completed the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants In-Depth Tax Courses, as well as the Advanced Tax Issues for the Owner-Managed Business Course. Zora is also a TEP designated member of STEP (The Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners).
Financial Planning Specialist
Yat-Sze Lo, CPA, CA, CFP
Vice President and Financial Planning Specialist, RBC Family Office Services
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.
Jennifer Lu is a chartered professional accountant (CPA, CA). She completed her Bachelor of Accounting degree at Brock University, and holds a Master of
Taxation degree from the University of Waterloo.
Prior to joining RBC, Jennifer was a tax manager in one of the largest global accounting firm where she provided tax consulting advice and tax compliance services to a wide range of corporations and high-net-worth individuals. She assisted clients with tax planning strategies and business restructuring. With her strong academic background and years of experience in public accounting, Jennifer became a trusted advisor for many business owners and high-net- worth individuals.
Jennifer believes that financial planning is critical to achieve your financial success. Her 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.
Estate Planning Specialist(Insurance)
Managing wealth can be complicated. Working together shouldn't have to be.
Collaborating with your tax and legal professionals is something Carey does well. As a Chartered Professional Accountant, Trust & Estate Practitioner, and after many years in the tax and estate planning group of a leading Canadian life insurer, he understands there's a lot to consider when putting a plan in place.
Carey focuses on customizing tax-effective, insurance based solutions for business owners and high-net-worth families. His ability to simplify the complex and provide clarity of financial situations offers clients comfort in knowing they're being well looked after.
With a love of family and the outdoors, Carey is often found out on the golf course with his wife and two daughters. He has contributed to many industry publications and is a sought after speaker in English, Mandarin and Cantonese.
Private Client Insurance Specialist
Rachel is a Risk Assessment Insurance Specialist with 25 years of industry experience. She is dedicated to helping clients protect and preserve their wealth, possessions and lifestyle. Rachel started her career at Abbey Insurance Brokers in Northern Ireland where she held numerous roles from administrative assistant to assistant manager.
In 2013, Rachel moved to Canada after the recession in search of a better life. She settled in Edmonton, Alberta with her husband where she fell back into the insurance industry. During this time she rediscovered her passion for insurance and helping clients protect what matters most to them – their lifestyle. Prior to joining RBC, Rachel had the opportunity to work at CMB Insurance. In her role, she was responsible for building their VIP personal lines book of business.
Along with a diploma in Management, Rachel is currently working towards her Canadian Accredited Insurance Broker (CAIB) designation. When not taking care of clients, you may find Rachel travelling, reading, cooking, watching Netflix, attending concerts and festivals, or skiing with her husband and daughter in Jasper.