Meet the team

Ask great questions. Listen. Educate, inform and implement.

When Cheryl meets with clients, she takes the time to truly understand their financial situation and then helps to guide them in making the right decisions for their needs.

Building caring, long-lasting relationships, Cheryl has spent over 30 years, collaborating with affluent families, professionals, executives and business owners, while partnering with their trusted advisors. She believes risk management is at the foundation of every wealth plan, and is known for simplifying complex financial situations.

Cheryl has earned multiple industry designations, along with the Family Business Strategy Essentials Certificate from the Sauder School of Business. In her spare time, she enjoys riding horses, skiing, boating and traveling.

Having begun his career in the financial services industry in 2003, Denny has a range of experience working in both sales and management positions. He prides himself on fostering high-trust relationships and matching client goals with ideal solutions. Specializing in working with families, professionals and business owner clients, including extensive work with physicians, Denny offers unique and customized life and living benefits insurance-based solutions to meet your needs.

Denny is an active member of ADVOCIS, The Financial Advisors Association of Canada, which is the oldest and largest voluntary professional membership association of financial advisors and planners in Canada. He previously held a five-year board member position for ADVOCIS at the Edmonton Chapter.

Prior to joining RBC, Eugene was a Tax Manager at one of the world’s leading accounting firms where he spent many years providing tax compliance and tax planning services to high net worth individuals, private companies and First Nations.

Eugene is a Chartered Accountant (CPA, CA), a Certified Financial Planner (CFP), and holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Simon Fraser University. He has completed and tutored the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants’ In-Depth Tax Course and completed the Advanced Tax Issues for the Owner-Managed Business Course.

Eugene believes that planning is critical to helping people meet their financial goals. Eugene’s role is to work with and support your advisor in preparing and presenting comprehensive Compass Financial Plans.

Melissa obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree from Simon Fraser University in 1999 and earned her Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Victoria in 2007. She was called to the Bar in British Columbia in 2008.

Prior to joining RBC Wealth Management, Melissa practiced law in Vancouver and specialized in estate planning and estate administration as well as small business corporate and commercial matters. Melissa assisted clients with a range of estate planning matters including drafting Wills, Powers of Attorney and Representation Agreements as well as matters related to the administration of an estate, including applications for Letters Probate and Letters of Administration. Melissa also assisted clients with matters relating to a variety of corporate transactions including incorporations, corporate reorganizations, corporate financing, share and asset purchase and sale transactions as well as the drafting of various corporate commercial documents including shareholder agreements and partnership agreements.

Melissa is a member of the Canadian Bar Association Wills and Trusts Section (Vancouver).

Melissa’s role with RBC Wealth Management is to work with you and your advisor to review and/or structure your Will, estate and trust matters to ensure that your plan is organized in an effective and tax-efficient manner.

Simi obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of British Columbia in 2006 and earned her Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Calgary in 2009. She was called to the Bar of British Columbia in 2010. Simi completed the three-year CPA Canada In-Depth Tax Course in 2015.

Following her call to the BC Bar, Simi practiced corporate law, estate and trust planning, and real estate law with a small Vancouver law firm before joining the tax group of a medium-sized firm in 2011, where she specialized in personal and corporate taxation matters, estate and trust planning and tax dispute resolution. She continued her practice of tax law and estate planning at the Vancouver office of a large international law firm before joining RBC. Her experience includes working in all areas of individual and corporate tax planning, business succession and reorganization, estate freezes, and trust planning.

Simi is a member of the Canadian Tax Foundation and the Canadian Bar Association (BC Branch) Wills & Trusts and Taxation Sections. She is also an executive member of the BC Women Lawyers Forum and was a member of the organizing committee for the 2015 and 2016 Ovarian Cancer Canada “LOVE HER” gala. Simi is fluent in Punjabi.

Simi would be pleased to assist you in developing strategies to structure your estate plan in an efficient and tax-effective manner.

Avideh Parent is an experienced lawyer with a strong commitment to educating people on the importance of estate planning. Avideh is a frequent presenter on Wills and Estates for organizations such as the Legal Education Society of Alberta, the City of Edmonton, Next Step Continuing Education, and the Edmonton Community Foundation. Avideh also has been featured on Global TV, Shaw TV, and various financial education websites.

Avideh received her undergraduate degree from Carleton University and went to Law School at the University of Alberta. In 2001 she was called to the Alberta Bar and is a member of the Law Society of Alberta. Avideh holds the Trust and Estate Practitioner (TEP) designation, granted through the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP). Prior to joining RBC in 2012, she devoted her law practice to Wills, Estate Planning, and Estate Administration.

Avideh is also very active in the Latin dance community, and enjoys travelling the world to perform and compete with her husband in salsa dance competitions.

Avideh has been a member of the following organizations:

• Wills & Estates Subsection of the Canadian Bar Association;
• Elder Law Subsection of the Canadian Bar Association;
• Edmonton Estate Planning Council;
• Oliver Centre Board of Directors.

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 Royal Trust 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.