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.
Coming from one of the major global accounting firms, Yat-Sze brings a broad range of experience to her role as a Financial Planning Specialist. In her previous role as a senior tax manager, 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) and corporate restructuring.
Yat-Sze is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA). 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.
Jon is a Chartered Accountant (CPA, CA) and has completed the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada’s In-Depth Tax Course. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Simon Fraser University.
Prior to joining RBC, Jon was providing professional services to individuals, private corporations, estates, trusts and partnerships at one of the leading international public accounting firms. His experience includes tax planning for individuals and corporations.
Jon’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 planning concerns you may have
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 Jon, 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 tax-efficiently 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.
To schedule a meeting with Jon Wong, please contact your advisor.
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.
Arne Perrin, B.Comm. (Hons), CFP®
Vice-President & Estate Planning Specialist, RBC Wealth Management Financial Services Inc.
Wealth on your terms.
Arne's eldest daughter has a poster on her wall. It says, "Be yourself. Everyone else is already taken." That's how Arne lives life. He hopes others feel the freedom to do so as well. That's why his core purpose is to help clients enjoy and distribute wealth on their own terms.
To help those clients make informed choices, Arne and his team make it their mission to listen, interpret, educate and coach - that insurance is an asset, not an expense, for example. Careful planning then surfaces the right solution.
Loyalty and trust are paramount. By doing the right thing, Arne and his team want to be advisors' and clients' first choice. It helps that they're renowned as highly responsive, superbly meticulous, very honest - and always trying to be better.
As a Senior Trust Advisor, Lois Yonash serves clients throughout British Columbia and is located in the Vancouver office. Lois provides a wealth of knowledge relating to trusts and their administration. With a career focus on client relationships, she is dedicated to her clients and provides a personalized service tailored to their specific needs.
A graduate of Edgewood College in Madison Wisconsin with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree and a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) Lois has continued to deepen her knowledge and expertise while attending industry conferences and educational courses.
Lois 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, Lois can help.
With more than 20 years of industry experience, Lois 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. Lois understands that no two clients are the same and so together with her RBC Estate & Trust Services partners she can find the solution that’s right for you.
Aileen Battye, LL.B, TEP
Vice President, Philanthropic Advisory Specialist, RBC Wealth Management Services
Aileen obtained a 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 Bar in British Columbia and Ontario in 2004. She has achieved her TEP designation from STEP (The Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners), has completed the In-depth Tax Issues for the Owner-managed Business course and all three levels of the In-depth Tax course through the CPA.
In 2009, Aileen joined RBC, assisting high-net-worth clients with their succession, tax, philanthropic, retirement and estate planning, and in 2021, assumed her present position, specializing in assisting clients with their philanthropic and legacy plans. Prior to joining RBC, Aileen practiced law in Vancouver and Toronto, specializing in estate and trust planning, and tax litigation.
Aileen is Secretary of STEP Canada, and a Past Chair of the Vancouver Branch Executive of STEP. Aileen volunteers as a member of the Development Committee of the Vancouver Foundation. She is a member of the Canadian Association of Gift Planners, Canadian Tax Foundation, and a former Trustee of the YMCA of Greater Vancouver Foundation (serving for 9 years).
Jeremy Cruz brings more than 25 years of experience in financial services. As a dedicated relationship manager, Mr. Cruz and his team provide personalized, discreet financial counsel to high-net-worth business owners, entrepreneurs, professionals, and their families throughout the Greater Vancouver Area.
Mr. Cruz’s clients' have access to sophisticated banking, personalized short and long-term credit solutions and flexible cash management. Depending on his clients' needs, these services may include estate planning, domestic and international trusts, financial planning and discretionary & non-discretionary investing. Mr. Cruz draws on the expertise of a broad group of specialist across RBC and works closely with other professionals, such as lawyers and accountants, to ensure that RBC's capabilities are fully aligned with his clients’ needs.
Prior to joining Private Banking, Mr. Cruz was an Investment Advisor with RBC Dominion Securities, and has extensive experience as a Commercial Account Manager. During his time in these advisory roles, he helped clients navigate the complexities of wealth management strategies, developed an expertise with investment management, and creating credit and banking solutions for both personal and business owner clients. Mr. Cruz has held a succession of roles in the branch and retail network including, Account Manager for Small Medium Enterprise, Senior Business Advisor, and Financial Advisor.
Mr. Cruz holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with Business minor from the University of Calgary. Outside of the office he is an avid tennis player and enjoys running, staying active with his son, and spending time with his family.
As a Premier Banking Advisor for Vancouver, Wendy Mah 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, she provides personalized service and tailored advice to help clients save time and effectively manage their day-to-day banking needs.
With 12 years of experience in financial services with RBC, Wendy is respected by her clients, her peers and the industry, and has received top performer recognition.
Wendy is committed to giving back to her community and acts as a coach for Little Mountain Baseball, as a volunteer member for Ascend Pan Asian Leaders Vancouver. She also participates in various fundraising campaigns for the United Way and Champion for Children’s Hospital.
Born in Vietnam and raised in Hong Kong and Vancouver, Wendy holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree, major in Sociology and Communication from Simon Fraser University.
She currently resides in the Vancouver area with her husband and two children and when she isn’t hard at work for her clients, you’ll find her spending time outside, hiking, running and working on her golf and tennis games. She also enjoys traveling and learning about other cultures. Wendy speaks fluent English and Vietnamese.
As a Premier Banking Advisor for Vancouver, Christina Tong 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, she provides personalized service and tailored advice to help clients save time and effectively manage their day-to-day banking needs.
With 3 years' experience in financial services at RBC, Christina is respected by her clients, her peers and the industry, and has received top performer recognition. Christina is committed to giving back to her community and acts as a volunteer member for We Day at the Rogers Arena. She also participates in the BC Children's Hospital Foundation supporting kids in BC.
Born and raised in China, Christina was further raised in BC after migrating to Canada in her teens. Christina holds a Bachelor of Economics Degree from Simon Fraser University.
Christina currently resides in the Lower Mainland. When she is not hard at work for her clients, she enjoys spending time and walking her dog. Christina also enjoys watching movies, trying new food and trading stocks. Christina is fluent in Mandarin and Cantonese.