Our team

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 clients with their overall tax and estate planning, and in 2014, assumed her present position, specializing in assisting high-net-worth clients with their succession, tax, retirement and estate planning. Prior to joining RBC, Aileen practiced law in Vancouver and Toronto, specializing in estate and trust planning, and tax litigation. Aileen is a committed community volunteer, currently serving as Treasurer of STEP Canada and as a board member of the Canadian Dupuytren Society. She is a former Trustee of the YMCA of Greater Vancouver Foundation (serving for 9 years) as well as other local not-for-profits in BC. She is also a member of STEP Canada, the Canadian Association of Gift Planners, as well as the Canadian Tax Foundation.

Angus has more than a decade of experience in charitable giving and legacy planning. He currently contributes this expertise to RBC Family Office Services, where he collaborates closely with advisors, clients and their families. Together, they devise tailored giving strategies that harmonize the client's goals and values with their philanthropic aspirations and seamlessly integrate into their overall wealth management objectives. 

He possesses distinctive insights gained from his involvement in establishing and managing a private foundation that provided donor-advised fund and philanthropic solutions to advisors and clients while at Gluskin Sheff. Furthermore, his extensive knowledge of legacy planning, capital campaigns, and intricate gift structures stems from his previous roles with SickKids Foundation and RBC Royal Trust. 

Angus is a member of the Canadian Association of Gift Planners (CAGP), co-chair of the GTA CAGP Education Committee, and faculty member of the National CAGP Estate Fundamentals course. He has achieved his TEP designation from STEP (The Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners). 

As a member of the RBC Family Office Services team, Stephanie brings extensive knowledge and experience in financial planning and education. She maintains the Fellow of the Canadian Securities Institute (FCSI) and Certified International Wealth Manager (CIWM) designations from the Canadian Securities Institute, as well as the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designation.

In her role as Manager, Financial Literacy, Stephanie oversees the RBC Wealth Management Financial Literacy program, as well as broader strategy planning and thought leadership to support and grow this area across RBC Wealth Management. Stephanie specializes in providing clients and advisor teams with support, resources and expertise in financial literacy and in building financial management skills; promoting, managing and updating existing educational content; and developing new resources. Stephanie also focuses on initiatives and partnership opportunities to further boost awareness around financial literacy and the importance of structured, comprehensive learning among all age groups.

An advocate both of and for advanced education, Stephanie has volunteered with FP Canada as Institute Faculty, exam marker and item writer. She has taught and tutored CFP preparatory classes, and presented in school classrooms with Junior Achievement.

Sam earned his Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of British Columbia in 2001. He was called to the Bar of Alberta in 2002, and the Bar of British Columbia in 2004.

Prior to joining RBC, he practised law for a number of years at a mid-sized regional firm. In addition to practising as a Will, estate and trust advisor, he also engaged in a general business law practice, including the structuring and restructuring of businesses, acquisitions, as well as commercial lending and security.

Sam has acted as pro bono counsel for a number of societies in the past, and continues to assist such societies as an advisor. He is a member of the Canadian Bar Association, and participates in the Wills and Estates subsection.

Sam would be pleased to discuss your Will, estate and trust matters and assist to ensure your intentions are carried out in an elegant 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.

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.

As a Business Owner Specialist, High Net Worth Planning Services, Darren, 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, 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.

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).

Brigitte Fenner brings over 20 years of experience in both Canadian and Swiss banking to her role as Private Banker serving the Greater Toronto Area.

Prior to joining RBC, Ms. Fenner spent over 10 years as a senior financial advisor for private banking clients in Switzerland, which today gives her unique perspective into the needs of affluent clients with international needs.

Now in the Toronto Private Banking office, Ms. Fenner works closely with Private Banker Nora Jones to ensure seamless, unparalleled wealth management for all clients. She creates tailored financial solutions for high-net-worth individuals, business owners, professionals, executives and their families. Through RBC she partners with specialists in Canada and in key markets worldwide to provide a complete range of complementary services, from sophisticated banking and credit solutions, to estate and philanthropic strategies, to domestic and international trust services, for business as well as personal clients. She holds the Professional Financial Planner (PFP) designation, which helps in providing financial planning advice to clients with complex needs.

Ms. Fenner was born and raised in Zurich, Switzerland and today is married with a young daughter. Fluent in English and German, she is an active skier, traveller, runner and boot-camper, and volunteers at her daughter's school.

Caillie Hayes brings more than 15 years of extensive experience primarily focused within Commercial Banking to RBC Wealth Management, Private Banking. As a private banker, Caillie provides comprehensive wealth management and financing strategies to high-net-worth business owners, executives, professionals and their families.

Based in Langley, BC, Caillie works with a select number of clients in the high-net-worth space to address their often-complex banking, credit and wealth management needs by providing tailored banking and financial solutions. Her goal is to deliver unparalleled service while building lasting relationships based on trust and a thorough understanding of each client’s unique needs and goals.

When necessary, she collaborates with specialists across RBC to provide clients with a complete range of complementary services. These services range from investment management to estate and legacy planning, and from domestic and international trust services to sophisticated credit and leverage strategies to support individual short- and long-term goals.

Caillie offers an extensive background in client relationship management to her role as Private Banker. She draws on more than 5 years of experience within RBC commercial markets. 

After earning a Degree in Finance from UBC, Caillie has continued to deepen her knowledge and expertise with key industry designations such as Personal Financial Planning (PFP). Away from the office, Caillie enjoys spending time with her family and exploring the beauty the province of BC has to offer. 

Mr. Micheal Knott brings more than a decade of experience in financial services to his role as Private Banker. He and his team provide personalized, discreet financial counsel to a select group of high net worth business owners, entrepreneurs, professionals, and their families throughout the Greater Vancouver Area.

As a dedicated relationship manger, Mr. Knott provides his clients and their families with sophisticated banking, personalized short and long-term credit solutions, and flexible cash management, drawing on the expertise of a broad group of specialists from across the RBC enterprise. Depending on his clients' needs, these services may include estate planning, domestic and international trusts, financial planning, and discretionary & non-discretionary investing. When necessary and appropriate, Mr. Knott works with his clients' other professional advisors to deliver comprehensive, integrated wealth management solutions. 

Prior to joining RBC Private Banking in 2019, Mr. Knott was a successful Senior Advisor and Private Banker with another institution where he supported his personal and business clients by delivering tailored banking, investment, and planning solutions. 

Mr. Knott holds a Bachelor of Commerce Honours with a dual specialization in Finance and Economics from the University of Guelph. He also holds a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designation, helping him to provide tailored financial planning counsel for his clients' increasingly sophisticated needs. 

Married with one child, he keeps busy outside of the office by snowboarding, downhill biking, running, and getting in a round of golf whenever he can.

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.

As a Premier Banking Advisor for Vancouver, Bonnie Tang 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 more than 21 years of experience in financial services with RBC, Bonnie is respected by her clients, her peers and the industry, and has received top performer recognition. Bonnie is committed to giving back to her community and acts as a volunteer member for BC Children Hospital (BCCH) and Growing Chefs. She also supports the United Way annual fund raising campaign.

Born and raised in China, Bonnie migrated to Canada in 2000. She received her Bachelor of Business Administration, major in Accounting from the University of Macau, China.

Bonnie currently resides in the Vancouver area with her husband and son. When she is not hard at work for her clients, Bonnie enjoys yoga, cooking, baking and traveling overseas. She is also a fan of horror movies. Bonnie speaks fluent English, Cantonese and Mandarin.

As a Premier Banking Advisor for Downtown Vancouver, Katarina Tsamis 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 almost 4 years in the financial industry at RBC, and more than 10 years in customer service, Katarina is respected by her clients, her colleagues, and the industry. She has received top performer recognition, as well as being recognized for her partnering ability.

Katarina is actively involved in her community, organizing clothing drives for last 8 years for the Vancouver Downtown East Side. Katarina was born in North Vancouver, and studied English at Capilano University. Katarina currently resides in East Vancouver. When she is not working, she enjoys going to Pilates, spending time with family and friends, and being outdoors exploring her neighborhood.

As a Premier Banking Advisor for Vancouver Island North, Paulus Bunadhie 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, Paulus provides personalized service and tailored advice to help clients save time and effectively manage their day-to-day banking and credit needs.

With more than 20 years' experience in financial services at RBC, Paulus is respected by his clients, his peers and the industry, and has received top performer recognition year after year in multiple different categories.

Paulus just recently joined the Premier Banking, Private Banking Team after years of dedicated service in the Central Vancouver Island Market, in his most recent role in Leadership at the Nanaimo RBC Main Branch.

Paulus is very active supporting events and volunteering opportunities for different causes in his surrounding communities.

Born in Indonesia and raised in Nanaimo, BC, since 13 years old, Paulus is fluent in 4 languages: English, Bahasa Indonesia, Malay and Javanese.

Paulus currently resides in Nanaimo with his family. When he is not hard at work for his clients, he enjoys spending time on his motorbike, outdoors activities, camping and traveling locally & globally.

Ming has been in the insurance industry for 20 years. He has spent a majority of his career working in a variety of roles at another insurance company and MGA, all of which have allowed him to develop a solid understanding of both individual and group insurance products.

Prior to coming onboard to RBC as Senior Group Benefits Specialist, Ming has worked as Trainer and Group Benefits Account Executive with Sun Life for 10 years. During his time at Sun Life, Ming was regarded highly by his advisors for his professionalism, care, and sincere client centric attitude.

Ming graduated from The University of Ottawa with a double major in Marketing/Advertising and Human Resources, and a minor in Management Information Systems. He is an avid runner and has a goal of running a marathon each year in a different country.