Our partners

Robyn, together with your primary RBC advisor, helps you explore succession, tax, retirement and estate planning issues you face as a high-net-worth client.

Prior to joining RBC, Robyn acquired her expertise in estates, trusts and succession planning in both private practice and with a major trust company, practicing law in Toronto for 8 years with an emphasis on trusts, estates, succession, planning for incapacity and charities law, and as a will and estate consultant for a well-known Canadian trust company. In 2001, Robyn joined RBC, assisting clients with their overall tax and estate planning, and in 2011, assumed her present position, specializing in assisting high-net-worth clients with their succession, tax, retirement and estate planning.

Robyn obtained her law degree from Osgoode Hall in 1991, and she was called to the Bar in Ontario in 1993. She has completed her in-depth tax courses, levels 1 and 2, as well as the Advanced Tax Issues for the Owner Managed Business Course and the Corporate Reorganizations Course. She has co-authored two books, “Drafting Wills in Ontario: A Lawyer’s Practical Guide” and “Drafting Wills in Canada: A Lawyer’s Practical Guide”.

In addition, Robyn was an instructor at the Estate and Trust Bar Admission Course at the Law Society of Upper Canada.She is an active member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) and has obtained the STEP Advanced Certificate in Family Business Advising.

Abby specializes in tax and estate planning for high-net-worth and ultra high-net-worth families. 

Her guidance supports clients in their relationships with their external professional advisors, with whom she frequently interacts. 

Prior to joining High Net Worth Planning Services, Abby provided tax, retirement, estate and financial planning advice to RBC advisors and their clients. She has written articles on various topics including charitable donations, executive compensation, tax planning and retirement planning. 

Prior to joining RBC, Abby worked in a medium sized accounting firm assisting business executives and high net worth clients with their tax planning and estate planning. She worked closely with owner-manager shareholders to assess and recommend the best tax planning strategies, the best corporate structure and the most suitable succession plan. 

Abby is a Chartered Accountant and has a Bachelor in Economics and Commerce from the University of Toronto. She completed the In-Depth tax courses I and II and the In-Depth Tax Issues for the Owner-Managed Business as well as the Canadian Securities Course. She is also a Registered Trust and Estate Practitioner (TEP) with the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) and has obtained the STEP Advanced Certificate in Family Business Advising. Abby is also a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) and is a member of the Canadian Tax Foundation. Lastly, Abby is a certified Family Enterprise Advisor (FEA), which allows her to address the complex needs of family enterprise clients. 

Ryan is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA), Certified Financial Planner (CFP), Trust and Estate Practitioner (TEP) and Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU). He has completed the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada’s In-Depth Tax Course and holds an Honours Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Wilfrid Laurier University with a major in Accounting. He is a member of the Canadian Tax Foundation and The Society of Trust & Estate Practitioners (Canada). 

In his previous role as a tax manager at one of the global major accounting firms, Ryan specialized in providing tax planning services to high-net-worth families, private businesses, estates, trusts and partnerships. His work focused on tax minimization strategies and reorganizations. 

Ryan’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 Ryan Leung, 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. 

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.

Joanne obtained her Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws degrees from the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa. She earned her Juris Doctor degree from the University of Victoria, Canada. She was called to the Ontario Bar and is a member of good standing with the Law Society of Ontario.

Prior to joining RBC Wealth Management, Joanne has had a rich and varied career working in both large and small firms in private practice as well as working for a number of years as in-house counsel for a large international technology company. In the last few years in private practice, Joanne specialized in the areas of will and estate planning, estate administration, trust planning, and family business succession planning.

As a Wills and Estate Consultant, Joanne provides comprehensive estate planning services to clients.

Jim Allworth has been in the investment business for 51 years, both as a research analyst and portfolio strategist. He has been with RBC Dominion Securities for more than four decades, where he has developed investment policy for the firm and translated that into solutions for individual clients.

As an investment strategist, Allworth utilizes RBC’s extensive global economic, political, and sector analysis to develop a strategic view on the expected direction of major financial markets. Allworth co-chairs the Global Portfolio Advisory Committee (GPAC) which provides strategic analysis of financial markets and establishes the asset allocation mix for clients worldwide. He regularly contributes to GPAC’s Global Insight monthly publication.

Allworth is a graduate of Simon Fraser University, with a concentration in economics.

Based in Toronto, John MacIsaac leads a team of investment professionals responsible for the development, oversight and delivery of multi-asset investment portfolios taking a risk efficient multi-manager approach across active and passive vehicles.

John brings extensive experience having lead research teams in both traditional and alternative asset classes and has been called upon to present on a variety of industry panels and conferences. John is routinely involved with some of the firm’s most important clients, institutional relationships and competitive recruits.

Mr. MacIsaac entered the investments industry in 2003. Prior to joining RBC, John was the lead analyst for the Canadian Equity and Canadian Small Cap funds at a global investment management firm. Prior to that, he held roles of increasing responsibility at the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan, one of Canada's largest pension fund managers. Mr. MacIsaac received his Bachelor of Commerce degree from Ryerson University in Toronto, and has earned the right to use the Chartered Financial Analyst designation.

Mikhial leads the Alternative Investment initiative for RBC Wealth Management Canada and has been a long-time member of the Portfolio Advisory team. Mikhial previously led the Fixed Income Strategies team and serves as a portfolio manager on fixed Income and multi-asset portfolios. 

Mikhial has been with RBC Dominion Securities since 2008 and a member of the Portfolio Advisory Group since 2010. In his current role, he works closely with colleagues in Global Manager Research to develop a managed platform of private markets offerings and provides advice and guidance on how to integrate alternative investments into portfolios. He also serves as a co-portfolio manager of tactical managed solutions portfolios and a government bond portfolio, and is a member of the Global Portfolio Advisory Committee that provides asset allocation guidance. Before assuming his current role, Mikhial was a Fixed Income Portfolio Advisor and a member of the Fixed Income Trading Group within PAG. Prior to joining PAG, Mikhial was a member of the Wealth Management Generalist Program. Mikhial is a CFA charterholder and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, with concentration in Finance from the University of Detroit Mercy.