Extended Team

As a Private Banker with RBC Wealth Management, Dianna Lao provides comprehensive wealth management and financing strategies for domestic and international high-net-worth business owners, executives, families and organizations in the Greater Vancouver Area.

With over 18 years of experience in the financial industry with RBC, Dianna helps clients with her in-depth knowledge and valued advice on integrated wealth management solutions to simplify and enhance their lives. From her previous roles within RBC, Dianna brings a strong understanding of credit structures enabling her to effectively meet the credit needs of her clients.

Prior to joining RBC, Dianna managed her family business, which has provided her an ideal foundation for the work she does today in assisting clients meet their liquidity needs, in tax and estate planning, leveraged strategies, risk management, and in support of their business operations.

She frequently collaborates with external partners and advisors across RBC to deliver customized and complex credit solutions to meet clients’ financial goals. Dianna and her team aim to build long-term relationships with their clients based on confidence, integrity, trust, communication, and confidentiality. They further aim to differentiate themselves through dedicated and exceptional service, and a holistic and client-focused approach to wealth management.

Dianna holds a Bachelor of Commerce Honours degree with a specialization in finance and marketing from Carleton University in Ottawa and is currently finalizing her Personal Financial Planner (PFP) designation. When not working or studying, she enjoys travel, outdoor sports and giving back to her community.

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.

Prior to entering the life insurance industry more than 20 years ago Sean was a senior manager in the tax group of a national accounting firm. With experience in personal and corporate tax, estate and succession planning, and corporate reorganizations, Sean provides a fresh perspective to his clients' estate planning needs. Sean works closely with you and your professional advisors to develop and implement tax-efficient strategies to help meet your wealth management goals.

A Chartered Professional Accountant, Sean holds an MBA from the Richard Ivey School of Business at The University of Western Ontario. Sean is a member of the Chartered Professional Accountants of British Columbia, and the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners.

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.

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 high-net-worth client. 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).