Financial Planner
Daniel Ugolini, F.Pl., CPA, CA
Vice-President & Financial Planning Specialist, Family Office Services, RBC Wealth Management
Daniel holds a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA) designation with CPA Canada and a Financial Planning (F.Pl.) designation with the Institut Québecois de Planification Financière (IQPF) in Quebec. He received his Bachelor of Commerce and Graduate Diploma in Accountancy from Concordia University in Montreal. He has also completed the CICA In-Depth Tax Course.
Daniel has over 30 years of progressive experience in accounting, taxation and the financial services industry. He has acquired extensive experience in corporate and personal taxation and providing wealth planning to high-net-worth families and business owners.
Daniel’s role is to work with and support your advisor in preparing and presenting comprehensive Compass Financial Plans.
High Net Worth Specialist
Prashant Patel, CFP, TEP
Vice-President, High Net Worth Planning Services, Family Office Services, RBC Wealth Management
Prashant has assisted high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth families with tax, estate and retirement issues since 1992.
His guidance supports clients in their relationships with their external professional advisors, with whom he frequently interacts.
His expertise includes tax and estate planning for executives, business owners, retirees, sports professionals and individuals with U.S. issues. He also assists individuals facing significant financial events (sale of business, financial windfall, retirement, job loss, moving to Canada, leaving Canada, etc.)
Prior to joining RBC in 1999, Prashant honed his expertise by working as a Canadian and U.S. tax specialist for two of the big four accounting firms in downtown Toronto.
Prashant is a Certified Financial Planner, Associate of the Society of Actuaries and member of both the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners and Canadian Tax Foundation.
Murray Shapiro, BA, LL.B, TEP
Vice-President, High Net Worth Planning Services, Family Office Services, RBC Wealth Management
Murray has been providing advice and technical support in relation to high-net-worth family wealth planning since 1994. Conversations include scenarios to be aware of in transitioning, including the costs of transitioning, your assets to your intended heirs. Additional areas of concern may include tax, asset preservation and philanthropic planning.
Murray’s expertise encompasses both domestic and international family circumstances, and in many cases is focused on the challenges of transitioning a family business. His guidance supports clients in their relationships with their external professional advisors, with whom he frequently interacts.
Before joining RBC’s Canadian Wealth Management Services team in 2008, Murray worked with RBC’s Global Private Banking group as the senior resource in their global trust business for over 13 years.
Prior to joining RBC, Murray practised law for six years in the areas of estate and tax planning, as well as various areas of business law.
Murray was a Director of STEP Canada (Society of Trust & Estate Practitioners) from its inception until 2009, and has been a member of the International Tax Planning Association and the Canadian Tax Foundation over the years. He has been a featured speaker at Estate Planning Councils, Law Society and STEP practitioner education conferences in Canada and abroad.
Grant Henri, PFP, F.Pl., TEP
Vice-President, High Net Worth Planning Services, Family Office Services, RBC Wealth Management
Grant attended Concordia University in Montreal where he completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree in 1992. He holds three financial planning designations, a Specialist designation from the Trust Institute, and is also a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners. Grant has completed the in-depth tax program with the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants (Levels I, II and III).
Grant has over 25 years of progressive experience in various roles within the financial services field. In addition to his work with RBC Wealth Management, he is currently teaching Tax and Estate Planning courses for the Institut Québecois de Planification Financière to support the continuing education requirements of financial planners in the province of Quebec. Grant has also provided support to the Financial Planners Standards Council of Canada as a subject matter expert and has taught financial planning courses at George Brown College in Toronto.
Cross Border Specialist
Jim Yager, BA, MBA, M.Tax
Vice-President, High Net Worth Planning Services, Family Office Services, RBC Wealth Management
Jim specializes in providing cross border tax planning. He joins RBC Wealth Management Services having recently retired from KPMG LLP after 33 years of services.
Most recently, he was a partner and the Practice Leader of KPMG’s International Executive Services (“IES”) practice in Canada, where he provided cross border tax and consulting services to employees, their employers, high net worth individuals and individuals with investments outside their home country. Jim was a member of the KPMG IES Global Steering Group which establishes strategies, policies and procedures for KPMG’s global IES practice.
Jim was also the practice leader for Global Wealth Services (“GWS”), which provides U.S. and Canadian income, trust and estate planning services to executives and high net worth individuals.
Prior to relocating to Toronto in June 1993, he worked in New York, Hong Kong and Miami where he served U.S. based clients expanding internationally and foreign-based clients from Canada, Europe, Asia and Latin America expanding into the U.S. He and his wife, Suzanne, moved to Colorado during 2014 where he continues to practice cross border tax planning.
As both a Canadian Chartered Professional Accountant and a U.S. Certified Public Accountant, Jim is uniquely prepared to provide international tax consulting services. Furthermore, having been an expatriate himself for over twenty-seven years, he is “intimately” aware of the cross border tax issues.
Family Enterprise Advisor
Michael Tarantino, MBA, CPA, CMA, CFP®, CIM, CIWM, FCSI, FEA, TEP
Vice President, Private Wealth Consultant
Michael has been in the Wealth Management Industry since 1997 where his primary area of focus has been in investment advisory and wealth advisory services. Michael joined RBC Wealth Management in 2020 as Vice President, Private Wealth Consultant; a role in which he will support advisors and fellow professionals in engaging enterprising families in broader discussions with respect to their family, their businesses and their wealth.
Prior to joining RBC Wealth Management Michael held several progressive roles at other financial institutions. Michael was the former Head of HNW Wealth Planning Services at another Canadian financial institution where he was involved in the development of: financial planning software, a HNW service delivery model, specialized planning services including the introduction of business advisory and cross border wealth planning.
Michael’s experience in conjunction with his completion of many industry leading designations suit him well as he helps initiate client discussions on family governance, family business succession, and legacy. Michael is dedicated to working as part of a multidisciplinary team guiding enterprising families to greater success.
Michael is committed to ongoing personal and professional development and is a continuous lifelong learner. Michael’s greatest skill comes in his ability to listen and work effectively with his peers at any level.
Estate Lawyer
Alessandra Prioreschi, MA, JD
Will & Estate Consultant, Family Office Services, RBC Wealth Management
After completing a Master of Arts degree in English at the University of Waterloo, Alessandra obtained a Juris Doctor from the University of Toronto, Faculty of Law in 2000. She was called to the Ontario bar in February of 2002, and commenced her career as a tax lawyer with the Toronto office of
a prominent national law firm, completing Levels I and II of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants’ In-Depth Tax Course.
Over her years in private practice, Alessandra served a variety of business clients and their owners ranging from technology start-ups to established manufacturing, property development and retail businesses, advising on tax and estate-planning, including wills and trusts.
Alessandra is now pleased to offer her years of advisory experience to provide Will and Estate Planning services to RBC’s valued clients.
Complimentary Will & Estate planning consultation
In appreciation of your valued business relationship with us, your advisor is pleased to offer you a complimentary Will & Estate Planning consultation with Alessandra, a Will & Estate Consultant.
Alessandra works closely with your advisor to provide you with information on structuring your estate in an efficient and tax effective manner. Following your meeting, Alessandra will provide you with a report outlining various estate planning issues for you to explore in further detail with your own lawyer or accountant.
To schedule a meeting with Alessandra Prioreschi, please contact your advisor.
Estate Planning Specialist
Suzanne Schultz, CPA, CA, CFP, CLU
Vice-President & Estate Planning Specialist, RBC Wealth Management Financial Services Inc.
Suzanne's focus is to protect and enhance family and business wealth. She is a trusted professional known for expert wealth management advice utilizing advanced, insurance-based tax and estate planning solutions.
Prior to RBC, Suzanne built her career at a major accounting firm and a boutique tax and estate planning firm. Along with professional designations, she has completed the CICA's In-Depth Tax Course. She was featured as an expert on BNN and HGTV's House Poor and has contributed to the Globe and Mail, National Post and co-authored 78 Tax Tips for Canadians for Dummies.
Suzanne uses her in-depth technical knowledge to carefully understand what can complicate your unique financial situation and collaborates with your other professionals to uncover where you might be exposed to excessive taxes and risk. This planning is essential for business owners, professionals, executives and those with charitable goals.
Thomas Seah, CLU, BA (Econ)
Vice-President & Estate Planning Specialist, RBC Wealth Management Financial Services Inc.
As Vice-President & Estate Planning Specialist, Thomas specializes in the preservation and enhancement of wealth. He employs a comprehensive process to assess your wealth management needs and recommend creative, tax-exempt insurance solutions to address them.
Thomas will create a tailored plan using insurance solutions to increase and secure your wealth, reduce the impact of future taxation and structure your estate so your wealth is transferred to your heirs in accordance with your wishes. Thomas evaluates various insurance offerings including life insurance, annuity and living benefits.
Thomas joined the insurance industry in 1984 after completing a university degree in economics. In 1995, he joined RBC Wealth Management and is one of the agency’s longest serving employees. Highlighting his commitment to the industry, Thomas also holds the Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) designation.
Executor Services Advisor
As a Senior Trust Advisor, Susan Macdonald serves clients throughout Western Ontario and is located in the Hamilton office. With a career focused on client relationships, she is dedicated to her clients and provides a personalized service tailored to their specific needs. She provides a wealth of knowledge relating to trusts and their administration. Susan has continued to deepen her knowledge and expertise with key industry designations such as Member, Trust Institute (MTI) and Trust and Estate Practitioner (TEP) designations.
Susan 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, Susan can help.
With more than 20 years of industry experience, Susan 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. Susan understands that no two clients are the same and so together with her RBC Royal Trust partners she can find the solution that’s right for you.
Risk Assessment & Insurance Specialist
As a Private Client Insurance Specialist, Saman takes great pride in helping people protect their wealth, possessions and lifestyle. Prior to joining RBC Private Insurance, Saman worked with High-Net-Worth families as an underwriter at Chubb Canada.
Saman has over 10 years of experience in sales, customer service, and underwriting in both personal and commercial insurance. She takes a tailored approach through a Personal Risk Assessment to identify vulnerabilities for clients and address them through an advice-based approach.
Saman is a graduate of the Insurance Management Program at Humber College and is currently working towards her Chartered Insurance Professional Designation (CIP) in addition to her OTL license. Saman holds a Bachelor of Art in theater and is very passionate about people, culture, and art.
In her downtime, Saman likes to spend time in nature, visiting museums and watching performance arts in different cities around the world. Saman also enjoys baking and cooking and creating new recipes for her family and friends.
Philanthropy Advisor
Jennifer Button, MSA
Head, Philanthropic Advisory Services, Family Office Services, RBC Wealth Management
Jennifer joined RBC Wealth Management Services after having worked for over 15 years in progressively more senior roles within the not-for-profit and charitable sector connecting high net worth individual and corporate donors to causes that they care about. With a strong understanding of the philanthropic landscape, Jennifer is pleased to be able to work with RBC Wealth Management advisors to create and develop strategic philanthropic plans as part of your overall financial plans.
Jennifer’s guidance will support clients and advisors to align the charitable intentions of clients and the client’s family for the short, medium and long term with their financial plans. She works amongst RBC Wealth Management Services team of Financial Planning Specialists, Financial Planning Consultants, Business Owner Specialists and Will & Estate Consultants.
Prior to joining RBC in 2017, Jennifer’s work experience across the not- for-profit sector includes: education, amateur sport, healthcare and international development and she brings with her a solid understanding of what charities across Canada can offer for engagement with donors.
Based in Toronto, Jennifer is a member of the Canadian Association of Gift Planners, is the President of the University of Toronto’s athletic alumni association, represented Canada on the 2000 Olympic swim team, and holds her master’s degree in sport business administration.
Private Banker
Ritu Narayan brings 19 years of experience with RBC’s Canadian and international wealth management business to her role as Private Banker. She is responsible for providing comprehensive wealth management and financing strategies to high-net-worth business owners, executives, professionals and their families in Oakville, Burlington and the Greater Toronto Area.
Prior to joining RBC Wealth Management, Private Banking, Ms. Narayan served in two previous roles as a Private Banker for ultra-high-net-worth individuals, families and family offices in the United States, Europe and the Middle East, and as Director Immigrant Investor Program, in which she established and managed relationships with a select group of international ultra-high-net-worth families immigrating to Canada.
Now in her role as Private Banker, she works to deliver seamless, unparalleled banking and financial solutions for clients with often-complex banking and credit needs. As needed, she partners with specialists from across RBC and externally to provide a complete range of complementary services, from investment management to estate and philanthropic strategies, domestic and international trust services.
Ms. Narayan has a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Leicester and earned her Personal Financial Planner (PFP) designation. She has two adult daughters, and when not in the office can be found practicing yoga, reading or travelling. Passionate about community involvement, she received an Ontario Volunteer Service Award in 2010 for her years of continuous commitment and dedicated service.
Brian Salvador brings more than 15 years of financial services experience to his role as Private Banker, where he provides comprehensive wealth management and financing strategies to high-net-worth business owners, executives, professionals and their families, predominantly in the Oakville, Burlington, and Greater Toronto Area.
As a Private Banker with RBC Wealth Management, Private Banking, Brian works with a select number of clients to address their often-complex banking, credit and wealth management needs by providing tailored, discrete banking and financial solutions.
When necessary, Brian partners with specialists from across RBC in order to work collaboratively to provide a complete range of complementary services, 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.
Brian offers his clients a wealth of experience gained over his tenured banking career with RBC, BNS, and FCC, where he has held increasingly senior roles with expanding responsibilities and complexity in the Personal Banking, Commercial Financial Services and Risk Management divisions.
Brian's commitment to continuous learning has earned him a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) from the University of Guelph, and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Wilfrid Laurier University. Additionally, Brian holds his Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) and Certified Management Accountant (CMA) designations, and is actively working toward the completion of his Personal Financial Planner (PFP) designation.
Brian was born in Toronto but now calls Georgetown home, along with his wife and daughter. Away from the office, Brian enjoys golf, team sports, biking, travelling and spending time with his family.
As a Private Banker with RBC Wealth Management, Private Banking, Shannon provides comprehensive wealth management and financing strategies to high-net-worth business owners, executives, professionals and their families.
Based in Halton, Shannon works with a select number of clients across the GTA to address their often-complex banking, credit and wealth management needs by providing tailored seamless banking and financial solutions.
When necessary, she can access specialists from across RBC in order to work collaboratively to provide a complete range of complementary services, 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.
Shannon offers an extensive background in client relationship to her role as Private Banker. She draws on over 20 years of experience within RBC, consisting of a wide range of Wealth Management and Commercial Banking backgrounds.
A graduate of Dalhousie University Rowe School of Business, MBA and a graduate of Ontario College of Art, Shannon has continued to deepen her knowledge and expertise with key industry designations such as Personal Financial Planner and Canadian Securities Course credentials from Canadian Securities Institute.
Away from the office, Shannon lives in Oakville, enjoys cycling with her family, spending time outdoors with her dogs, gardening and travelling.
Gloria Di Giovanni brings over 20 years of financial services experience to her role providing personalized, discrete financial counsel to a select group of clients and their families in Toronto and the surrounding area.
Prior to joining RBC, Ms. Di Giovanni held senior roles at another national financial institution, both as the general manager for a discretionary wealth business and an associate vice president for retail markets. Her past experience working with families, business owners and executives lends credence to the discrete counsel she now provides to Private Banking clients.
As Private Banker, Ms. Di Giovanni designs sophisticated banking, personalized short- and long-term lending solutions and flexible credit packages for her clients. Through RBC she works with a team of specialists in Canada and in key markets worldwide to provide a complete range of services – including investments, commercial banking, estate and business succession planning, and domestic and international trusts – to meet each client's specific needs.
An accredited financial planner holding the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) and Professional Financial Planning (PFP) designations, she offers clients the expertise and resources they need to achieve their financial goals, and continually builds on her expertise to provide her clients with the highest quality financial advice and planning.
Ms. Di Giovanni is active outside of the office, and has volunteered as Chair for the 2008 Venetian Ball in support of retirement living for seniors; the Women's Day Event in support of the Humber River Hospital, cancer awareness and education; and Sunnybrook Golf for Spinal Research in support of the hospital's RRRP cancer program. Most recently, she was appointed to the Advancement Committee at Sunnybrook Hospital for 2014.
Born and raised in Toronto, she enjoys an active lifestyle outside the office, and keeps busy with yoga, golf and reading.
Premier Banker
As a Premier Advisor with RBC Wealth Management Private Banking, Rawan Haddadin provides personal service and tailored advice to help clients save time and effectively manage their day to day banking needs.
Working as a single point of contact, Rawan will access specialists from across the organization in order to provide a complete range of complementary services to support the individual short and long term goals of our Wealth Management clients in the Oakville/Burlington area.
Rawan draws on five years of experience within RBC, where she has had the opportunity to engage in several aspects of our retail growth strategy, helping drive RBC's direction for the future and foster long-term client relationships across multiple channels within our Communities.
Rawan successfully attained her Architectural Engineering Degree from the University of Jordan, and when arriving in Canada received her Diploma in Interior Design from the International Career School of Canada. She currently holds accreditation through the Canadian Securities Institute for IFIC, and is focused on delivering an Exceptional Advice Experience for high net worth households that work directly with our Wealth Management partners.
Away from the office, Rawan enjoys cooking and walking her dog Rocky.
As a Premier Advisor with RBC Wealth Management Private Banking, Susan provides personal service and tailored advice to help high-net-worth clients save time and effectively manage their day-to-day banking needs.
Working as a single point of contact, Susan accesses and collaborates with specialists from across RBC to provide a complete, seamless range of complementary services to support the individual short- and long-term goals of our Wealth Management clients in the South West Ontario area.
She takes great pride in fostering long-term client relationships across multiple channels within our communities. She focuses on delivering an exceptional advice experience for high-net-worth households working directly with our Wealth Management partners.
After earning a Banking & Investments Certificate from CITIBANK NA. Susan has continued to deepen her expertise and holds the IFIC accreditation while working on getting her PFP designation as a member of The Canadian Securities Institute. To further support her community, she volunteers her Hatha Yoga Educator Certification from Sheridan College for children's Yoga and Corporate Yoga.
Away from the office, Susan enjoys cooking, family time and travelling.
Business Owner Specialist
Bobby Hinduja, CPA, CA, CBV
Vice President, Business Owner Specialist, Family Office Services, RBC Wealth Management
As a Business Owner Specialist, High Net Worth Planning Services, Bobby, together with your primary RBC advisor, helps you explore succession, tax, retirement and estate planning issues you face as a business owner.
Bobby has over 15 years of experience working with owners of privately held businesses to help them develop business succession, tax and estate planning solutions tailored to their goals and objectives. Prior to joining High Net Worth Planning Services, Bobby provided tax, retirement, estate and financial planning advice to RBC advisors and their clients. He has written articles on various topics including determining the value of a business, farm succession planning, tax planning and retirement planning.
Prior to joining RBC, Bobby was a Vice President at a boutique business valuation firm in Toronto where he worked with business owners to help them determine the value of their business for divestitures, litigation, tax and estate planning purposes. He also worked with owners to help them identify the value drivers of their business.
Bobby is a Chartered Business Valuator, a Chartered Professional Accountant and has a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Toronto. He has also completed all three levels of the CPA In-Depth Tax Course.
Robyn Solnik, LL.B, TEP
Vice President, Business Owner Specialist,Family Office Services, RBC Wealth Management
As a Business Owner Specialist, High Net Worth Planning Services, Robyn, 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, 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 solely in assisting business owners 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.
With 17 years of experience within the financial services industry, RPA (Retirement Plan Associate), CEBS, Jennifer brings the expertise required to provide specialized advice that will optimize the benefits to you and your employees. Working directly with you, your HR department or your payroll personnel, Jennifer will build a tailored solution that meets the goals and objectives of your organization as well as the needs of your employees. Once Jeremiah understands your specific requirements to customize your company’s Group Savings program solution, he will support and guide you through the development and implementation process.
Steve specializes in helping companies with Employee Retention and Attraction through a Financial Wellness program called RBC Group Advantage. He primarily helps businesses grow through establishing a Group Savings Programs and Pension Plans for employees. With 21 years of experience at RBC and a passion to see companies’ employees being cared for financially, Steve strives to exceed the employee experience and expectation set forth from companies.
George recently joined the HNW team at RBC Insurance as a Senior Group Benefits Specialist, and brings more than 30 years of experience working in the Employee Benefits industry.
George has gained a thorough understanding of what it takes to build and enhance client relationships having worked as an Account Executive for three insurance carriers as well as Canada’s largest Pharmacy Benefit Manager. George is well versed in all aspects of Employee Benefits, having worked as an Employee Benefits Consultant himself for 6 years.
George is one of the first graduates of the Certified Employee Benefits programme (CEBS) which is administered and governed by the international Society of Employee Benefit Specialists (ISCEBS). Currently, George sits on the Board of Directors of the Southwestern Ontario Chapter of the ISCEBS in the role of Treasurer.
George is the co-founder of the Benefits Breakfast Club (Southern Ontario Chapter) and currently sits on the Advisory Board. An avid golfer & marathon runner, George has completed 15 marathons including the Rome, Athens & New York City marathons. George and his wife Mari live in Burlington, ON with their two cats, Kona and Miles.