Abby Kassar, CPA, CA, CFP, TEP, FEA
Vice President, Business Owner Specialist, Family Office Services, RBC Wealth Management
As a Business Owner Specialist, High Net Worth Planning Services, Abby, together with your primary RBC advisor, helps you explore succession, tax, retirement and estate planning issues you face as a business owner.
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.
Ariel-Charles Guigui, B. Admin, LL.B, TEP
Vice-President & Will & Estate Consultant, Family Office Services, RBC Wealth Management
Ariel graduated from the University of Ottawa with a degree in Business Administration in 1992, and from the Faculty of Law in 1994 where he served on the editorial board of the Law Review.
He was called to the Ontario Bar in 1996. Prior to joining RBC, Ariel spent 5 years teaching Real Estate Law and Estate Law at La Cité Collégiale in Ottawa. For the previous 12 years, Ariel held several positions at a major trust company, culminating in the role of Trust Manager.
Ariel is a member in good standing of the Law Society of Upper Canada, and the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (Canadian chapter). His significant practical experience in estate planning and administration allows him to offer valuable guidance during the creation of your estate plan.
As a Regional Trust Advisor, Claudia Morrison serves clients throughout the Northeastern Ontario and Atlantic regions and is located in the Ottawa office. Claudia provides strong organizational and relationship-building skills to deliver comprehensive estate and trust solutions for executors, trustees and beneficiaries. Clients appreciate her ability to explain complex concepts of estate and trust administration in terms that they can relate to and with sensitivity.
A graduate of Carleton University with a Bachelor of Arts Honours degree, Claudia has continued to deepen her knowledge and expertise with key industry designations such as the Personal Financial Planner (PFP) and Chartered Investment Manager (CIM) designations. She has also completed the Canadian Securities Course.
Claudia has held various roles in banking, investment counselling and estate and trust administration that provide her with a unique depth of understanding around integrated solutions to meet client needs. With more than 20 years of financial services experience, Claudia 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. Claudia 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.
As a trusted partner of your advisor's team, Peter champions the integration of insurance solutions as an essential part of holistic wealth management planning.
Peter joined RBC in 2017. He has spent over 25 years in the financial services industry primarily focused on helping clients fulfill their financial dreams. Believing that it is never too early to plan, Peter is there to help discuss and provide solutions to protect yourself, your loved ones and your business in the event of the unexpected.
Peter received a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree from the University of Toronto and holds the Personal Financial Planner (PFP) designation. He is passionate about spending time with his two younger daughters and faithfully cheering on his hometown team, the Toronto Raptors.
Gord McFarland, CPA, CA
Financial Planning Specialist, Family Office Services, RBC Wealth Management
Prior to joining RBC Family Office Services, Gord has been a Partner in both a local and a national accounting firm where he focused his attention on providing tailored service to professionals and owner-managed businesses. With over 20 years of experience in public accounting, Gord brings a wealth of knowledge in the areas of tax minimization, mergers and acquisitions, business succession and estate planning.
Gord is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA) and holds an Honours Bachelor of Business Administration degree, obtained with high distinction from the University of Toronto. Gord has also completed the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants’ Income Tax Practitioner’s course and has lectured at the University of Toronto.
On a personal level, Gord enjoys golfing, baseball, and spending time at the lake with his wife and two young daughters. Gord is currently the Treasurer and Past Chair of the Board of Directors for the Peterborough Regional Health Centre Foundation, Treasurer of The Peterborough Executive Club, and is a past Treasurer and Director of Trent Child Care Centre, and past-President of the Peterborough Sales & Ad Club.
Gord will work with your advisors to prepare and present a comprehensive Compass Financial Plan specific to you.