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.
J. Madison Mai, CPA, CA
Vice-President, High Net Worth Planning Services, Family Office Services, RBC Wealth Management
Madison specializes in tax and estate planning for high net worth and ultra-high net worth families.
Prior to joining RBC, she spent almost 10 years in public accounting and specialized in developing and implementing tax planning strategies for international artists, private business owners and ultra-high net worth families with a strong focus on international business succession and estate planning, Canadian domestic post-mortem tax planning, foreign affiliate reorganizations and tax dispute resolution.
Madison is proficient in both Cantonese and Mandarin. Madison is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA), Certified Financial Planner (CFP) and holds a Master of Management and Professional Accounting (MMPA) degree from the University of Toronto. She has completed the CPA Canada’s In-Depth Tax Course and Indirect Tax Course. Madison is also a Session Leader and a Facilitator for CPA Ontario’s Professional Education Program and CPA In-depth Tax Course.
Robyn Solnik, LL.B, TEP
Vice-President, High Net Worth Planning Services,Family Office Services, RBC Wealth Management
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.
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).
Nathalie Elharrar-Noik, BA, LL.B, TEP
Vice-President, High Net Worth Planning Services,Family Office Services, RBC Wealth Management
Prior to joining RBC, Nathalie specialized in corporate commercial law and estate and trust law during her eleven years in private practice.
She focused primarily on mergers and acquisitions and tax driven corporate transactions, advising small and medium size businesses in connection with day to day requirements, such as shareholder issues, restructuring, strategic alliances and standard agreements. In addition, Nathalie focused on estate and trust planning, tax planning and estate administration and liquidation, implementation of tax and estate plans, Wills, trusts, corporate reorganizations, business succession plans and wealth preservation.
In 2010, Nathalie 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.
Nathalie obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree (political science) from Concordia University in 1992. She obtained her law degree from l’Université de Montréal Faculty of Law in 1995. She was called to the Barreau du Québec in 2000. Nathalie also completed her CICA in-depth tax courses, Parts I and II.
She is an active member of The Society of Trust & Estate Practitioners (Quebec chapter) and the Canadian Bar Association (Quebec).
Abby Kassar, CPA, CA, CFP, TEP, FEA
Vice President, High Net Worth Planning Services, Family Office Services, RBC Wealth Management
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.
Connie Freitas, BA, LL.B
Vice President and Will & Estate Consultant, Family Office Services, RBC Wealth Management
Connie obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Toronto and a Bachelor of Laws degree from Osgoode Hall Law School. She was called to the Bar of Ontario in 1994.
Prior to joining RBC in 2012, Connie practised law for 18 years. As a partner in a mid-sized full-service law firm, her practice was varied and covered the areas of corporate/commercial law, real estate, and Wills, trusts and estates law. In that role, Connie advised her owner-manager clients on a broad range of business and personal needs, from purchases and sales of businesses, to shareholder agreements and corporate reorganizations, to Will and estate planning.
For many years Connie taught the Business Law section of the Bar Admissions Course and was involved with preparing the licensing exams for Ontario lawyers. Throughout her career, Connie has been involved in her broader community, serving on many non-profit boards as well as providing pro bono legal services.
Alleen earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from York University and her law degree from the University of Windsor, Faculty of Law in 2008. She was called to the Ontario Bar in 2009.
Prior to joining RBC, Alleen practiced in the areas of Estate Planning and Administration, Corporate/Commercial law and Real Estate law in a mid-sized law firm. Alleen advised her clients on a breadth of legal issues, including key considerations in setting up legal business structures, succession planning and estate planning.
Alleen fosters a multidisciplinary approach to each client’s unique needs, drawing on various advisors’ expertise and offering her own to identify issues for further consideration and review, together with information and guidance which are both sensible and practical.
Karen Feng, CPA, CA, CFP, TEP, MMPA
Financial Planning Specialist, Family Office Services, RBC Wealth Management
Karen is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA) and Certified Financial Planner (CFP). She graduated with a Master in Management and Professional Accounting from the University of Toronto and has completed all three levels of the CPA Canada’s In-Depth Tax Course.
As a tax manager at one of the largest international public accounting firms, prior to joining RBC, Karen specialized in tax planning and compliance for individuals, business owners, large private and public corporations, trusts and partnerships.
Karen is fluent in Mandarin, Cantonese and English.
Karen’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 Karen Feng, 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.
To schedule a meeting with Karen Feng, please contact your advisor.
Steve Mogdan, CPA, CA, CFP
Financial Planning Specialist, Family Office Services, RBC Wealth Management
Steven completed his Bachelor of Business Administration at York University in 1989 and subsequently completed the CICA In-Depth Tax course. He has also achieved the advanced designations of Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA) and Certified Financial Planner (CFP).
During his time as a tax and financial practitioner with several professional service firms, Steven specialized in Canadian, U.S. and cross-border personal income taxation, and provided planning and preparation services to clients. He also has professional experience with the RBC Tax Advisory Group and RBC Dexia, where he provided tax advice to various business units within RBC.
As an experienced practitioner in financial matters, Steven has written or contributed to many research articles, industry publications, training materials and client presentations.
Steven’s role as a Financial Planning Specialist is to work with, and support, your advisor in preparing and presenting comprehensive financial planning solutions.
Arthur Y. Wang, MAcc, CPA, CA, CFP, CLU, CHS, TEP, FEA
Estate Planning Specialist, RBC Wealth Management Financial Services Inc.
A Chartered Accountant by training, Arthur spent time with a Big 4 accounting firm and a leading Canadian life insurer prior to RBC. A personal experience led him to rethink his career choice and he decided to dedicate himself to helping clients create, protect, and preserve wealth by implementing holistic insurance planning solutions. Wealth planning is personal; Arthur is here to support you.
Formerly an auditor of publicly traded insurance companies, Arthur's previous experiences allow him to speak with confidence, skill and knowledge regarding the nuances of accounting, taxation, and financial planning. Utilizing his unique understanding of the industry and in-depth insights, he works collaboratively with business owners, high-net-worth families, and their personal advisors to implement the most appropriate insurance solutions for their needs.
Fluent in both English and Mandarin, Arthur is able to confidently communicate with clients in their preferred language.
Teresa Anastasopoulos is a Private Client Insurance Specialist. Through a personalized risk assessment approach, she provides tailored insurance solutions to protect your real estate, possessions and lifestyle.
Teresa has over 26 years of industry experience. Prior to joining RBC, she was a trusted Account Executive at brokerages such as Gallagher and Jones DesLauriers. Teresa holds a Chartered Insurance Professional (CIP) and Canadian Accredited Insurance Broker (CAIB) designation with the Insurance Institute of Canada.
Teresa is proud to represent RBC Private Insurance and is passionate about providing best in class service. Together with her team, she will work with you to protect what matters most.