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In our experience, that means working together seamlessly – whether our specialty is economic analysis or administrative management – to ensure you remain on track to accomplishing your goals, enjoy all life has to offer today, and receive the highest standard of service excellence.
Senior Portfolio Manager & Wealth Advisor
Perhaps more than anything, Rhonda’s commitment to continuous improvement has driven and defined her career in financial services. In 1994, she brought this mindset to her first industry role as a student intern, supporting an established Investment Advisor part-time while learning the inner workings of our complex industry. “I fell in love with the markets, and with the feeling of making such a meaningful difference in people’s lives.” Eight years later, with a five-month-old at home and a dream to forge new ground in wealth planning expertise and service excellence, Rhonda founded a practice of her own – Hymers Private Wealth.
Today, Rhonda serves some of the most affluent families, business owners, sports professionals, and communities in the country. She builds a personalized strategy to help you through every life stage, expertly coordinating the investment, retirement, business succession, and estate planning solutions needed to enhance your overall wealth. “I’m conservative in nature, it’s who I am,” Rhonda tells every new client. “So when it comes to your wealth strategy, I can rest when I’m confident we’ve acted on every conceivable opportunity to build and protect your hard-earned money.”
Rhonda’s favourite part of her job, though, has always been building deep relationships with the people she supports. For her, there is no better feeling than reminiscing with a 15-year client turned friend, and recalling the tough markets they made it through together, and everything they have to show for it now.
Rhonda’s innovative thinking, results-driven approach to planning, and constant efforts to stay up-to-date with industry coursework have continued to serve her and her clients well. In 2013, Rhonda became the first Investment Advisor to receive the RBC Leo Award – the highest achievable honour among our 80,000 employees, awarded for exemplary integrity, performance and service – and, soonafter, she was named a Fellow of the Canadian Securities Institute (FCSI) designation – the most senior credential in Canadian financial services. For Rhonda, learning is a continuous priority. She most recently achieved the Family Enterprise Advisor designation, in order to offer specialized advice to business family clients.
Rhonda considers herself fortunate to enjoy a life and career in the Okanagan, and spends much of her free time giving back to her community. She is an avid supporter of Mamas for Mamas, which provides poverty relief and community support for mothers and caregivers in need. Rhonda helped raise $500,000 as the lead sponsor for the Breakfast Club of Canada in Okanagan, and has proudly served as a committee member of the Kelowna General Hospital Foundation’s “Take Care, Take Part” campaign. Today, she sits on the board of directors for the Third Space Life Charity, which offers counseling services and community programs to support mental health, regardless of financial barriers. Outside of the office, you can find Rhonda and her family biking, skiing, boating and enjoying countless other outdoor activities in the valley they call home.
As our founder, leader, and senior Portfolio Manager, Rhonda would be pleased to hear from you, learn your story, and determine how she and the team can help you enhance your wealth planning strategy.
Associate Wealth & Investment Advisor, Financial Planner
As a teen, Rossi always admired the way her mother’s financial advisory team played such a key role in the family business. So when the time came for Rossi to ponder her own future career, these professionals came to mind. Following her ambition to help others in a meaningful way, Rossi joined RBC as a Personal Financial Services Representative and eventually found her way to the world of wealth management.
Today, Rossi is pleased to have an advisory role that is every bit as rewarding as she dreamed. She is a Certified Financial Planner, a Chartered Investment Manager, and Chartered Life Underwriter. Rossi is also an accredited Family Enterprise Advisor – the pinnacle of expertise for family-focused wealth strategies making her specially qualified to provide advice and solutions for the unique needs of business owner families. Rossi takes great joy in uncovering your goals, planning and implementing your personalized investment strategy, and getting to witness many of the positive outcomes in your life that come out of it. Her particular area of specialty is ensuring your portfolio is aligned with your objectives, long term goals, and cash flow needs; working closely with your tax advisor to ensure it is efficiently structured.
Rossi is very happy to call Vernon home. She is devoted to raising her two school-aged children, Maggie and Ilo, and pursuing professional development through new industry courses and designations, including the Family Enterprise Advisor (FEA) designation. In 2022, Rossi received her Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) designation, and was awarded the 2022 John A.Tory Award from the Institute for Advanced Financial Education. This award is presented annually to the CLU graduate who achieves the highest marks for all course subjects in the year. She also enjoys keeping active, and is an avid marathon runner.
Rossi is available and eager to help with your wealth management inquiries, questions about your portfolio management, and financial plan.
Associate Investment Advisor
Darren joined the industry in 1996, after studying Computer Information Systems at Okanagan College. He originally pursued IT because of his affinity for computer science and math, but, when his fascination with capital markets brought him to the world of financial services, he never looked back.
Today, Darren is a Chartered Financial Analyst charterholder and one of our team’s investment analysis experts. Keeping abreast of market trends, opportunities, and risks, he supports Rhonda through active portfolio management, diligently working to keep your investments aligned to your goals and the market landscape. He is an important point-of-contact for your market, economic, and investment-related questions.
Outside of the office, Darren enjoys spending time with his wife, Trudi, and their cat, O.J. He is pleased to answer any of your market-related or portfolio management questions.
Kuan has always viewed wealth management as an exciting industry where his math and finance skills could help improve others’ quality of life. And, since he joined the industry in 2005, he has proven exactly that.
A Chartered Financial Analyst charterholder, Kuan is one of our team’s investment analysis experts. He supports Rhonda by conducting investment research, and assists in managing your portfolio to reflect both the evolving investment landscape, and your goals as they change over your lifetime. Kuan is a great point-of-contact to address your market and portfolio management related questions.
Outside of the office, Kuan spends his time with his wife, Trang, and his young daughter, Ella, who was born in May 2019. They like to go on walks along the water, and snowboard in the winter.
Associate Wealth Advisor & Financial Planner
Kirsten started her career with RBC as a summer intern in 2008 and never looked back. Since then, she has credited a number of mentors at RBC, whom she has had the opportunity to work with and learn from.
Having begun her career in retail banking as a teller, Kirsten went on to complete her Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Alberta before moving to BC, where she became an accredited Personal Financial Planner (PFP). In her role on our team, Kirsten provides financial planning support by building strategic plans and delivering them to clients. She knows her combination of education and experience has taught her about teamwork and how to give clients a top-notch experience every chance she gets. She knows everyone has a unique set of circumstances and, in turn, a financial plan unique to them.
When Kirsten is not at work, she enjoys spending time with her husband, Aaron, and two young sons, Reid and Bennett. They enjoy being outside, spending time with family and friends, boating and fishing. As a new resident of the Okanagan, she cannot wait to explore everything it has in store for her and her family.
Associate Wealth Advisor
Kaitlyn originally began university with the intent of attending law school. It would have been a fitting career – she is sharp, competitive, and incredibly detail oriented – but an unexpected and exciting wealth management opportunity presented itself along the way. Intrigued and always up for adventure, Kaitlyn “jumped in with two feet and never looked back.” She is happy to say she has found her calling, and today takes great pleasure in making a meaningful difference in other people’s financial futures.
Kaitlyn is a natural ongoing learner, and has completed several courses since joining RBC Dominion Securities in 2017. She is an important member of our client experience team, a key information resource for your tax advisors, and a fantastic first point-of-contact for your daily needs and inquiries.
Kaitlyn recently moved to the Okanagan from Toronto in February 2020, and spends her free time enjoying the outdoors, running, skiing, playing tennis, hiking, and camping. Her Vizsla puppy, Mabel, is never far from her side.
Financial Planning Specialist
Jon is a Chartered Accountant (CPA, CA) and Certified Financial Planner (CFP). He has completed the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada’s InDepth Tax Course and holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Simon Fraser University.
Prior to joining RBC, Jon was providing professional services to individuals, private corporations, estates, trusts and partnerships at one of the leading international public accounting firms. His experience includes tax planning for individuals and corporations.
Jon’s role is to work with and support Rhonda in preparing and presenting your Financial Plan and to identify and assess any related financial planning concerns you may have.
First and foremost, these service experts provide timely, effective support for your general wealth management needs. They are the cheerful voices who answer your call and the familiar smiles excited to greet you when you walk into our office. Behind the scenes, they are responsible for the wide range of administrative tasks that ensure our operations run smoothly: preparing documentation, booking important review meetings, coordinating the support of our wealth planning specialists and your trusted advisors, helping you navigate our online platform, supporting your tax advisor during tax season with electronic tax slips, setting up or adjusting your registered account (e.g. TFSAs) deposits – and much more.
Associate
With degrees in oceanography and marine policy, Marnie’s path to financial services has been incredibly unique. After building and selling a successful watersports company, she found herself drawn to financial services because of her own experience managing family finance and her love for problem solving. So, when she and her family moved to the Okanagan, she excitedly accepted an offer for a position at our firm. Marnie is highly organized and personable, providing proactive service for your day-to-day wealth management needs, and coordinating with your tax advisors to ensure they have the documentation they need.
Outside of the office, Marnie enjoys photography, swimming, reading, and spending time with her two children. She believes it is important for all of us to help those in need, if we are able, and regularly donates to charities such as Mamas for Mamas and the Child Advocacy Centre in Kelowna.
A passion for numbers and analytics drew Jennifer Duggan to the financial services industry seven years ago. Meeting clients and their families, getting to know them on a personal level, and helping them achieve financial piece of mind, have kept her there. Jennifer honed her considerable skills at previous Associate roles at RBC Dominion Securities in Calgary and Vancouver. As a welcome addition to our Kelowna team, she will be assisting clients with everything from everyday requests to helping solve more complex needs. Clients and colleagues alike appreciate her efficiency, empathetic nature and warm, sincere demeanor.
Jennifer graduated from the University of Calgary with a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology with a minor in management. She has also completed the Canadian Securities Course, Conduct & Practices Handbook and Finance and Financial Management Services courses.
Away from work, Jennifer enjoys spending time with her husband, James, and their two teens, Chloë and Holden. You can often find her gardening, playing tennis or volunteering with her local hockey and gymnastic clubs.
Business Development Lead
Having grown up in Kelowna, Callum has been with our team since 2018, providing marketing support in relaying Rhonda’s weekly client communications to keep you informed about the markets, online and in-person presentations, along with the fun and engaging client events that our team loves to host. He’s also a (very welcome) leading authority in offering tech support to the rest of our team. Callum is currently taking his Bachelor’s of Business Administration from Okanagan College in Kelowna.
From a young age, what has interested Callum most about wealth management and financial planning is the opportunity to make connections with others and serve as support for clients as they make plans for their future. He takes great interest in the new technology platforms RBC rolls out frequently to enhance the client experience – and in helping implement that client-forward technology among our own team.
In his spare time, Callum loves everything outdoors – especially motorbiking. He’s also an active volunteer with our team at the Kelowna General Hospital Perking Lot – a volunteer-run coffee bar. Drop by there and you’ll soon understand: Callum welcomes the chance to make a difference, one coffee or conversation at a time.
