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.
Christopher O’Toole, BA, CLU, CHS
Estate Planning Specialist, RBC Wealth Management Financial Services Inc.
I don’t accept ‘good enough’ and love a challenge – so I partner with clients to provide creative solutions that help them meet their evolving estate planning and insurance needs.
For Chris, trust is everything. He recognizes that trust can only be established once it has been built and requires him to excel personally and professionally. He’s made a career of building strong relationships by ensuring he never takes anything for granted and always delivers on his promises. Chris provides first-class service by consistently bringing product knowledge, informed support, and most importantly, new ideas to address your unique needs.
Having joined the financial industry in 2001, Chris spent many years working for one of Canada’s most prominent life insurance companies. Seeking to improve and maintain his professional knowledge, Chris has earned the Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU®), Certified Health Insurance Specialist (CHS®), and Elder Planning Counselor (EPC®) designations.
Daniel Francella brings more than 14 years of experience in the financial services industry, all with RBC Royal Bank, to his role as Private Banker, in which he delivers personalized, discreet financial counsel to a select group of clients and their families throughout the Greater Toronto area.
Drawing on his seven years as a Financial Planner for mass affluent clients, Mr. Francella and his team- which includes a Private Banking Associate and a Manger, Credit Structures- collaborate with a variety of partners throughout RBC to help his clients simplify the many details of their financial lives and focus on their career and personal goals. This team enables him to offer 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.
Because he works with a relatively small number of clients, Mr. Francella is able to ensure responsive service while delivering the level of attention his clients require to enjoy the non-financial aspects of their lives. When necessary, he will work with his clients’ other professional advisors to deliver comprehensive, integrated financial solutions.
Born and raised in Toronto, Daniel holds an Honours BA from York University and holds the Personal Financial Planning (PFP) and Chartered Investment Manager (CIM) designations, which help in providing financial planning advice to clients with complex needs. Daniel is an avid sports enthusiast and when away from the office, he enjoys spending quality time with his wife Roxanne and daughter Alessia.