As a Private Banker with RBC Wealth Management, Private Banking, Allison Gordon-Collins provides comprehensive wealth management and financing strategies to high-net-worth business owners, executives, professionals and their families on the North Shore, Sunshine Coast and Sea to Sky Corridor.
Ms. Gordon-Collins has worked in financial services for over 17 years. Prior to joining RBC she held the position of Associate Private Banker to a Senior Private Banker of another major Canadian financial institution, and provided comprehensive private banking solutions and advice to high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth families. Prior to this she was a financial planner. Now, in her current 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 to provide a complete range of complementary services, from investment management to estate and philanthropic strategies, domestic and international trust services.
Ms. Gordon-Collins holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and a Bachelor of Commerce (B.Comm.) degree from Dalhousie University, and has earned the Personal Financial Planner (PFP) designation, which gives her insight into the ongoing needs of her clients. She is an Associate of the Institute of Canadian Bankers (AICB) and has completed the Financial Management Advisor(FMA)course.
Originally from Langley, British Columbia, Ms. Gordon-Collins attended university in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Outside of the office, she is passionate about supporting her community. For several years she volunteered her time on a non profit board, the Housing Foundation of British Columbia, which provides affordable housing for low-income seniors, and in 2014 was team captain for her local Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation ride for diabetes research team. She also enjoys reconnecting with her university and served as the co-chair of Dalhousie's local Alumni association for several years. Ms . Gordon-Collins and her young family enjoy spending time by the ocean or in the mountains hiking, mountain biking, cross-country skiing and snowboarding.
Our promise to you: comprehensive, integrated banking and wealth planning
Mr. Micheal Knott brings more than a decade of experience in financial services to his role as Private Banker. He and his team provide personalized, discreet financial counsel to a select group of high net worth business owners, entrepreneurs, professionals, and their families throughout the Greater Vancouver Area.
As a dedicated relationship manger, Mr. Knott provides his clients and their families with sophisticated banking, personalized short and long-term credit solutions, and flexible cash management, drawing on the expertise of a broad group of specialists from across the RBC enterprise. Depending on his clients' needs, these services may include estate planning, domestic and international trusts, financial planning, and discretionary & non-discretionary investing. When necessary and appropriate, Mr. Knott works with his clients' other professional advisors to deliver comprehensive, integrated wealth management solutions.
Prior to joining RBC Private Banking in 2019, Mr. Knott was a successful Senior Advisor and Private Banker with another institution where he supported his personal and business clients by delivering tailored banking, investment, and planning solutions.
Mr. Knott holds a Bachelor of Commerce Honours with a dual specialization in Finance and Economics from the University of Guelph. He also holds a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designation, helping him to provide tailored financial planning counsel for his clients' increasingly sophisticated needs.
Married with one child, he keeps busy outside of the office by snowboarding, downhill biking, running, and getting in a round of golf whenever he can.
Mary McPhail brings extensive wealth planning experience to her role as Private Banker in Vancouver and the surrounding area. Drawing on over nine years of financial services for domestic and international clients, she brings her wealth of knowledge to addressing concerns faced by high-net-worth clients.
Ms. McPhail is passionate about working with multi-generational enterprising families. She provides personalized, discrete financial counsel to a small, select group of ultra-high-net-worth entrepreneurs, utilizing specialists in Canada and in key markets worldwide to provide sophisticated banking and personalized credit and lending packages. Through these partners, she is also able to provide a complete range of planning services, including tax and estate planning, business and personal succession planning, philanthropic strategies, and domestic and international trust services.
She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Alberta and has completed her Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designation, as well as the Professional Financial Planner, allowing her to provide her clients with the highest quality financial advice and planning. To help provide collaborative and complementary advice to family business clients, she has completed the Family Enterprise Advisor Program at the Sauder School of Business and obtained her Family Enterprise Advisor Designation.
In her spare time, Ms. McPhail enjoys travelling internationally, attending the opera, symphony and Arts Club Theatre, practicing yoga and spending time with her family. She is currently training for the RBC Grand Fondo cycling ride from Vancouver to Whistler.
For her Private Banking clients, Ms. McPhail designs sophisticated banking and personalized, flexible credit and lending packages. Through the RBC Financial Group and outside multi-disciplinary teams in Canada and in key markets worldwide she collaborates to achieve her clients’ financial objectives. This team enables her to provide an integrated solution with a complete range of services—including investments, business banking, estate planning, and domestic and international trusts—to align with each client’s specific values and destination.
As a Private Banker, Nicole Russell provides tailored financial planning and banking services to a select group of successful entrepreneurs, professionals, executives and their families throughout the Greater Vancouver Area. Her focus on understanding her clients' goals, aspirations and priorities enables her to provide customized advice and wealth management solutions that cover estate planning, credit, cash management and convenient day-to-day banking offerings. She strives to cultivate trusted relationships for the long term by collaborating with top experts from across RBC to implement intergenerational wealth plans, ensuring financial goals are for met today and in the future.
Ms. Russell brings over a decade of professional experience in both personal and business banking. Prior to taking on the role of Private Banker, Ms. Russell spent several years providing credit advice to some of the wealthiest RBC Private Banking clients in Western Canada. This included working with complex family and business structures to implement specialized credit solutions that accommodated unique financial objectives and tax considerations. Before specializing in lending, Ms. Russell was a trusted adviser to entrepreneurs as a Senior Business Account Manager. She helped her clients build and grow businesses by providing cash flow management recommendations and lending strategies. While assisting with business solutions, she concurrently supported the entrepreneur with personal financial management advice including every day banking, saving and investing, debt management and estate planning.
RBC has recognized Ms. Russell as being a national top performer for quality of client service and financial advice which has earned her an invitation to attend RBC's coveted annual convention three times in the past five years.
Nicole holds a Personal Financial Planning (PFP®) designation and a Diploma with Distinction in Financial Management.
As a Private Banker in Vancouver, Glenn Tanaka provides expert financial counsel to a select group of clients throughout the West Coast.
Mr. Tanaka acts as a dedicated relationship manager for his clients and their families who value his discretion and guidance in advising them through all stages of their financial lives. The expertise and experience Glenn applies to his responsibilities was gained through a career of almost two decades in the financial industry.
Working with a relatively small number of clients ensures a level of highly personalized service. Mr. Tanaka provides sophisticated banking, customized short- and long-term lending solutions and flexible credit packages. Through the RBC Financial Group, he co-ordinates a team of domestic and international experts who provide investments, commercial banking, and domestic and international trust services, enabling him to deliver comprehensive financial strategies as required.
Mr. Tanaka has earned his Personal Financial Planner and Specialist, Trust Institute designations, and has completed the Canadian Securities Course. He was awarded a gold medal for academic excellence while completing his studies to become a Fellow of the Institute of Canadian Bankers. He holds a Finance degree from the University of British Columbia.
An active member of his community, Mr. Tanaka volunteers his time with the Nikkei Seniors Healthcare and Housing Society, and the Morten Creek Salmon Enhancement project (part of the RBC North Shore Employee volunteer project). He also coaches lacrosse and hockey, and is involved with fundraising for his son's school. In his spare time Mr. Tanaka enjoys golf, baseball and fishing.
As a Premier Banking Advisor for North, West and Downtown Vancouver, Aleisy Amirghahari works as a single point of contact, providing banking and credit solutions for select clients of Wealth Management Canada and their families. Partnering with Investment Advisors and Counsellors across the region, she provides personalized service and tailored advice to help clients save time and effectively manage their day-to-day banking needs.
With more than 12 years of experience in financial services with RBC, Aleisy is respected by her clients, her peers and the industry, and has received top performer recognition. Aleisy is committed to giving back to her community and acts as a volunteer member for BC Children Hospital (BCCH). She also supports the United Way annual fund raising campaign.
Born and raised in Iran, Aleisy migrated to Canada in 1997. She received her Bachelor of Computer Science, Software Systems from the University of Concordia, Montreal, Quebec.
Aleisy currently resides in the North Vancouver area with her husband and her daughter. Her son is pursuing his PHD in Robotics, in Georgia Tech University, Atlanta, US.
When she is not hard at work for her clients, Aleisy enjoys swimming, and playing Ping Pong. Aleisy speaks fluent English, and Persian.
As a Business Owner Specialist, High Net Worth Planning Services, Darren, 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, Darren was a tax partner with a national accounting and advisory firm where he focused on providing tax planning services to high net worth families and shareholders of privately held businesses. Darren guided clients through many of the complex personal and corporate issues faced by high net worth families and business owners by developing strategies for wealth preservation and tax minimization, the transfer of wealth to the next generation, and estate and succession planning.
Darren, together with your primary RBC advisor, helps you explore succession, tax, retirement and estate planning issues you face as a high net worth client. Darren specializes in tax and estate planning for business owners and high net worth families.
Darren is a Chartered Professional Accountant, Chartered Accountant and has completed the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants In-Depth Tax Course,
the Corporate Reorganization Course and the Tax Planning for the Owner Manager Course. Darren is a TEP designated member of STEP (The Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners) and is a member of the Canadian Tax Foundation. Darren is a graduate of the University of British Columbia and the British Columbia Institute of Technology.
Zora Booker, CPA, CGA, MBA, TEP
Vice President, Business Owner Specialist, RBC Family Office Services
Prior to joining RBC in 2014, Zora spent over a decade with a mid-size Canadian accounting and business advisory firm where she focused on assisting owner- managers and their families with personal, trust and corporate tax planning and compliance. Zora focused on development and implementation of strategies for wealth preservation in the context of tax, estate and succession planning.
Zora, together with your primary RBC advisor, helps you to explore succession, tax, retirement and estate planning issues you face as a business owner. Zora specializes in tax and estate planning for business owners and high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth families.
Zora received a Bachelor degree in Science from Simon Fraser University and a Master in Business Administration from the University of British Columbia. Zora is a Chartered Professional Accountant, Certified General Accountant. Zora
has completed the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants In-Depth Tax Courses, as well as the Advanced Tax Issues for the Owner-Managed Business Course. Zora is also a TEP designated member of STEP (The Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners).
Prior to joining RBC, Eugene was a Tax Manager at one of the world’s leading accounting firms where he spent many years providing tax compliance and tax planning services to high net worth individuals, private companies and First Nations.
Eugene is a Chartered Accountant (CPA, CA), a Certified Financial Planner (CFP), and holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Simon Fraser University. He has completed and tutored the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants’ In-Depth Tax Course and completed the Advanced Tax Issues for the Owner-Managed Business Course.
Eugene believes that planning is critical to helping people meet their financial goals. Eugene’s role is to work with and support your advisor in preparing and presenting comprehensive Compass Financial Plans.
Yat-Sze Lo, CPA, CA, CFP
Vice President and Financial Planning Specialist, RBC Family Office Services
Coming from one of the major global accounting firms, Yat-Sze brings a broad range of experience to her role as Vice President, Financial Planning Specialist.
In her previous role, she spent many years working with private companies, high-net-worth individuals, trusts, and partnerships. Her work included tax minimization through appropriate tax planning (corporate and personal, including estate planning) as well as corporate restructuring.
Yat-Sze is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA) and a Certified Financial Planner (CFP). She completed her Bachelor of Commerce at the University of British Columbia and has completed all three levels of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants’ In-Depth Tax Course. She has also completed the Advanced Tax Course for Owner-Managed Businesses.
As a Financial Planning Specialist, Yat-Sze’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 and tax planning concerns you might have.
Jennifer Lu is a chartered professional accountant (CPA, CA). She completed her Bachelor of Accounting degree at Brock University, and holds a Master of
Taxation degree from the University of Waterloo.
Prior to joining RBC, Jennifer was a tax manager in one of the largest global accounting firm where she provided tax consulting advice and tax compliance services to a wide range of corporations and high-net-worth individuals. She assisted clients with tax planning strategies and business restructuring. With her strong academic background and years of experience in public accounting, Jennifer became a trusted advisor for many business owners and high-net- worth individuals.
Jennifer believes that financial planning is critical to achieve your financial success. Her 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 and tax planning concerns you might have.
Inder is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA) and has completed the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada’s In-Depth Tax Course. She holds a Bachelor of Science and a Diploma in Accounting from the University of British Columbia.
Prior to joining RBC, Inder amassed over eight years of experience in public practice at two distinguished and established accounting firms. As a Tax Manager she specialized in providing Canadian tax solutions to a wide range of clients and industries. Her experience includes tax planning, estate planning, and corporate reorganizations for high net worth families and business owners.
Inder’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.
Simi obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of British Columbia in 2006 and earned her Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Calgary in 2009. She was called to the Bar of British Columbia in 2010. Simi completed the three-year CPA Canada In-Depth Tax Course in 2015.
Following her call to the BC Bar, Simi practiced corporate law, estate and trust planning, and real estate law with a small Vancouver law firm before joining the tax group of a medium-sized firm in 2011, where she specialized in personal and corporate taxation matters, estate and trust planning and tax dispute resolution. She continued her practice of tax law and estate planning at the Vancouver office of a large international law firm before joining RBC. Her experience includes working in all areas of individual and corporate tax planning, business succession and reorganization, estate freezes, and trust planning.
Simi is a member of the Canadian Tax Foundation and the Canadian Bar Association (BC Branch) Wills & Trusts and Taxation Sections. She is also an executive member of the BC Women Lawyers Forum and was a member of the organizing committee for the 2015 and 2016 Ovarian Cancer Canada “LOVE HER” gala. Simi is fluent in Punjabi.
Simi would be pleased to assist you in developing strategies to structure your estate plan in an efficient and tax-effective manner.
Grace received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of British Columbia in 2000 and graduated from Dalhousie Law School in 2003.
She was called to the British Columbia Bar in 2004. Prior to joining RBC, Grace practised law in Vancouver, specializing in estate planning and estate administration. Most recently, Grace worked at a hospital foundation advising the charity on legal matters as well as its donors on charitable giving.
Grace is a member of the Canadian Bar Association Wills and Trusts Section and Charities Section. She is fluent in Cantonese and Mandarin.
Melissa obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree from Simon Fraser University in 1999 and earned her Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Victoria in 2007. She was called to the Bar in British Columbia in 2008.
Prior to joining RBC Wealth Management, Melissa practiced law in Vancouver and specialized in estate planning and estate administration as well as small business corporate and commercial matters. Melissa assisted clients with a range of estate planning matters including drafting Wills, Powers of Attorney and Representation Agreements as well as matters related to the administration of an estate, including applications for Letters Probate and Letters of Administration. Melissa also assisted clients with matters relating to a variety of corporate transactions including incorporations, corporate reorganizations, corporate financing, share and asset purchase and sale transactions as well as the drafting of various corporate commercial documents including shareholder agreements and partnership agreements.
Melissa is a member of the Canadian Bar Association Wills and Trusts Section (Vancouver).
Melissa’s role with RBC Wealth Management is to work with you and your advisor to review and/or structure your Will, estate and trust matters to ensure that your plan is organized in an effective and tax-efficient manner.
As a Senior Trust Advisor, Phylicia Rye serves clients throughout the Eastern Greater Vancouver and North Vancouver Island areas. Her focus on providing estate and trust advice and solutions to high net worth families has garnered her a strong reputation among her peers and is well known within the estate and trust industry for her ability to deal with complex issues.
Phylicia graduated from Simon Fraser University with a Bachelor of Arts (Economics). She also holds both the Personal Financial Planner (PFP) and Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designations, and the Trust and Estate Practitioner (TEP) designation. She has over 24 years of industry experience and has leveraged the necessary technical and business development skills to provide clients with the right solutions for their unique circumstances.
Phylicia works with individuals, families, and businesses providing 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, Phylicia can help.
As a Senior Trust Advisor, Catharine Turner serves clients throughout British Columbia in the Vancouver office. Catharine is well known within the Estate and Trust industry in the British Columbia region. She has held many client facing roles focused on business development as well as servicing complex accounts of domestic and international high net worth families during her roles as an Estate and Trust Advisor, Senior Advisor and Private Banker.
A graduate of the University of British Columbia, Catharine has continued to deepen her knowledge and expertise with key industry designations such as the Chartered Financial Planner (CFP), Financial Management Advisor (FMA) and Trust and Estate Practitioner (TEP) designations.
Catharine works with individuals, families, and businesses providing 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, Catharine can help.
With more than 25 years of industry experience, Catharine 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. Catharine understands that no two clients are the same and so together with her RBC Estate & Trust Services partners she can find the solution that’s right for you.
Cheryl Johnson-Engmann, CFP, CLU, TEP
Estate Planning Specialist, RBC Wealth Management Financial Services Inc.
Ask great questions. Listen. Educate, inform and implement.
When Cheryl meets with clients, she takes the time to truly understand their financial situation and then helps to guide them in making the right decisions for their needs.
Building caring, long-lasting relationships, Cheryl has spent over 30 years, collaborating with affluent families, professionals, executives and business owners, while partnering with their trusted advisors. She believes risk management is at the foundation of every wealth plan, and is known for simplifying complex financial situations.
Cheryl has earned multiple industry designations, along with the Family Business Strategy Essentials Certificate from the Sauder School of Business. In her spare time, she enjoys riding horses, skiing, boating and traveling.