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.
Zora Booker, CPA, CGA, MBA, TEP
Vice-President, High Net Worth Planning Services, Family Office Services, RBC Wealth Management
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 high-net-worth client. 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).
Darren Bank, CPA, CA, TEP
Vice-President, High Net Worth Planning Services, Family Office Services, RBC Wealth Management
Darren specializes in tax and estate planning for high net worth families.
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.
Arne Perrin, B.Comm. (Hons), CFP®
Vice-President & Estate Planning Specialist, RBC Wealth Management Financial Services Inc.
Wealth on your terms.
Arne's eldest daughter has a poster on her wall. It says, "Be yourself. Everyone else is already taken." That's how Arne lives life. He hopes others feel the freedom to do so as well. That's why his core purpose is to help clients enjoy and distribute wealth on their own terms.
To help those clients make informed choices, Arne and his team make it their mission to listen, interpret, educate and coach - that insurance is an asset, not an expense, for example. Careful planning then surfaces the right solution.
Loyalty and trust are paramount. By doing the right thing, Arne and his team want to be advisors' and clients' first choice. It helps that they're renowned as highly responsive, superbly meticulous, very honest - and always trying to be better.
As a Private Banker with RBC Wealth Management, Roberto Monteleone delivers comprehensive banking, wealth management and financing strategies to high-net-worth business owners, executives, professionals and their families in downtown Vancouver.
As a trusted advisor to his clients, Mr. Monteleone and his Private Banking team provide customized solutions that include complex credit structures, tax and retirement planning and sophisticated packages for managing daily banking and cash management needs. As needed, he partners with a range of experts across RBC to deliver investment management, Wills and estate planning, commercial banking, business succession planning and trust structures to meet his clients' domestic and international needs.
Mr. Monteleone brings over a decade of professional experience in both personal and commercial banking. Prior to taking on the role of Private Banker, Mr. Monteleone spent several years as a commercial account manager and provided advice to a number of the largest technology and media and entertainment companies in British Columbia. This included complex credit structures, cash management and cross border services. Before specializing in commercial banking, Mr. Monteleone held roles as a Mortgage Specialist and Personal Financial Advisor.
Originally from Prince Rupert, BC. Mr. Monteleone is an avid sports fan. Outside of the office, he can often be found playing golf, hockey and cycling or hiking with his wife.
Roberto is a student of the Personal Financial Planning (PFP®) designation.
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 Premier Banking Advisor for Downtown Vancouver, Katarina Tsamis 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 almost 4 years in the financial industry at RBC, and more than 10 years in customer service, Katarina is respected by her clients, her colleagues, and the industry. She has received top performer recognition, as well as being recognized for her partnering ability.
Katarina is actively involved in her community, organizing clothing drives for last 8 years for the Vancouver Downtown East Side. Katarina was born in North Vancouver, and studied English at Capilano University. Katarina currently resides in East Vancouver. When she is not working, she enjoys going to Pilates, spending time with family and friends, and being outdoors exploring her neighborhood.