Our RBC Partners

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.

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).

Sara specializes in international estate planning, art collection and digital legacy planning for UHNW families in developing their wealth and legacy plans. Her guidance supports clients in their relationships with their external professional advisors, with whom she frequently interacts. 

Education and Experience

Sara has two decades of professional experience in complex estate and trust administration and planning; business succession; cross-border tax planning (STEP Advanced Certificate in Cross-Border Estates); family governance (STEP Advanced Certificate on family enterprise advising); philanthropy; art and collections planning (“Art as Global Business” certificate, the Sotheby’s Institute of Art and European Institute of Sustainability, “Art Disruption,” NFTs and tokenization of Art, legal and tax planning); and behavioural economic research (Digital Assets estate management). She is a graduate Masters in US Law at George Mason University, VA, USA, and has been called to the California State Bar in 2021. Sara achieved her Ph.D. in International Management (Behavioural Finance and Law) at the International School of Management, Paris, France, and completed the Federation of Law Societies of Canada, National Committee on Accreditation at UBC Peter A. Allard School of Law.

Professional and Industry

Sara is an active member of the Institute of Art and Law in London, UK; Canadian and American Bar Association; Member – Vancouver and Okanagan Chapter of STEP Canada and Co-Deputy Chair – STEP Global, Specialty Interest Group on Digital Assets and member of the Specialty Interest Group on Cross-Border Estates; active member of the Professional Services to the Air Market (PAIAM) in NYC, USA; and Board member of Third Space Life Charity in the Okanagan. She lectures the fall/winter seminars on International Business Law, Business Succession, Trust, International Arbitration and M&A at ISEG, MBA course, Paris, France, and is a visiting lecturer in Blockchain and NFTs at UCLA Law school, Los Angeles, California; Sara is also a Senior Research Fellow at the École des Ponts, Paris, France. She is fluent in Italian and English and has working knowledge of French and Spanish.

Wealth Planning Consultation

Sara works closely with your RBC advisor to identify strategies and solutions on structuring your affairs in a manner that addresses your overall wealth planning needs, which you would then discuss and implement with your accountant or lawyer. 

As a Private Banker with RBC Wealth Management, Phuong Nguyen provides comprehensive wealth management and financing strategies for domestic and international high-net-worth business owners, executives, families and organizations in Vancouver and the Lower Mainland.

With over 13 years of experience in the financial industry, Phuong helps clients with her in-depth knowledge and valued advice on integrated wealth management solutions to simplify and enhance their lives. Prior to becoming a Private Banker, Phuong worked as a financial planner and small business advisor, both of which provided her with an ideal foundation for assisting clients with their unique and varied needs.

By collaborating with external partners and advisors across RBC she can deliver customized and complex solutions to meet her client’s financial goals. Phuong and her team aim to build long-term relationships with their clients based on integrity, trust, communication, and confidentiality. They further aim to differentiate themselves through dedicated and exceptional service, and consistently delivering results for their clients.

Phuong holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Manitoba, and the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designation. She has been recognized by RBC as an outstanding performer having received both the RBC CARE and RBC Gold awards during her career.

Phuong was born in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, raised in Winnipeg and moved to Vancouver in 2003. She is currently Treasurer for the Executive Board of the Killarney Gators Swim Club and has been a swim official for the Special Olympics. When not working, she enjoys travelling the globe with her husband and two children, and supporting her son as he competes in swim meets across the province.

As the Will and Estate Advisor for the Vancouver and Okanagan regions, Rick brings an approach to estate planning that centers on understanding and addressing the unique needs of each client, working collaboratively with both the client and their trusted advisors to help craft a comprehensive, effective estate plan that meets their particular needs.

A graduate of Simon Fraser University with a Bachelor of Arts degree and a law degree from the University of Victoria. He is currently a member of the Law Society of British Columbia, the Wills and Estates Subsection of the Canadian Bar Association (BC), and the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP).

Rick joined RBC Estate & Trust Services from private practice and brings over 15 years of experience as a full time estate planning lawyer with a downtown Vancouver law firm. He has extensive experience dealing with all facets of personal estate planning, including wealth preservation, asset protection, income splitting and tax minimization issues. During that time, Rick also dealt with court appointed committees for incapacitated individuals, and matters arising from the administration and wind up of estates.

Whether clients hope to protect a disabled heir, incorporate succession planning for their business, address the unique concerns arising from second spouses and blended families, minimize family conflicts, or deal with beneficiaries or assets that are situated outside of Canada, Rick can help craft a tailored estate plan that meets their individual needs.

The combination of his professional expertise and his commitment to provide practical solutions makes Rick an invaluable resource for both clients and their financial advisors.

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.

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.

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.

Prior to entering the life insurance industry more than 20 years ago Sean was a senior manager in the tax group of a national accounting firm. With experience in personal and corporate tax, estate and succession planning, and corporate reorganizations, Sean provides a fresh perspective to his clients' estate planning needs. Sean works closely with you and your professional advisors to develop and implement tax-efficient strategies to help meet your wealth management goals.

A Chartered Professional Accountant and Certified Public Accountant (Delaware), Sean holds an MBA from the Richard Ivey School of Business at The University of Western Ontario. Sean is a member of the Chartered Professional Accountants of British Columbia, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners, the Estate Planning Council of Vancouver, and the Canadian Tax Foundation.

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.

Edward obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree from Simon Fraser University in 2013 and earned his Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Leicester in the United Kingdom in 2015. He completed his Masters of Law at Peter A. Allard School of Law in 2016 and was called to the Bar in British Columbia in 2018.

Prior to joining RBC Wealth Management Services, Edward advised for a national trust company exclusive to physicians and their families, on fostering wealth and legacy transfer through estate planning and trust administration.

Edward practiced estates and trust law in a boutique law firm in downtown Vancouver, assisting clients with estate and incapacity planning, including the preparation of Wills, powers of attorney, representation agreements, as well as complex trusts. In addition, Edward advised executors, trustees and beneficiaries on estate and trust administration duties and responsibilities, including preparing applications for representative grants and administering complex asset structures.

Edward is a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP), Canadian Bar Association Wills and Trusts Section (Vancouver), and has been involved in various community and volunteer initiatives throughout his career, serving as a committee member for the Canadian Bar Association Legal Futures Initiative and director to the Global Lawyers of Canada in BC.

Edward’s diverse and practical experience in estate planning allows him to offer valuable guidance in the development of your estate plan.

Nicole received her Bachelor of Commerce Degree (Dean’s List) in 1991 and her Bachelor of Law degree in 1999 from the University of British Columbia. 

She clerked at the British Columbia Supreme Court from 1999 to 2000 and was called to the British Columbia Bar in 2000. Nicole has also completed the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants In-depth Tax Course. 

Prior to joining RBC, Nicole practised law for ten years in downtown Vancouver, first at a national law firm and then at a boutique tax and trust law firm. Nicole’s practice focused on the implementation of tax and estate plans, Wills, domestic and offshore trusts, charities and business succession. Nicole is a member of The Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP), the Canadian Bar Association Wills and Trusts Section and Charities Section. Nicole’s significant practical experience in estate planning allows her to offer valuable guidance in the development of your estate plan.