The Heacock Group | Estate Planning | Trust & Estates | probate | Wills

Bringing your estate wishes from vision to a tangible written structure can be a daunting task. However, when done correctly, a well-executed Estate Plan brings your family together during a time of grief and conveys a sense of calm and respect to those who are left behind. Families can come together with the confidence that your affairs are in order and you can be remembered for your life's hard earned successes and tribulations. However, when estates do not receive the planning attention they need, families can be torn apart by anger and mistrust and often inheritances can be compromised by excess fees and litigation costs that rely on the courts to sort out your wishes.

Our experience has shown us that no two families are alike and therefore our clients receive their own unique estate planning solutions. We recognize that a proper estate plan needs the help of expert advice to succeed. By working shoulder to shoulder with RBC's own estate planning specialists we can unify your investment and planning strategies and bring realization to your vision of a family legacy.

Some of the many Estate Planning topics we help our clients with:

Utilizing innovative account structures that bypass your Will and reduce probate tax
How to carefully choose your executors and attorneys
How to avoid the estate tax trap from RRSP's and RRIF's
Minimizing Capital Gains tax within an estate
When and when not to flow assets through your Will
Unique planning strategies for blended families
When and how to use insurance to enhance your estate planning goals
Discussing the power of using multiple Wills
Planning for beneficiaries with disabilities
How to manage US assets and potential US estate tax within your plan
How to include a Corporation within your estate planning
Strategies for passing down a family cottage or similar heirlooms

For more information on any of these topics, contact us today and we would be happy to set up a complimentary review.

Tim Heacock, CFP, TEP, FCSI

Investment & Wealth Advisor

705-444-4772

Email me

705-444-1551 | LinkedIn

1-800-461-9180

Will & Estate Specialist

Shannon Row-Ewing, BA, LL.B

Vice President and Will & Estate Consultant, Family Office Services, RBC Wealth Management

Shannon worked in private practice for ten years before joining RBC in 2010.

She specialized in the areas of Wills & estate planning, estate administration and real estate. Shannon graduated from the University of Guelph with a Honours B.A. and received her LL.B. from the University of Toronto in 1998. She is a Member of the Law Society of Ontario.

Shannon lives in Woodstock, Ontario with her husband and three kids.

RBC Royal Trust advisor

Lesley Donsky, J.D., TEP

Will and Estate Advisor, RBC Royal Trust

As a Senior Will and Estate Advisor for the Greater Toronto Area, Lesley Donsky 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 develop a comprehensive and effective estate plan.

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, Lesley can help craft a tailored estate plan that meets their individual needs.

Lesley is a graduate of the University of Windsor Faculty of Law with a Juris Doctor degree and holds a Trust and Estate Practitioner (TEP) designation. She is a member of the Law Society of Ontario, the Canadian Bar Association (CBA) and the Ontario Bar Association (OBA), the Estate Planning Council of Canada and the Junior Trust and Estate Practitioners Group (JTEP), as well as a full member of STEP Canada.

In 2022, Lesley was nominated and shortlisted for the Young Practitioner of the Year Award through the STEP Client Awards, which recognizes excellence among practitioners who demonstrate great promise in the industry.

Before joining RBC Royal Trust, Lesley worked at two of Toronto’s top will and estate planners and estate litigation firms. In addition to her law degree, she earned an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Criminology from Western University, where she was awarded the Gold Medal in Criminology for her academic achievement.

The combination of Lesley’s professional experience and commitment to providing practical solutions make her an invaluable resource for both clients and their financial advisors.

Estate planning

Matters Beyond Wealth Podcasts

Creating family harmony when it's needed most.

Tim Heacock, CFP, TEP, FCSI

Will & Estate Specialist

Shannon Row-Ewing, BA, LL.B

RBC Royal Trust advisor

Lesley Donsky, J.D., TEP

Estate planning guide