Partners

Andrea Heard brings over 19 years of experience in the financial industry to her role as Private Banker. For the last 13 years, she has been a Financial Planner with RBC Royal Bank and brings strong relationship management skills to her high-net-worth clients in Waterloo and Southwestern Ontario.

As your dedicated Private Banker, Ms. Heard will take the time to discover what is important to you and your family, as well as your personal financial goals. Along with her team, who include a Private Banking Associate and a Manager, Credit Structures, she will create a strategy and make recommendations on a plan of action that is right for each client situation. She also has access through the RBC network to call on a further team of specialists, in Canada and in key markets worldwide. This team enables her to provide a complete range of services – including delivering comprehensive, integrated financial solutions to help meet clients’ goals through investments, business banking, estate planning, and domestic and international trusts.

Ms. Heard graduated from Wilfrid Laurier University and soon after earned her designation as a Personal Financial Planner (PFP). As a long-time resident of the Waterloo Region, she enjoys volunteering in her community and attending local fundraising events. Most recently she joined the committee of a local organization that recognizes people in the community doing amazing things.

When not working, she enjoys spending her time with her husband and two sons. In her leisure time, she is often is found reading, biking, golfing or entertaining family and friends.

With over 15+ years of progressive financial industry experience, I have a proven track record of delivering a high degree of value through in-depth counsel to my clients. Being able to draw on this extensive experience and financial acumen allows me to create innovative financial solutions for my clients, providing them with customized credit strategies to help grow their wealth. With a strong network of specialists whom I can call on to help, will ensure all your financial requirements are met. My passion starts and ends with my clients as I’m fully invested in your financial success.

Wes Cutting started working with RBC more than nine years ago, taking a role in the National Office of RBC's Credit Advisory Group immediately after graduating with an Honours Finance Degree from Brock University in St. Catharines. Since joining RBC, Wes had been steadily promoted through various roles and departments within the bank, with increasing responsibilities at each juncture. Before joining the Private Banking team, Wes was an award-winning Commercial Account Manager in the Niagara Region and has since relocated back to Guelph, where he was born and raised.

As your dedicated Private Banker, Wes will take the time to discover what is important to you and your family, as well as your personal financial and wealth goals. Along with his team, which includes a Private Banking Advisor, and a Manager of Credit Structure, he will create a strategy and make recommendations on a plan of action that is right for each unique client situation. He also has access throughout the RBC network to call on a team of renowned specialists, in Canada and key markets worldwide. This team enables him to provide a complete range of services - including delivering comprehensive, integrated financial solutions to ensure clients' meet their goals through investments, business banking, estate planning, and Trusts, both domestic & international.

When not working with clients, Wes enjoys spending his time on the golf course, playing numerous other sports with his friends and colleagues, while spending as much time as he can with his dog, Zoe, who is a purebred Poodle with lots of energy. He is also very active in the kitchen, enjoying any opportunity to cook for family and friends.

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.

A former tax lawyer with over 25 years of experience in the insurance industry, Joel brings a unique perspective to the estate planning needs of his clients. Joel works closely with you and your team of professional advisors to develop and implement tax-efficient strategies to help you achieve your wealth management goals.

Joel received his BA (Economics) from Brandeis University, his LL.B from the University of Toronto and LL.M in Tax Law from Osgoode Hall Law School. He is a Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) and a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (TEP). Joel is a frequent speaker at industry and professional conferences. His articles have appeared in numerous publications including the Canadian Tax Journal and the Canadian Business Law Journal. He is the founding co-editor of the leading text on tax planning with life insurance, Canadian Taxation of Life Insurance.

Tracey is an integral member of the team, helping to create, preserve and increase wealth by incorporating insurance-based solutions within comprehensive financial plans.

Specializing in estate planning, Tracey applies innovative and tax-efficient solutions to a variety of wealth management issues and is skilled at simplifying their complexities. Her individualized approach to personal and corporate insurance planning help clients achieve their wealth management objectives and reach their estate and financial goals.

Beginning her financial services career in 1994, Tracey joined RBC in 2012 after spending 13 years with a leading life insurer, focused on providing insurance solutions expertise and product marketing. In addition, Tracey has obtained the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) and Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) designations.

As a Senior Trust Advisor, Susan Macdonald serves clients throughout Western Ontario and is located in the Hamilton office. With a career focused on client relationships, she is dedicated to her clients and provides a personalized service tailored to their specific needs. She provides a wealth of knowledge relating to trusts and their administration. Susan has continued to deepen her knowledge and expertise with key industry designations such as Member, Trust Institute (MTI) and Trust and Estate Practitioner (TEP) designations.

Susan works with individuals, families and businesses to provide 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, Susan can help.

With more than 20 years of industry experience, Susan 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. Susan understands that no two clients are the same and so together with her RBC Royal Trust partners she can find the solution that’s right for you.

As a Business Owner Specialist, High Net Worth Planning Services, Bobby, together with your primary RBC advisor, helps you explore succession, tax, retirement and estate planning issues you face as a business owner.

Bobby has over 15 years of experience working with owners of privately held businesses to help them develop business succession, tax and estate planning solutions tailored to their goals and objectives. Prior to joining High Net Worth Planning Services, Bobby provided tax, retirement, estate and financial planning advice to RBC advisors and their clients. He has written articles on various topics including determining the value of a business, farm succession planning, tax planning and retirement planning.

Prior to joining RBC, Bobby was a Vice President at a boutique business valuation firm in Toronto where he worked with business owners to help them determine the value of their business for divestitures, litigation, tax and estate planning purposes. He also worked with owners to help them identify the value drivers of their business.

Bobby is a Chartered Business Valuator, a Chartered Professional Accountant and has a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Toronto. He has also completed all three levels of the CPA In-Depth Tax Course.

Abby specializes in tax and estate planning for high-net-worth and ultra high-net-worth families. 

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.