Our partners

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.

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); art collection management and art estates 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); as well as, Digital Assets Inventory and estate management. She is a graduate of Masters in US Law at George Mason University and was 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 in France, as well as completed the Federation of Law Societies of Canada, National Committee on Accreditation at UBC Peter A. Allard School of Law.

Sara is an active member of the following groups and institutions:

American Bar Association (ABA) in Chicago, US
California Lawyers Association CLA Trust and Estate, and IP Chapters in Los Angeles, US
Beverley Hills Bar Association in Los Angeles, US
International Bar Association (IBA) in London, UK; Technology Law Committee, Art, Cultural and Heritage Committee, IP and Entertainment Committee
Fellow of the European Law Institute in Vienna, Austria; Model Rules on Succession of Digital assets SIG; Access to Digital Assets SIG, and Model Rules on Algorithmic Contracts SIG
STEP Canada; the STEP Cross-Border Estates SIG
The Institute of Art and Law in London, UK
Art Lawyers Association (ALA) in London, UK
Professional Advisors to the International Art Market (PAIAM) in New York City, US
Alumnus of the of Harvard Law School, HarvardX, Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society
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 in Paris, France. She is also a visiting lecturer of Blockchain and NFTs at UCLA Law school. Sara is fluent in Italian and English and has working knowledge of French and Spanish.

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.

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.

People need really good people. Without the correct expertise to help guide us, things can easily fall through the cracks. Growing up in a family business, Brett has first-hand knowledge of the highs of success and the lows resulting from poor estate and succession planning. It was this experience that guided him to the financial industry and why he is driven to help others achieve their goals.

Brett recognizes each person and situation is unique as is his process to gather information, identify wealth goals and recommend tax efficient insurance based solutions. Whether implementing financial protection against premature death and illness or ensuring your hard work and wealth are transferred to the next generation, Brett creates a plan focused on your needs.

Raised in Winnipeg, Brett moved to the beautiful Okanagan in 2015 where he lives with his wife and 3 daughters. While always up to play a round of golf his passion, long distance running, keeps him on the lookout for his next marathon.

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 Royal Trust 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.

As a Private Banker with RBC Wealth Management, Private Banking, Christa Russell provides comprehensive wealth management and financing strategies to high-net-worth business owners, executives, professionals and their families in the Okanagan region.

Ms. Russell's career spans over 18 years in the financial services industry, including 12 years with RBC. Prior to joining as Private Banker, Ms. Russell held a role in insurance sales for a major Canadian provider before joining RBC Royal Bank, where she held roles in personal and business banking before being appointed Branch Manager.

Drawing on this experience, she now develops integrated wealth management and banking plans to help her clients achieve their long-term financial goals. As a trusted advisor to her clients, Ms. Russell and her 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, she will partner with a broad range of experts across RBC to provide extended services including investment management, Wills and estate planning, commercial banking, business succession planning and trust structures to meet both the domestic and international needs of their clients.

Ms. Russell holds a degree in business administration from Okanagan University College and has completed additional financial industry courses in mutual funds and compliance. She also holds the Personal Financial Planner (PFP) designation, which adds an additional layer of expertise and financial planning knowledge to the integrated advice she provides.

Originally from Calgary, Ms. Russell grew up in Kelowna and regularly visits family in both cities. She enjoys giving back to her community by volunteering with local food banks, Junior Achievement and back-to-work programs for women who are entering or re-entering the workforce. She and her husband have two young children and enjoy playing golf together. The family are active travellers and plan at least two trips a year.

As a Private Banker with RBC Wealth Management, Private Banking, Paul Wourms provides comprehensive wealth management and financing strategies to high net-worth business owners, executives, professionals and their families.

Based in Kelowna, Paul works with a select number of clients in the B.C. Interior to address heir often-complex banking, credit and wealth management needs by providing tailored seamless banking and financial solutions.

When necessary, he can access specialists from across RBC in order to work collaboratively to provide a complete range of complementary services, from investment management to estate and legacy planning, and from domestic and international trust services to sophisticated credit and leverage strategies to support individual short and long term goals.

Paul offers an extensive background in client relationship to his role as Private Banker. He draws on more than 15 years of experience within RBC, consisting of a wide range of roles in Retail Banking, Commercial Financial Services, and Corporate Client Group.

Paul was born and raised in Kamloops B.C., and is a graduate of Thompson Rivers University with a BBA majoring in finance. In university, Paul was a member of the baseball team, and was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2005. While no longer active in baseball, he does look for opportunities to volunteer his time with youth sports, and he remains an avid sports fan. Away from the office, Paul spends much of his time with his family, and enjoys many of the outdoor activities that the B.C. Interior is famous for.

As a Premier Banking Advisor for Kelowna, Michelle Beauregard 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 5 years of experience in financial services with RBC, Michelle is respected by her clients, her peers and the industry, and has received top performer recognition. Michelle is committed to giving back to her community and acts as a volunteer member for the Heart and Stroke Foundation, YMCA Healthy Kids Day and YMCA Cycle for Strong Kids throughout past years.

Born in New Westminster and raised in Salmon Arm, Michelle holds a Diploma in Business Administration in 2013 from Okanagan College.

Michelle currently resides in Kelowna. When she is not hard at work for her clients, Michelle enjoys cooking, playing volleyball and spending time with family and friends.