Meet the team

Karen is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) and Certified Financial Planner (CFP). She obtained her Bachelor of Mathematics and Master of Accounting degrees from the University of Waterloo and has completed the CPA Canada In-Depth Tax course.

Prior to joining RBC, Karen worked at a leading global accounting firm where she specialized in providing tax advisory services for high-net-worth individuals and private company business owners. She has many years of experience helping clients navigate through personal and corporate tax issues as well as trust and estate planning.

Karen’s role is to work with and support your advisor in preparing and presenting your comprehensive Compass Financial Plan and to identify and assess any related financial planning concerns you may have.

Cecilia Xiao brings more than 10 years of extensive financial planning and wealth management experience to RBC Wealth Management, Private Banking. As a Private Banker, Cecilia Xiao provides comprehensive wealth management and financial planning strategies to high-net-worth business owners, executives, professionals, and their families.

Based in Toronto, Cecilia works with a select number of clients in Greater Toronto Region to address their often-complex banking, credit and wealth management needs through customized banking and financial solutions. Her goal is to deliver unparalleled service while building lasting relationships based on a thorough understanding of each client's unique needs and goals.

When necessary, she collaborates with specialists across RBC to provide clients with a complete range of complementing services. Ranging from investment management to estate and legacy planning, and from domestic and international trust services to sophisticated credit, Cecilia Xiao can propose targeted strategies to help clients achieve their short- and long-term goals.

After earning a Master of International Business Degree from Smith School of Business at Queen's University, Cecilia has continued to deepen her knowledge and experience with key industry designations such as Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA®), Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) and Personal Financial Planner (PFP®). Cecilia is a member and mentor of CFA Toronto Society and Women in Capital Market. To support the community, she volunteers for RBC Race for kids and Junior Achievement Canada. Cecilia was born and raised in China and is fluent in both Mandarin and Cantonese.

Away from the office, Cecilia enjoys Golfing, Skiing, Wine Tasting, Fashion and Travel.

Connie obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Toronto and a Bachelor of Laws degree from Osgoode Hall Law School. She was called to the Bar of Ontario in 1994.

Prior to joining RBC in 2012, Connie practised law for 18 years. As a partner in a mid-sized full-service law firm, her practice was varied and covered the areas of corporate/commercial law, real estate, and Wills, trusts and estates law. In that role, Connie advised her owner-manager clients on a broad range of business and personal needs, from purchases and sales of businesses, to shareholder agreements and corporate reorganizations, to Will and estate planning.

For many years Connie taught the Business Law section of the Bar Admissions Course and was involved with preparing the licensing exams for Ontario lawyers. Throughout her career, Connie has been involved in her broader community, serving on many non-profit boards as well as providing pro bono legal services.

Murray has been providing advice and technical support in relation to high-net-worth family wealth planning since 1994. Conversations include scenarios to be aware of in transitioning, including the costs of transitioning, your assets to your intended heirs. Additional areas of concern may include tax, asset preservation and philanthropic planning.

Murray’s expertise encompasses both domestic and international family circumstances, and in many cases is focused on the challenges of transitioning a family business. His guidance supports clients in their relationships with their external professional advisors, with whom he frequently interacts.

Before joining RBC’s Canadian Wealth Management Services team in 2008, Murray worked with RBC’s Global Private Banking group as the senior resource in their global trust business for over 13 years.

Prior to joining RBC, Murray practised law for six years in the areas of estate and tax planning, as well as various areas of business law.

Murray was a Director of STEP Canada (Society of Trust & Estate Practitioners) from its inception until 2009, and has been a member of the International Tax Planning Association and the Canadian Tax Foundation over the years. He has been a featured speaker at Estate Planning Councils, Law Society and STEP practitioner education conferences in Canada and abroad.

Margaret as a Premier Banking Advisor will be providing customized advice to high-net-worth clients for their unique banking and credit needs. She is focused on building enduring relationships with clients and their families, while ensuring all aspects of their financial needs are addressed through the full range of comprehensive solutions available at RBC.

As an Advisor, Margaret works as a single point of contact providing personalized service and tailored advice to help save time and effectively manage day-to-day banking and credit needs for select clients of Wealth Management Canada.

Margaret brings 34 years of experience under her belt in the Financial Services Industry. Her focus on outstanding customer service and client care is what builds that strong connection and successful relationships with high net worth clients.

Highly respected by her industry peers and clients alike, Margaret has continued delivering holistic advice and helped clients reach their financial goals. Prior to her current role, Margaret has worked as a Personal Banker and a Financial Planning Associate. She has proven that collaboration along with her business growth mindset is a great asset to RBC Premier Banking and RBC Wealth Management Canada.

Margaret believes in giving back to the community. She is a strong supporter of JDRF Canada and Run for Vaughan. She fundraises each year and is a strong advocate for both causes.

Andrew loves the insurance business. It’s not the products, it’s the opportunity to learn about you, your family and your life as a whole and how insurance may help you to reach your most cherished goals. That accounts for Andrew’s core purpose: to focus on people and provide the optimal solution for their unique circumstances.

Fundamentally, Andrew is an educator. He says, “If I hadn’t chosen the insurance business I would probably be a teacher. As an Estate Planning Specialist, my role is to educate clients on which situations these products are for, and how you make them work.” It is not about the sale. It’s about helping people discover an insurance solution that works for them, if any. It’s always about people, not product.

Andrew has been an Estate Planning Specialist since 1993. He lives in Toronto with his wife, daughter and their dog. An amateur boxer until 1992, he was the Ontario middleweight champion. Now he’s an avid squash player and fisherman.