Our RBC Partners

Prior to joining RBC, Nathalie specialized in corporate commercial law and estate and trust law during her eleven years in private practice.

She focused primarily on mergers and acquisitions and tax driven corporate transactions, advising small and medium size businesses in connection with day to day requirements, such as shareholder issues, restructuring, strategic alliances and standard agreements. In addition, Nathalie focused on estate and trust planning, tax planning and estate administration and liquidation, implementation of tax and estate plans, Wills, trusts, corporate reorganizations, business succession plans and wealth preservation.

In 2010, Nathalie joined RBC, assisting clients with their overall tax and estate planning, and in 2014, assumed her present position, specializing in assisting high-net-worth clients with their succession, tax, retirement and estate planning.

Nathalie obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree (political science) from Concordia University in 1992. She obtained her law degree from l’Université de Montréal Faculty of Law in 1995. She was called to the Barreau du Québec in 2000. Nathalie also completed her CICA in-depth tax courses, Parts I and II.

She is an active member of The Society of Trust & Estate Practitioners (Quebec chapter) and the Canadian Bar Association (Quebec).

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

As a Vice President, High Net Worth Planning Services, Nathalie, together with your primary RBC advisor, helps you explore succession, tax, retirement and estate planning issues you face as a high-net-worth client.

Nathalie has a Bachelor’s degree in Finance and a Master’s degree in Tax from the University of Sherbrooke. She has also completed a Master in Business Administration from Laval University and a Bachelor degree in international commerce from l’École Supérieure de Commerce (ESC) in Poitiers, France. She is a Certified Financial Planner and has completed the Securities Dealers Course from the Canadian Securities Institute.

Nathalie has more than 20 years of experience in tax, charity and estate planning consulting. Nathalie regularly gives lectures at the Association de planification fiscale et financière (APFF) annual conferences and technical seminars, as well as at other professional association events, and is an active writer of articles on topics related to tax, charity and estate planning.

Nathalie is an active member of the executive committee of Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (Quebec branch). She is also a member of the Association de planification fiscale et financière, the Institut Québécois de planification financière (IQPF) and the Canadian Tax Foundation (CTF).

Pierre earned his Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) and his Masters in Business Administration (M.B.A.) with a specialization in financial services from UQAM. He has his designation from the Institut Québécois de planification financière (I.Q.P.F.) and has completed the Professional Financial Planning Course (P.F.P.) from the CSI. He is also a Fellow of the Canadian Bankers Institute. Pierre has extensive experience in providing financial planning advice to clients with complex and sophisticated needs and goals. He draws on the breadth of expertise that he has developed over his 26 years in the financial sector.

His role consists of working with your advisor and to assist in the establishment and the presentation of comprehensive financial plans for clients.

Nelly holds a Master’s of Business Law from Université Paris 1 (Panthéon- Sorbonne), and a D.E.S.S. in International Business Law from Université Paris Descartes.She received her financial planner designation from the Institut québécois de planification financière (IQPF) in 2004.

Nelly has over 15 years of experience as a financial planner. Before joining RBC, Nelly worked with financial advisors’ clients to optimize their financial position and wealth by creating strategic action plans customized to their needs.

Aileen obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of British Columbia in 2000 and graduated from Dalhousie Law School in 2003. She was called to the Bar in British Columbia and Ontario in 2004. She has achieved her TEP designation from STEP (The Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners), has completed the In-depth Tax Issues for the Owner-managed Business course and all three levels of the In-depth Tax course through the CPA. In 2009, Aileen joined RBC, assisting clients with their overall tax and estate planning, and in 2014, assumed her present position, specializing in assisting high-net-worth clients with their succession, tax, retirement and estate planning. Prior to joining RBC, Aileen practiced law in Vancouver and Toronto, specializing in estate and trust planning, and tax litigation. Aileen is a committed community volunteer, currently serving as Treasurer of STEP Canada and as a board member of the Canadian Dupuytren Society. She is a former Trustee of the YMCA of Greater Vancouver Foundation (serving for 9 years) as well as other local not-for-profits in BC. She is also a member of STEP Canada, the Canadian Association of Gift Planners, as well as the Canadian Tax Foundation.

Erin Lesser is a Quebec-based lawyer who joined the RBC Family Services Office as a Will and Estate Consultant in January of 2023. Prior to joining RBC, she gained more than six years of experience in the fields of taxation and estate planning through working at a boutique, tax-focused Montreal law firm and then a mid-sized accounting firm. She earned a Bachelor’s degree from Concordia University and then completed both her civil law degree and juris doctor at the University of Montreal. She also obtained her Society of Trusts and Estates Practitioners (STEP) diploma in 2020, and is currently working to complete the CPA Canada In-Depth Taxation course.

Erin is committed to providing clients with practical, creative and appropriate solutions for their estate planning needs. Not only has Erin practiced in estate planning and various other areas of taxation, she also has experience in Will and mandate drafting, estate administration and international estate concerns. As a result, she is able to guide clients towards a tax-efficient estate plan in addition to addressing any particular needs or wishes clients may have regarding their estate.

Active in the legal community, Erin is a member of the Canadian Tax Foundation’s Young Practitioner’s Committee, she is the acting second vice-president of the Lord Reading Law Society and is a member of the Society of Trusts and Estates Practitioners. She is also a volunteer mentor to McGill and Concordia university students considering a career in law.  

The Care Factor – fine-tuned answers.

Benjamin Otto is motivated to serve others. “My dad is a pastor. Growing up, I often went with him visiting congregational members in their homes, hospitals and nursing homes. I saw him working extremely hard for others and the positive impact it had on them.”

This sensitivity to people’s needs and expectations is at the core of Ben’s philosophy. Ben and his team call it The Care Factor. It means that for every client, they work with meticulous devotion to provide fine-tuned answers and remove the stress of the unknown. Ben draws on his creative thinking, passion, and 22 years of expertise, to offer fresh perspectives and develop innovative solutions for complex high net worth cases.

Ben and his team are committed to being their client’s most trustworthy resource.