Melissa obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree from Simon Fraser University in 1999 and earned her Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Victoria in 2007. She was called to the Bar in British Columbia in 2008.
Prior to joining RBC Wealth Management, Melissa practiced law in Vancouver and specialized in estate planning and estate administration as well as small business corporate and commercial matters. Melissa assisted clients with a range of estate planning matters including drafting Wills, Powers of Attorney and Representation Agreements as well as matters related to the administration of an estate, including applications for Letters Probate and Letters of Administration. Melissa also assisted clients with matters relating to a variety of corporate transactions including incorporations, corporate reorganizations, corporate financing, share and asset purchase and sale transactions as well as the drafting of various corporate commercial documents including shareholder agreements and partnership agreements.
Melissa is a member of the Canadian Bar Association Wills and Trusts Section (Vancouver).
Melissa’s role with RBC Wealth Management is to work with you and your advisor to review and/or structure your Will, estate and trust matters to ensure that your plan is organized in an effective and tax-efficient manner.
Yat-Sze Lo, CPA, CA, CFP
Vice President and Financial Planning Specialist, Family Office Services, RBC Wealth Management
Coming from one of the major global accounting firms, Yat-Sze brings a broad range of experience to her role as Vice President, Financial Planning Specialist.
In her previous role, she spent many years working with private companies, high-net-worth individuals, trusts, and partnerships. Her work included tax minimization through appropriate tax planning (corporate and personal, including estate planning) as well as corporate restructuring.
Yat-Sze is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA) and a Certified Financial Planner (CFP). She completed her Bachelor of Commerce at the University of British Columbia and has completed all three levels of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants’ In-Depth Tax Course. She has also completed the Advanced Tax Course for Owner-Managed Businesses.
As a Financial Planning Specialist, Yat-Sze’s role is to work with and support your advisor in preparing and presenting your Compass Financial Plan and to identify and assess any related financial and tax planning concerns you might have.
Biljana Manojlovic brings more than 24 years of financial services experience to her role providing personalized, discrete financial counsel to a select group of clients and their families throughout Vancouver and worldwide. As Private Banker, Ms. Manojlovic will work with specialists from throughout RBC to create a customized strategy that encompasses wealth planning, will and estate planning, retirement planning and philanthropic services. To simplify and make it easy to integrate all of your RBC relationships Ms. Manojlovic remains your key point of contact.
Ms. Manojlovic began her career in the financial industry as an Investment Advisor with a major Canadian firm. She joined RBC in 2003 as a Financial Planner before moving into the role of Private Banker. Today, business owners, executives and professionals count on her to look after all aspects of their wealth management, from retirement planning strategies to sophisticated banking and personalized credit solutions that address both immediate and long-term needs and goals. As an accredited Financial Planner, she offers her clients the expertise and resources they need to achieve their financial goals. She continually builds on her expertise to provide her clients with the highest quality financial advice and planning. As a part of this commitment, she has earned the professional designation of Certified Financial Planner (CFP). She also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics and International Marketing.
Born and raised in Croatia on the Adriatic coast before moving to the west coast of Canada in the early 1990s, Ms. Manojlovic is an active member of her community and volunteered for several years with the YWCA as a student mentor. Outside of the office she enjoys spending time with her teenage son. She loves being outside in nature, walking, jogging, skiing and exploring new places.
As a Senior Trust Advisor, Gurmehl Kasbia works with individuals, families and businesses to provide customized estate, trust and incapacity solutions throughout British Columbia. 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, Gurmehl can help.
Gurmehl earned a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Leicester in the U.K., and a Bachelor of Arts from Carleton University. Called to the Bar of Ontario in 2015, he has a wealth of knowledge in estates litigation, and the drafting of Wills, trusts and powers of attorney documents. He is an Associate Member of STEP Canada, and is in the process of obtaining his Trust and Estate Practitioner designation.
With more than eight years of experience in the financial sector and law, Gurmehl has become well known within the local estate and trust industry for delivering well-balanced advice. He stays abreast of product, industry, investment, tax and legislative developments and remains focused on building client relationships. Gurmehl is dedicated to providing assistance in the preservation, management and transfer of wealth between generations by providing solutions to implement clients’ estate and trust plans.
Aileen Battye, LL.B, TEP
Vice President, High Net Worth Planning Services, Family Office Services, RBC Wealth Management
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.
As a Premier Banking Advisor for Downtown Vancouver, Katarina Tsamis 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 almost 4 years in the financial industry at RBC, and more than 10 years in customer service, Katarina is respected by her clients, her colleagues, and the industry. She has received top performer recognition, as well as being recognized for her partnering ability.
Katarina is actively involved in her community, organizing clothing drives for last 8 years for the Vancouver Downtown East Side. Katarina was born in North Vancouver, and studied English at Capilano University. Katarina currently resides in East Vancouver. When she is not working, she enjoys going to Pilates, spending time with family and friends, and being outdoors exploring her neighborhood.