Scott VanEngen, CPA, CA, CFP
Financial Planning Specialist, Family Office Services, RBC Wealth Management
Scott brings his 33 plus years of financial services experience to the clients he meets, including 18 years in public practice (six years as a Partner) with a local CA firm. He has worked with clients in the areas of tax, estate and business strategy including family business succession planning.
Prior to joining RBC Family Office Services, Scott provided services for four years to RBC clients as a Commercial Account Manager, focused on owner- managed business and agriculture clients, and four years as a Private Banker, assisting high net worth clients with personal banking, credit and financial planning needs.
Scott is member of the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario, and the Financial Planners Standard Council. He is a Canadian Association of Family Enterprises trained family business facilitator, a Family Business Advisor and graduate of the University of Guelph with an animal science and agriculture business degree. He is also a member of the Canadian Association of Farm Advisers and holds a CAFA designation, (Certified Agriculture Farm Advisor).
Scott will work with your advisors to prepare and present a comprehensive Compass Financial Plan specific to you.
Colin Ardill, FEA
Vice-President & Estate Planning Specialist, RBC Wealth Management Financial Services Inc.
You’re the biggest beneficiary.
Colin Ardill stays humble. Even so, he’s not shy about being a man on a mission: to overturn 150 years of misunderstanding about life insurance, one day at a time.
Most Canadians see only one dimension to life insurance: that it’s of no use to the living. But Colin sees it in three dimensions. There is the death benefit that everyone can see – but life insurance also provides tax-exempt growth, and it allows the holder to spend more money in retirement than they otherwise could. Says Colin: “The person buying the policy is going to be the biggest beneficiary.”
Colin has been in the estate planning business for over 15 years. His core purpose – the heart of everything he does – is to leave everyone he meets better off.
Shannon Row-Ewing, BA, LL.B
Vice President and Will & Estate Consultant, Family Office Services, RBC Wealth Management
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.
Abby Kassar, CPA, CA, CFP, TEP, FEA
Vice President, High Net Worth Planning Services, Family Office Services, RBC Wealth Management
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.
As a Will and Estate Advisor for the Central Canada Region, Malvin Seto brings an approach to estate planning centered on understanding and addressing the unique situation of each client. He works collaboratively with clients and their trusted advisors to help craft a comprehensive, effective estate plan that meets their particular needs. A graduate of the Queen’s University Faculty of Law with a Juris Doctor degree, and with legal practice experience in estate litigation, Malvin has continued to deepen his industry knowledge and expertise including as an affiliate member of STEP Canada. Whether clients hope to protect a disabled heir, incorporate succession planning for their business, address the complex concerns arising from second spouses and blended families, minimize family conflicts, or deal with beneficiaries or assets that are situated outside of Canada, Malvin can help craft a tailored estate plan that meets their individual needs. The combination of his professional expertise and his commitment to providing practical solutions make Malvin an invaluable resource for both clients and their financial advisors.
Teresa Anastasopoulos is a Private Client Insurance Specialist. Through a personalized risk assessment approach, she provides tailored insurance solutions to protect your client’s wealth, possessions and lifestyle.
Teresa has over 26 years of industry experience. Prior to joining RBC, she was a trusted Account Executive at brokerages such as Gallagher and Jones DesLauriers. Teresa holds a Chartered Insurance Professional (CIP) and Canadian Accredited Insurance Broker (CAIB) designation with the Insurance Institute of Canada.
Teresa is proud to represent RBC Private Insurance and is passionate about providing best in class service. Together with her team, she will work with your client to protect what matters most.
As a Premier Banking Advisor for Central Ontario, Cindy Reynolds works as a single point of contact providing banking and credit solutions for select clients of Wealth Management and their families. Partnering with Investment Advisors and Investment Counsellors across Central Ontario, she provides personalized service and tailored advice to help clients efficiently and effectively manage their day to day banking needs.
With over 30 years of experience in the financial services industry, Cindy has become a respected member of the banking community. Prior to her role, she worked as a Banking Advisor at a branch. There she developed a dedicated approach to advice, simplifying clients' financial matters and exceeding their needs.
Cindy was born in Toronto and has a deep passion for educating her clients on the importance of financial health. In addition, Cindy loves being married for almost 31 years and having two daughters. Along with her Investment Funds in Canada certification, Cindy also holds a Bachelor Degree in Social Development Studies, with a major in business from the University of Waterloo. Cindy's hobbies are watching sports, reading and volunteering to help raise funds for a local animal rescue organization in the City where Cindy Lives.
As a Private Banker with RBC Wealth Management, Craig August provides comprehensive wealth management and financing strategies for domestic and international high-net-worth business owners, executives, families and organizations in the Greater Toronto Area.
With over 24 years of experience in the financial industry and close to a decade with RBC, Craig helps clients with his in-depth knowledge and valued advice on integrated wealth management solutions to simplify and enhance their lives.
Prior to joining Private Banking in 2013, Craig held positions in Commercial Banking and with a major asset management firm, which helped provide him with an ideal foundation for meeting his clients' unique and varied needs.
Craig collaborates with external partners and advisors across RBC to deliver customized and complex credit solutions to meet clients' financial goals. Craig and his team aim to build a long-term relationship with their clients based on integrity, trust, communication, and confidentiality. They further aim to differentiate themselves through dedicated and exceptional service, and consistently delivering results for their clients.
His broad-based business education includes a Master of Business Administration from Schulich School of Business, a Management Studies Diploma from Laurier University and a Bachelor of Arts (Economics) from Western University. He is currently working towards his Personal Financial Planner (PFP) designation.
Born and raised in Richmond Hill, Craig previously served on the Board of Directors for Big Brothers, Big Sisters of York Region. When not in the office, he enjoys spending time with his wife and two children, and keeping active with tennis, squash, running and golf.
As a Private Banker with RBC Wealth Management, Breanne provides comprehensive wealth management and financing strategies to high-net-worth individuals, business owners, professionals and their families.
Breanne has over 10 years of experience in financial services, in various roles related to Wealth Management, Financial Planning, and Personal and Business banking and lending. She has a deep understanding of complex client needs and business acumen, and expertise in the successful integration of various financial services into a customer-centric strategy. She draws on her extensive experience to advise on a number of issues that affect clients, including day-to-day banking, lending and wealth management. As needed, she partners with talented specialists from across RBC to provide a complete range of complimentary services, including financial planning, estate and tax planning, business owner planning and investment management.
To ensure personalized service and attention to detail, Breanne and her team work with a relatively small number of clients. This approach helps the team simplify their client's lives, while delivering responsive integrated financial solutions.
Breanne is an avid motorcyclist and artist, and enjoys a variety of outdoor activities with her husband, step-son and two dogs.
Breanne holds a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) designation, Mutual Funds License, MSc in Mathematics from Wilfrid Laurier University, and BSc in Mathematics and Fine Arts and BEd from Nipissing University