High Net Worth & Business Owner Planning
Robyn Solnik, LL.B, TEP
Vice President, Business Owner Specialist,Family Office Services, RBC Wealth Management
As a Business Owner Specialist, High Net Worth Planning Services, Robyn, together with your primary RBC advisor, helps you explore succession, tax, retirement and estate planning issues you face as a business owner.
Prior to joining RBC, Robyn acquired her expertise in estates, trusts and succession planning in both private practice and with a major trust company, practicing law in Toronto for 8 years with an emphasis on trusts, estates, succession, planning for incapacity and charities law, and as a will and estate consultant for a well-known Canadian trust company. In 2001, Robyn joined RBC, assisting clients with their overall tax and estate planning, and in 2011, assumed her present position, specializing solely in assisting business owners with their succession, tax, retirement and estate planning.
Robyn obtained her law degree from Osgoode Hall in 1991, and she was called to the Bar in Ontario in 1993. She has completed her in-depth tax courses, levels 1 and 2, as well as the Advanced Tax Issues for the Owner Managed Business Course and the Corporate Reorganizations Course. She has co-authored two books, “Drafting Wills in Ontario: A Lawyer’s Practical Guide” and “Drafting Wills in Canada: A Lawyer’s Practical Guide”.
In addition, Robyn was an instructor at the Estate and Trust Bar Admission Course at the Law Society of Upper Canada.She is an active member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) and has obtained the STEP Advanced Certificate in Family Business Advising.
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.
Financial Planning and Advice
Jennifer Janeczko, M.Tax
Financial Planning Specialist, Family Office Services, RBC Wealth Management
Jennifer Janeczko completed her Masters of Taxation degree at the University of Waterloo in 2004 after completing a postgraduate diploma in Financial Planning from Wilfrid Laurier University in 2001.
Prior to joining RBC in 2015, Jennifer gained a unique understanding of planning for the owner-manager through various roles within the insurance and accounting industries. Her professional experience includes working extensively with high net worth individuals and their advisors dealing with estate and succession planning, corporate and personal tax, insurance planning, family trusts, private foundations and charitable organizations.
Jennifer has over 10 years of taxation experience, is a member of the Canadian Tax Foundation, sits on the board of directors of the Estate Planners’ Council of Hamilton and is a student member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners.
Will & Estate Consulting
Joanne obtained her Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws degrees from the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa. She earned her Juris Doctor degree from the University of Victoria, Canada. She was called to the Ontario Bar and is a member of good standing with the Law Society of Ontario.
Prior to joining RBC Wealth Management, Joanne has had a rich and varied career working in both large and small firms in private practice as well as working for a number of years as in-house counsel for a large international technology company. In the last few years in private practice, Joanne specialized in the areas of will and estate planning, estate administration, trust planning, and family business succession planning.
As a Wills and Estate Consultant, Joanne provides comprehensive estate planning services to clients.
Insurance & Estate Planning
It's yours. It is your life, your family, your business, your legacy. With that in mind, Annett's core belief is to "Appreciate the little things in life." This allows her to connect to what matters most for each client and their unique situation.
Collaborating with client's trusted advisors, Annett works with affluent families, professionals and business owners to implement tax efficient strategies that help to achieve their wealth management objectives. Her ability to simplify the complexity of these solutions bring clients understanding and peace of mind that the recommendations will help them achieve their goals.
For over 20 years, Annett has specialized in estate planning within the financial industry, where her reputation of working relentlessly and endlessly on behalf of clients has made her a sought after advisor. Her natural ability to build trust and earn respect is part of the personal warmth she brings to her work. After all, it is your life, your family, your business, your legacy.
Private Insurance and Risk Assessment
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.
Royal Trust Services
As a Senior Trust Advisor, Karen Snowdon-Steacy is responsible for managing a complex book of accounts, and services clients throughout the Greater Toronto Area. Karen works with individuals, families and businesses to provide customized estate, trust and incapacity solutions. 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, Karen can help. Karen also has specialized and experience in advising on philanthropic and charitable giving strategies for clients who wish to leave a lasting legacy.
A graduate of Victoria University at the University of Toronto specializing in history and political science, Karen has continued to deepen her knowledge and expertise with key industry designations such as Trust and Estate Practitioner (TEP). Karen is a full member of STEP.
With 30 years of experience, Karen is well known within the local estate and trust industry and delivers well-balanced advice by staying abreast of product, industry, investment, tax and legislative developments. With a career focused on building client relationships, she is dedicated to providing assistance in the preservation, management and transfer of wealth between generations by providing solutions to implement clients’ estate, trust and philanthropic plans.
Private Banking
Kevin Luchenski brings more than 20 years of experience in financial services to his role as Private Banker, in which he provides personalized, discrete financial counsel to a select group of high-net-worth business owners, entrepreneurs, professionals and their families throughout the Greater Toronto Area, particularly Vaughan, Richmond Hill, Aurora, Newmarket and Barrie.
As a former owner and operator of an insurance agency, Mr. Luchenski is uniquely qualified to understand the risks, demands and conflicting priorities that business owners face. Prior to joining Private Banking, Mr. Luchenski was Manager of Financial Planning in downtown Toronto and led a team of financial planners to provide tailored banking and planning to personal and business clients.
As Private Banker, Mr. Luchenski partners with his clients to deliver sophisticated banking, personalized short- and long-term lending solutions and flexible credit packages. Through RBC, he then co-ordinates a team of experts who provide investments, business banking, and domestic and international trust solutions, enabling him to deliver comprehensive financial strategies. When necessary, he will work with his clients’ other business and professional advisors to deliver integrated financial solutions.
Mr. Luchenski holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Toronto and has earned his Personal Financial Planner designation. Married with two children, he keeps busy outside of the office, and enjoys skiing, running and getting in a round of golf whenever he can.
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.
Premier Banking
As a Premier Banking Advisor, Varsha Parray provides banking and credit solutions to select high net worth individuals and their families. Acting as a single point of contact, she partners with Investment Advisors and Counsellors across the Richmond Hill, Vaughan, Newmarket and Aurora regions, and provides personalized service and tailored advice to efficiently and effectively manage their day-to-day banking needs.
With 10 years of experience in financial services with RBC, Varsha is respected by her clients and industry peers, and has received top performer recognition.
Varsha is committed to giving back to her community, and volunteered and participated in the RBC Race for the Kids.
Born in Trinidad in the West Indies and raised in Toronto from the age of 7, Varsha holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology Degree from York University and a Human Resource Management Certificate from Seneca College.
She currently resides in the Toronto area with her husband and two children and when she isn’t hard at work for her clients, you’ll find her spending time with her family and friends, reading and developing her green thumb.