EricĀ Strassburger, BA (Econ), PFP

Senior Wealth Advisor

For the past 20 years Eric has provided Investment, Retirement and Estate Planning advice to a select group of clients in Southwestern Ontario. He works with clients and their lawyers and accountants to ensure their Retirement Plans are in order, as well as their Estate Plans for wealth transfer.
 
He volunteers his time and expertise with The House of Friendship and KidsAblity. In the past he has served on Boards with The Kitchener and Waterloo Community Foundation, Big Brother Big Sisters of Waterloo Region and St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Kitchener.
 
Eric is a graduate of Wilfrid Laurier University with a B.A. in Economics.
 
When he's not at work or volunteering in the community, he spends time with his wife and 2 sons.  They enjoy sports, music and the outdoors.

KaitlinĀ Donelle, FMA

Senior Client Service Associate

Kaitlin began her career in the Financial Services industry over 15 years ago and joined BMO Nesbitt Burns in 2013.  She has her diploma in Financial Planning and has earned her Financial Management designation (FMA).
 
She keeps the operational side of the business running smoothly and is responsible for day-to-day administration ensuring clients receive outstanding service.  Kaitlin can help you with any questions regarding account activity, tax inquiries, estate matters, financial management and documentation.
 
Kaitlin is married, has 2 daughters & a big lap dog, Prada, who is a Doberman Pinscher.

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Nilab Balooch

Associate Private Banker

Nilab has been in the financial services industry, with BMO for over 10 years. During that period of time, she acquired a wide array of skills and expertise. She began her career with BMO in 2011, at the Customer Contact Center, as an Everyday Banking Agent. Shortly afterward, she transitioned into a lending specialist role. Her primary responsibility was to help Canadian clients with their day to day banking and lending needs over the phone. In 2014, Nilab expanded her skillset by assisting clients face to face in a physical branch, as a Financial Services Manager. After excelling in that role, she was promoted to a Senior Banker, Nesbitt Associate in 2018. Her primary responsibility was to provide clients with exceptional wealth management solutions to meet their financial goals. Again, she was promoted shortly afterwards and is now an Associate Private Banker for BMO Private Banking. She is a well-rounded Associate Private Banker that will be of great value to you.

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Katelyn Culliton

Director, Wealth Planning

Katelyn works with high net worth families to deliver proactive, customized wealth planning solutions. She draws on her extensive tax planning experience and analytical skills to help clients define their goals, set priorities and build a roadmap to implement their long-term plans. Katelyn provides ongoing education to clients on tax, retirement and estate planning issues, to help them make informed financial decisions and meet their goals.
 
Katelyn has over 10 years of tax and financial planning experience. Prior to joining BMO in 2017, she was a tax manager at a national accounting firm, where she advised business owners, farmers and other professionals on complex tax, corporate restructuring, succession and estate planning matters. Katelyn is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA), a Certified Financial Planner professional and has completed the CPA Canada In-Depth Tax Course. She graduated from the University of Waterloo with a Bachelor of Mathematics (BMath) in chartered accountancy and finance and a Master of Accounting (MAcc).

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Stuart Clark

Estate & Insurance Advisor

Stuart is a specialist at insurance-based wealth and estate planning strategies with a focus to service the high net worth and ultra-high net worth clientele of BMO Private Banking and BMO Nesbitt Burns. His objective is to help families and businesses transfer wealth in an efficient and tax advantaged manner. As a member of the BMO Wealth Management team, he integrates wealth planning strategies that minimize the impact of taxation to you now and to your estate in the future.

Prior to joining BMO Estate Insurance Advisory Services, Stuart worked with BMO Private Banking as a Specialized Planner – Tax to integrate comprehensive tax and wealth plans to enrich the financial success of BMO Private Banking clientele. He also acted as a consultant and instructor to financial advisors with one of Canada’s largest life insurance companies, and provided specialized taxation service with two of Canada’s large accounting firms and the Canada Revenue Agency.

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Adam Carter

Vice President, Business Advisory & Transition Planning

Prior to joining BMO Private Wealth in 2018, Adam worked for KPMG Corporate Finance Group, advising private company owners across multiple industries, with business enterprise values ranging from $3 million to +$100 million, on divestitures, acquisitions, due diligence, projections/financial modeling, and business valuations for multiple purposes. Other areas of experience include corporate restructuring and insolvency, financing, financial modeling & projections and corporate audits. Adam’s goal is to develop rapport with clients through open communication, trust and exceptional service. Leaning on his diverse background and experience, Adam provides guidance to private business owners and families throughout Ontario in the areas of business succession, transition, growth through acquisitions, sell-side M&A, and valuations for the purposes of wealth planning and exit planning.

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Leigh Vyn

Director, Tax Planning

Leigh is a Director of Tax Planning at BMO Private Wealth. With over twenty years of experience, Leigh understands the broad issues that wealthy families face. By taking the time to understand client’s specific goals and objectives, she brings her extensive subject matter expertise to help guide families through the unique opportunities and challenges that they may be facing in the areas of tax and estate planning, corporate structuring, business succession planning, and family governance.

Leigh can skillfully take complex tax and estate issues, and speak to clients about these in a way that they can easily understand.  In addition to her accounting background, she has extensive experience in the investment industry, including working at a multi-family office where she led a diverse team. For four years, Leigh co-authored the book “Tax Tips for Canadians for Dummies”.

When not at work, Leigh and husband, Dave manage a busy house with two teenagers. She enjoys running and hiking the many trails Ancaster offers.

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Lydia Potocnik

Vice President, Philanthropic Advisory Services

Lydia assists affluent clients in building a philanthropic legacy by taking a strategic approach. She guides families through the unique opportunities and strategies that exist to create a legacy that is meaningful and lasting. Her estate planning and trust administration background allow her to also ensure that clients’ philanthropic goals are part of their larger wealth and estate plan. Having worked with both clients and beneficiaries of estates, Lydia’s approach to planning takes into consideration unique family dynamics and conflict resolution.

Lydia joined BMO Wealth Planning in 2011 as a Will & Estate Planning Consultant working with clients on all aspects of their estate and trust planning. She then assumed a leadership role with BMO Trust Company where she was responsible for overseeing all aspects of the estate and trust administration business in Ontario. Prior to joining BMO, Lydia led a very successful philanthropy program at a major hospital foundation where she advised donors on how to build a lasting philanthropic legacy. She has contributed to numerous publications and media appearances related to her work.