Jason Cohen, PFP
Investment Advisor & Financial Planner
Andy Guidi, CPA, CA
Director, Tax Planning
Andy is a dedicated professional helping people preserve and grow their wealth. With an expertise in Canadian income tax, Andy assists clients on business structures, succession and estate planning, owner- manager remuneration, corporate reorganizations, the appropriate use of trusts and holding companies, asset divestitures, business split-ups and a variety of other tax planning strategies.
Drawing on public practice experience, he offers a depth of practical insight, as well as the unique ability to translate complex tax concepts into efficient strategies clients can easily comprehend.
Andy joined BMO Wealth Management in 2014, after filling progressively senior management roles in the domestic tax practice of Grant Thornton LLP, where he developed and implemented tax planning strategies for business owners and high net worth individuals.
Elizabeth Creates, LL.B
Director, Estate Planning
Elizabeth provides estate planning guidance to high and ultra high net worth individuals, families and business owners in the context of their personal wealth and business succession planning. Her background as an estates lawyer and over 20 years of experience in the wealth management industry allow Elizabeth to facilitate wealth transfer decision-making for clients and assist them with action planning regarding their legacy goals (financial and non-financial). Her modern approach focuses on the well-being and personal empowerment of clients by bringing them peace of mind and encouraging the pursuit of personal fulfillment.
She works collaboratively with internal and external advisors in order to ensure that all aspects of a client’s wealth plan support their estate planning, succession and legacy goals. She has LL.B. and B.Comm. degrees from McGill University and is a member of both the Law Society of Ontario and the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP).
Karen Sparks, MBA, CFP®, TEP
Director, Philanthropic Advisory Services
Karen advises high net worth families and business owners on comprehensive wealth planning solutions, as part of an integrated team of Wealth Consultants and in-house technical specialists. Drawing on extensive financial product expertise and planning acumen, Karen helps clients articulate and understand their unique objectives for accumulated wealth. A skilled listener, she acts as a value-add resource for Investment Advisors and their clients, ultimately providing a blueprint from which to execute a customized – and optimized – wealth plan.
Karen joined BMO Wealth Management in 2011, following progressively senior roles in the financial services industry, specializing in wealth planning, marketing and communications, and business development. In her previous role, she worked as a Vice President for a private investment counsel firm where she provided high net worth clients with comprehensive wealth planning and investment counselling services.
Jason Skentzos, MBA, CFP, CIM, FMA, FCSI
Director, Wealth Planning
With over 15 years of experience working in the financial services industry, Jason’s goal, as part of the BMO Wealth Planning team, is to educate and empower business owners, entrepreneurs and high net worth clients with comprehensive and customized solutions, resolving complex situations through coordinated and proactive wealth plans.
Using a holistic approach, Jason collaborates with his investment, banking, trust, estate and tax colleagues to help clients clearly articulate their personal wealth goals. Together, we provide a multi-dimensional perspective that offers a valuable complement to our clients’ other professional counsel.
Jason currently lives in Toronto with his wife Carley, and in his spare time enjoys golf, tennis, skiing and traveling to personally unexplored destinations.