Richard Belley, CFA
Managing Director and Fixed Income Strategist
Richard has been involved with Fixed Income and Interest Rate Derivative markets for over 20 years including 7 years in direct sales and trading. Early in his career, Richard worked as an interest rate Futures and Options institutional representative for BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc. and then for an international bank advising national and international clients. This was followed by a 3-year period as a provincial and municipal trader for the Private Client Division of BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc.
In 2001, Richard participated in the launch of the newly created Portfolio Services Group within the Private Client Division to provide a low-cost alternative for management of fixed income portfolios for high net worth individuals and institutional clients. Richard has been actively managing fixed income portfolios for more than 10 years. He has been a CFA Charterholder since 1999 and is a registered portfolio manager.
Abe Gottesman
Investment Advisor, Portfolio Manager
Abe provides services in a few Canadian provinces and has begun to expand his financial services to some U.S States. He has a disciplined investment philosophy and has created four strong portfolio models. Abe is committed to building lasting client relationships and achieving financial goals.
Abe Gottesman has been in the investment industry since 2001. Abe holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Baruch College in New York City; a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Toronto and is a Chartered Financial Analyst holder. Prior to joining BMO Nesbitt Burns, Abe was a Portfolio Manager responsible for North American equities with the multiple award winning Ivy Team at Mackenzie Investments.
When Abe is not following the markets and servicing clients, he is very active in his local community and enjoys spending his spare time with his wife and 3 children.
Silvia Gomes
Senior Private Banker, BMO Private Banking
Silvia creates banking packages and credit solutions for her clients and their families. She then draws on a team of BMO professionals/experts who specialize in investments, commercial banking, as well as tax and estate planning to create a uniquely personalized banking experience for her clients. To ensure a very personalized service and attention to detail, Silvia works with a very limited number of clients and their families.
Robert ter Brugge, B.Comm., CFP
Director, Wealth Planning
Robert brings together the knowledge and experience of our in-house tax and estate professionals. He works with advisors and their clients to develop sound wealth management plans. He provides support and direction on complex issues such as retirement planning, tax planning, cash management, estate and gift planning, business succession, transition planning and philanthropy.
Robert has over 25 years of professional experience in the wealth management industry as a Financial Planner at BMO, a lead developer of financial planning software at BMO, and as an advisor with a major wealth management firm.
Elizabeth Bozek, LL.B
Director, Estate Planning at BMO Wealth Management
Elizabeth works with other members of the High Net Worth and Specialized Wealth Planning team to develop personalized estate planning solutions for high net worth and ultra-high net worth clients. Elizabeth is sympathetic to the needs of her clients and mindful of the importance of family dynamics in the estate planning conversation. She is adept at communicating the importance of a total estate plan to clients and advisors alike.
Elizabeth has a wealth of experience in the world of estates and trusts. She joined BMO after 7 years in private practice, where her practice encompassed estate litigation, planning and administration, alternative dispute resolution, and incapacity planning. She most recently spent 3 years at a national trust company, where she honed her expertise in estate planning for high net worth clients. She is actively involved in the estates bar, and continues to organize and chair programs of interest for estate and trusts lawyers across the province.
James Kraft, CPA, CA, M.Tax
Estate and Insurance Advisor
James provides estate and insurance advice to high net worth clients though sophisticated, forward-thinking wealth management planning. James offers clients informed insight across the broad spectrum of wealth and estate planning issues, leveraging advanced market experience – more than 20 years of specialized tax, estate, and insurance expertise – and a unique understanding of the financial and emotional complexities of family wealth.
He works collaboratively with his colleagues to simplify the complexities associated with wealth and offering affluent families and entrepreneurs a uniquely personalized experience. Together, they aim to help clients realize their aspirations, at all stages of life, through meaningful conversations.
Greg Woolston, TEP
Senior Trust Officer, Director
Joined BMO Private Banking as a Director, Trust Services in 2019. Greg is part of the team of professionals at BMO Trust Company. He provides a full range of trust services to high and ultra-high net worth clients of BMO Nesbitt Burns and BMO Private Banking. Prior to joining BMO, Greg spent 29 years in the trust industry, most recently as a Senior Trust Advisor at another major Canadian financial institution. Greg has a BA from York University, majoring in Mathematics for Commerce, is a member of the Estate Planning Council of Toronto, and holds his TEP designation through the Society of Estate and Trust Practitioners (STEP).
John Waters, CA, CFP, TEP
Head of Tax
John's area of expertise includes personal tax and corporate tax for private corporations as well as financial and estate planning for high net worth individuals, executives and entrepreneurs. John is a Chartered Accountant (CA), CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (CFP®) and member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (TEP). He holds a Bachelor of Commerce (B. Comm) From Queen's University.
Before joining BMO Nesbitt Burns, John was employed by a large, international accounting firm as a senior member of the Toronto High Net Worth tax practice. John has also assisted in the design and execution of executive compensation plans and has expert ice in a wide range of planning scenarios involving the taxation of individuals, corporations, trusts, and partnerships.