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Linas Pilypaitis, CIM®, PFP®

Senior Wealth Advisor and Portfolio Manager

Linas has been working with high net worth clients at BMO Nesbitt Burns for over 20 years.  His prior experience includes 21 years serving as a Naval Officer (Navigation and Operations) in the Royal Canadian Navy.  During his naval career he received his Bachelor degree in Maritime Studies.

For many years, Linas coached basketball, ultimately coaching for Basketball Ontario at the Provincial Level.  His teams achieved two National Championships under Linas' leadership.

Linas supports his community as the Treasurer of the Royal Canadian Naval Benevolent Fund.  He is also a member of the Ottawa Bytown Rotary Club and the Naval Association of Canada.

Married, with four children and three grandchildren, Linas enjoys hiking, golfing, skiing and fishing.

Education:

  • Chartered Investment Manager, CIM, Canadian Securities Institute
  • Professional Financial Planning Course (Honours), Canadian Securities Institute
  • Canadian Insurance Course, Canadian Securities Institute
  • Conduct and Practices Handbook (Honours), Canadian Securities Institute
  • Canadian Securities Course (Honours), Canadian Securities Institute
  • Bachelor of Maritime Studies, Memorial University, St. John's Newfoundland

Derek Ralph, CFP®, CIM®

Senior Investment Associate

Prior to immigrating to Canada from the United States in the summer of 2014, Derek spent seventeen years in various aspects of the financial services industry, from working with individual clients, to compliance and proprietary trading. Derek's investment acumen and financial planning qualifications ensure clients' portfolios and plans stay on track for long term success.  

Married with one child, Derek is active in his community through volunteering at his child's school and coaching soccer.

Education:

  • Chartered Investment Manager, Canadian Securities Institute
  • Certified Financial Planner, Financial Planning Canada
  • Branch Managers Course, Canadian Securities Institute
  • Conduct and Practices Handbook, Canadian Securities Institute
  • New Entrants Course, Canadian Securities Institute
  • Conduct and Practices Handbook, Canadian Securities Institute
  • General Securities Representative Examination (Series 7), FINRA
  • Bachelor of Arts, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, United States of America

Patrick Kelley

Senior Client Service Associate

Patrick has 24 years of financial industry experience. He is a proven analyst and manger who has also served as a branch compliance supervisor. Patrick has many years of client service interaction and delivers an exceptional client experience with timely and relevant updates.  

Patrick is married, with three children. He enjoys martial arts in his spare time.

Education:

  • Branch Manager Course, Canadian Securities Institute
  • Options Supervisor, Canadian Securities Institute
  • Derivatives, Futures and Options, Canadian Securities Institute
  • Bachelor of Arts, History, Carleton University.

Our Partners

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Sarah Burke, CFP®, CIM®

Wealth Planning Consultant

As a Wealth Planning Consultant, Sarah specializes in developing financial plans tailored to meet the unique needs of Canada’s High-net-worth Individuals, Corporations, Trusts, Estates, Charitable Foundations, and First Nations.

Leveraging over 14 years of experience in the Wealth Management, Accounting & Fintech industries, Sarah brings extensive knowledge to her current role where she collaborates with a specialized team of Professionals in the areas of Taxation, Estate Law, Philanthropy and Business Succession, helping our clients improve their financial outcomes through the delivery of tailored strategies and solutions meant to enhance the structure, growth, and transfer of their Patrimony.

Before joining BMO, Sarah worked as a Private Banker and Financial Planner, helping her clients realize their vision for a lasting family legacy and broader community impact, by providing a clear roadmap that would guide every step of their financial journey. Her tenure at a Public Accounting firm as a Lead Wealth Planner saw her working alongside seasoned Tax Advisors and Accounting Partners to deliver a comprehensive service model that integrated Portfolio Management with Tax and Estate Planning.

Passionate about promoting Financial Literacy and educating the next generation, Sarah will often work with our clients’ children to improve their financial acumen and readiness to take over their family’s wealth. She is a Finance Graduate from McGill University and holds the Certified Financial Planner® and Chartered Investment Manager® designations.

Fluent in English, French, and Arabic, she offers her expert advice in all three languages.

 

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Korin Flindall, MTI, TEP, PFP

Director, Wealth Services - Trust at BMO Trust Company

Korin is the Director of Wealth Services with BMO Trust Company and has 25 years of experience in the trust industry. She oversees the full estate and trust administration process and is responsible for servicing our clients and their beneficiaries.

Her extensive experience has allowed her to build strong relationships with strategic partners (i.e. real estate agents, art collectors, auctioneers, etc.) which is imperative to ensure superior client service and to properly administer estates. She holds the TEP designation (STEP Canada), M.T.I. designation (Member of Trust Institute) and PFP designation (Professional Financial Planner).

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Carol Willes

Director, Estate Planning

Carol brings over 30 years of legal experience with 14 years of dedicated wealth and estate planning expertise to her role. Carol came from a combination of private practice in law and consulting for clients from Asia to Europe in the areas of business structuring, succession planning and financing. She has taught both undergraduates and executives at the Queen’s University School of Business and Faculty of Law, in the fields of international business, law and ethics and most recently taught Wills and the Law of Succession to upper year law students at the University of Ottawa.

Now as Director, Estate Planning at BMO Private Wealth, Carol strives to provide meaningful, client-centered advice and solutions. She helps individuals and their families build a secure and purposeful legacy and find peace of mind in the context of their entire wealth story.

Carol assists clients from many backgrounds to comprehend their present circumstances and to develop that future legacy. By helping people focus on what is most important to them – their family, their community, financial security and more – she develops distinctive estate planning options for clients as part of an integrated team of wealth planning specialists that supports those clients through their entire life journey.

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Karen Gowdy

Senior Estate and Insurance Advisor

Karen has more than 35 years of experience in the Financial Services & Insurance Industry. Karen provides comprehensive advice for personal and corporate estate and insurance. Areas of expertise include estate creation and preservation techniques and corporate financial security planning, all with an emphasis on taxes and liquidity.

Her work is especially key toward delivering exceptional client experiences to all advisors and clients across Eastern Ontario.

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Louis-Philippe de Sève-Bergeron, LL.B, TEP

Director, Tax Planning

As a tax specialist, Louis-Philippe provides information and guidance to individuals and businesses relevant to today’s complex tax environment. In order to coordinate the best client solutions, Louis-Philippe often works directly with our clients’ lawyers and accountants. The goal is to always ensure that a well-rounded team of professionals is working to improve our clients’ situation.

Louis-Philippe is also fluent in both English and French. Louis-Philippe, holds both a Master of Taxation and the Trust and Estate Practitioner (TEP) designation, has worked extensively on corporate reorganizations and restructuring, estate planning, and establishment of trusts. He has consulted on intergenerational transfers, estate planning and transfers to key employees. With over 12 years of experience in an accounting environment, 6 being at BMO, he has developed the ability to provide clear and concise advice to a variety of clients during their most stressful life events.