Our Specialists

Stéphane has over 15 years of experience in the investment industry, focusing primarily on Canadian and U.S. equities. Stéphane chairs the Private Client Investment Strategy Committee, which establishes the overall asset allocations for client portfolios. He also researches and publishes reports on longer-term investment themes and their expected impact on the markets. As the Head of Private Client Research, Stéphane is also responsible for the overall direction and oversight of the team's publications. Stéphane is a CFA charter holder and holds an MBA from McGill University.

Before joining the BMO team, Stéphane was Director and U.S. Research Product Manager in Credit Suisse’s Equity Research department in New York. As part of that role, he was responsible for approving and coordinating new stock and sector initiations as well as thematic research reports. He also managed the Credit Suisse Focus List and outperformed the S&P 500 seven consecutive years. Prior to joining Credit Suisse in 2004, he spent six years working with a major Canadian bank in Toronto.

Luigi brings over 10 years of experience in the investment industry as an Equity Research Associate at BMO Capital Markets, focusing on a variety of Canadian sectors and stocks. Part of that time was also spent as an Investment Banking Associate covering the technology, media and telecommunication sectors. Prior to joining BMO Capital Markets in 2003, Luigi spent four years developing innovative semiconductor solutions at Cogency Semiconductor and Gennum Corporation.

In his current role as an Equity Specialist, Luigi provides investment advice and commentary, working with Investment Advisors to develop customized portfolios for retail clients. Luigi is a CFA charterholder and holds an MBA and MASc from the University of Toronto.

George has over 15 years of experience in the investment industry and is a registered Portfolio Manager. He is responsible for generating actionable Canadian and global stock ideas; working with Advisors to help customize client portfolios and participating in the management of the Guided Portfolios.

He was most recently a Research Analyst with a Canadian small/mid cap broker where he was responsible for coverage of Industrialsand special situations.

Prior to that, George was a Portfolio Manager with a mid-size Canadian asset manager where he was responsible for coverage of North Americ​an securities in balanced and dividend mandates. George is a CFA Charterholder and a graduate of York University.

Russ Visch is PAT’s Technical Analyst, providing coverage on equity, commodity, fixed income, and currency markets. He has been a member of the Portfolio Advisory Team since he joined BMO Nesbitt Burns in 1996. Russ graduated from Carleton University with a degree in Economics, and completed the Market Technicians Association’s Chartered Market Technician program in 2000.

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.

Steffan is an accomplished financial services professional and CFA charterholder with international industry experience. As a successful strategic and numerate thinker, Steffan have a proven track record of delivering analytical solutions that are client-focused. Steffan builds strong relationships that allows him  to identify and evaluate actionable ideas that exceed clients' goals and expectations.

Naveed has more than 14 years of investment industry experience and joined the BMO Nesbitt Burns team in 2010 as an analyst on the Investment Fund Strategy team. In his role of as Head of Managed Asset Strategy and Analytics, Naveed leads a team of investment professionals focused on manager research across Nesbitt’s various platforms including Separately Managed Accounts, mutual funds, ETFs, alternatives and structured products.

Rebecca is passionate about helping people become more knowledgeable and confident about their finances. She enjoys providing clients with clarity and direction on their financial road forward, by integrating the knowledge of our in-house technical specialists into a simple and straightforward plan. Clients benefit from a tailored wealth plan, often resulting in reduced stress and anxiety knowing that a team of professionals is helping them meet their financial goals. 

Rebecca joined BMO Wealth Management in November 2017. Prior to that she spent 7 years working in public accounting, encompassing the areas of personal and corporate taxation, corporate restructuring, financial mediation and divorce finances, tax and wealth planning. Additionally she has spent time in the manufacturing and service sectors in finance roles, and started her career with a ‘big 4’ accounting firm.

Dante advises high net worth business owners and families on specialized Tax & Estate solutions aimed at maximizing their wealth, as part of an integrated wealth planning team. Drawing on a decade of tax accounting experience, his clients benefit from a depth of informed insight and the ability to distill complex concepts into actionable strategies. Specializing in Canadian corporations and entrepreneurs, Dante offers guidance on tax structuring, estate planning, exit strategies and tax-efficient wealth transfer, creating tailored solutions for a diverse group of clients.

Dante joined BMO Wealth Management in 2015 from global professional services firm Deloitte LLP, where he worked for 10 years in progressively senior roles, managing and executing detailed reviews of complex corporate, personal, partnership and trust tax compliance and planning engagements.

John Michael is an expert in his field and a valuable member of the team. He has been working with high net worth clients with a targeted insurance focus for over 20 years. He specializes in structuring insurance as a risk management tool and as a unique asset class for our clients. He helps our clients  by maximizing  their wealth, minimizing tax, enhancing  philanthropic goals, and providing peace of mind. Collaborating with our team, other specialists within  the BMO wealth group, and our clients own trusted tax and legal advisors, John Michael structures tax intelligent insurance strategies for our clients using personal or corporate investment dollars. John Michael ensures our clients clearly understand the uniqueness of insurance as an asset class and how insurance planning complements and enhances their wealth management plans. Outside of the office he enjoys time with his family at the cottage, on the slopes and at countless hockey rinks. 

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.

As Senior Private Banker, Catalina empowers high net worth families to make financial decisions with confidence.

Catalina joined BMO in 2009 as an Investment Specialist and quickly moved into a Financial Planner role. Catalina have worked with clients from all walks of life; professionals, entrepreneurs, and everyday hard-working families that were disciplined with their money in order to create wealth. 

Catalina actively engage my partners and team of specialists in wealth planning, including areas of investment management, banking, tax planning, estate and trust services, philanthropy etc. This team approach allows Catalina to create plans that keep you on the right path in all areas of your financial needs.

David brings over 20 years of experience as a Trust and Estate Planner. He is also a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® and a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners.

David has worked extensively with our clients in the area of Estate, Will and Trust Planning, and is committed to providing his expertise by ensuring our clients have a capable executor that can fulfill their duties. When considering who to appoint as executor, he suggests looking for the following qualities: Knowledge, Accessibility, Fairness, Integrity, and Emotional stability.

If you have been appointed as executor or trustee and find the responsibility too onerous or time consuming, we can simplify your life by helping you fulfill your duties, and act as your Agent.

If you are considering a corporate executor, you can choose to appoint BMO Trust Company to help you with estate planning and administration.

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.