Our Partners

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John Michael Durrant

Senior Estate & Insurance Advisor

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. 

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Ivanka Horvat

Private Banker

Ivanka has been with BMO Private Banking since January 2017. Through Ivanka, clients can access an array of customized, integrated banking solutions for individuals, executives, holding companies, practices and professional corporations. She is highly committed to developing relationships built on trust. From everyday banking needs to complex lending requirements, Ivanka is always available to provide solutions based on clients particular needs.

Ivanka brings 30 years of experience with BMO Bank of Montreal. She has worked extensively by managing relationships with retail, commercial & private clients in Canada and additional cross border banking arrangements in the United States.

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James P. Murphy, B.Comm., MBA, CFP, CIM, CIWM, FCSI, TEP

Senior Wealth Planning Consultant

Jim brings together the knowledge and experience of our in-house tax and estate professionals. Jim 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.

Jim has over 20 years of professional experience in the wealth management industry as a financial planner, a director of financial planning at a major wealth management firm and a part-time professor teaching financial planning courses. He has taught at both Seneca College and The Canadian Securities Institute. Jim has given numerous seminars on tax and estate.

Using a holistic approach, Jim collaborates with his colleagues in BMO Wealth Management 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. Jim’s goal, as part of the Enterprise Wealth Planning team, is to empower clients with comprehensive and customized solutions, resolving complex situations through coordinated and proactive wealth plans.

John Waters

John Waters, CPA, CA, CFP, TEP

Vice President, Head of Tax & Estate Planning

John’s areas of expertise include personal tax and corporate tax for private corporations as well as financial and estate planning for high net worth individuals, executives and entrepreneurs.

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 experience in a wide range of planning scenarios involving the taxation of individuals, corporations, trusts and partnerships. John is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA), Chartered Accountant (CA), CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® and member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (TEP). He holds a Bachelor of Commerce (B.Comm.) from Queen’s University.

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Linda Leung, CPA, TEP

Director, U.S. Tax Planning

Linda advises high net worth business owners and professionals on how to efficiently structure their U.S. and Canadian assets, providing specialized tax solutions as part of an integrated wealth planning team. Drawing on 25 years of leadership within the cross-border field, Linda’s clients benefit from in-depth technical expertise, facilitating high-level planning discussions, while addressing a wide range of situations across U.S. income and estate tax, and Canadian income tax considerations.

Linda joined BMO Wealth Management in 2010, following 10 years of leading a global tax team at a large consulting firm, where she specialized in individual tax considerations with regards to employees relocating permanently or temporarily from/to U.S. and Canada. Previously, she was a Tax Manager in the Small Business and International Assignment Services groups at PricewaterhouseCoopers, a large international accounting firm.