Team of Specialists

Chris advises high net worth individuals and families on specialized Estate & Trust solutions as part of an integrated wealth planning team.

Chris draws on his prior experience as an estates lawyer in private practice to assist BMO clients with complex estate and trust planning solutions in a variety of contexts. He provides support and direction on matters related to estate, gift and tax planning, succession planning for business owners, charitable giving and planning for family members with special needs.

Prior to joining BMO Wealth Management, Chris operated his own law firm, worked as in-house counsel with an insurance company, and worked in the estates and real estate groups in one of the largest and oldest law firms in Brampton, Ontario. Chris has been actively involved in the community as a member of numerous boards and committees, and has chaired and presented at several programs for the Ontario Bar Association.

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.

Maria has been in the Trust Industry for 20 years, and has worked with individuals and families in providing Estate, Trust, Incapacity, and Agency solutions.

As Director and Senior Trust Officer Maria is responsible for managing a complex book of accounts, and services clients throughout the GTA North region. Maria works effectively with executors and beneficiaries, and provides them with peace of mind, knowing there is stability and continuity in the relationship. She is dedicated to her clients and provides a personalized service tailored to their specific needs.

Maria brings to each client the necessary skill set to provide both technical expertise and sensitivity to the complexities of each unique client scenario.
Maria is a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP).

John is an experienced business advisor and brings a broad base of technical and business planning experience to BMO Wealth Management. John offers individuals and business owners expertise in business succession, transition, sale, M&A, insurance and valuations for the purposes of wealth planning and transfer.

John has over 15 years of experience primarily in the Big 4 professional services firms, as well as experience in a family owned private business. Within professional practice, John has lead a significant number of complex business valuations and business advisory engagements for private and public companies involved in a variety of industries in connection with M&A, corporate reorganizations & income tax planning, shareholder disputes, corporate finance activities, as well as succession, tax & estate planning for private business owners.

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 wealth management professionals 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.

Stuart is a specialist at insurance-based wealth and estate planning strategies with a focus to service the high net worth and ultra-high net worth clientele of BMO Private Banking and BMO Nesbitt Burns. His objective is to help families and businesses transfer wealth in an efficient and tax advantaged manner. As a member of the BMO Wealth Management team, he integrates wealth planning strategies that minimize the impact of taxation to you now and to your estate in the future.

Prior to joining BMO Estate Insurance Advisory Services, Stuart worked with BMO Private Banking as a Specialized Planner – Tax to integrate comprehensive tax and wealth plans to enrich the financial success of BMO Private Banking clientele. He also acted as a consultant and instructor to financial advisors with one of Canada’s largest life insurance companies, and provided specialized taxation service with two of Canada’s large accounting firms and the Canada Revenue Agency.

With almost 25 years of experience, Noel understands the broad issues that wealthy families face. By taking the time to understand each client’s specific goals and objectives, he brings his extensive subject matter expertise to help guide families through the unique opportunities and challenges that they may be facing in the areas of tax and estate planning, corporate structuring, business succession planning, trust planning and family governance.

Noel can skillfully take complex tax and estate planning issues and considerations, and speak to clients in a way that they can easily understand these issues.

Noel joined BMO Wealth Management in 2017. In addition to his tax/accounting background of almost 18 years at Deloitte & Touche  LLP, he has extensive experience in the investment industry as well, including working at a large fund management company. Most recently, Noel worked as a Tax Planning & Consulting Specialist where he focused on tax planning and wealth transfer strategies for high net worth clients and business owners.

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.

As a Private Banker at BMO Private Wealth, I advise professionals, business owners and executives on navigating intricate financial situations, and to structure complex transactions. I value guiding my clients to achieve their financial objectives, and to allow them to dedicate more time to the activities they value most.

I take time to listen and understand your circumstances, financial needs and goals – for today and the future. Then, I bring in a customized team of BMO Private Wealth professionals to offer unparalleled advice, service and convenience. From day-to-day to the most specialized needs, needs, we take a holistic approach to design a customized, integrated wealth plan. I regularly revisit this plan so it adapts as you and your family transition throughout life.

By delivering exceptional personalized service, I develop relationships that are trusting, comfortable and long-lasting.