Meet our team

Kirk advises ultra‑high net worth clients, families and business owners on comprehensive wealth planning, including family wealth preservation, business succession, tax, trust & estate, philanthropic and cross‑border planning. Drawing on over 35 years extensive experience, Kirk helps clients articulate objectives for their wealth. He focuses on discovering to create value by helping identify issues and narrow scope on customized planning solutions. Kirk has an MBA from Dalhousie University, is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CMA), Certified Financial Planner (CFP), Trust & Estate Practitioner (TEP) and Family Enterprise Advisor (FEA). Kirk is married with two adult children. With deep roots in Newfoundland and having grown‑up and worked in St. John’s, he is frequently home to meet clients and visit family and friends.

Michael advises high net worth individuals, families, professionals and business owners on comprehensive wealth planning including Retirement, Tax, Trust & Estate, Succession and Philanthropic planning and solutions. Drawing on extensive experience, he helps clients understand and articulate objectives for their wealth and family. A skilled listener, Michael focuses on discovery to identify issues and narrow the scope of planning solutions.

Phil assists high net worth individuals and families in structuring their personal and corporate affairs in a tax-efficient manner. Leveraging more than a decade of experience in the tax and assurance advisory space for private companies and their owners, Phil knows that his clients care about the “big picture” and how taxation factors into that from a practical perspective. His areas of expertise include owner-manager compensation, corporate reorganizations & divestitures, business succession, estate planning, charitable giving, and other related tax planning matters.  

Jamie's objective is to review, analyze and provide insurance-based tax and estate planning strategies. Using a disciplined and professional approach, Jamie implements complementary concepts to a traditional investment portfolio. Specializing in providing solutions tailored for affluent investors, he offers customized strategies for individuals, as well as privately owned Canadian corporations and shareholders.

With more than 10 years experience working in the trust and estate industry across multiple jurisdictions, Rhys is responsible for managing a portfolio of estates, trusts and powers of attorney. He provides clients and beneficiaries with professional administration services, where the application of technical knowledge and discretionary decision making are key components.

Sangzi Zhou is the Director, Estate Planning at BMO Private Wealth, based in Vancouver. She supports private wealth clients across British Columbia markets and the Edmonton market with their estate planning needs, collaborating closely with investment advisors, lawyers, and accountants to structure tailored estate plans.

Before stepping into her current role, Sangzi worked as a Senior Trust Officer with BMO Trust Company, where she oversaw complex estate and trust matters. Prior to joining BMO, she practiced at a full service law firm in Vancouver, focusing on trust and estate planning, administration, and real estate matters. She is also a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP).

Sangzi is fluent in Cantonese and Mandarin and speaks conversational French. Outside the office, she enjoys sharpening her photography skills, travelling to new destinations, and discovering new restaurants.

Zaheer was born and raised in Mumbai, India and his experiences includes working in India, United Arab Emirates, U.S.A and Canada. As a private banker, he is focused on providing customized financial solutions that are tailored for unique banking and borrowing needs of high net worth families. Through the private banking platform, Zaheer can help his clients choose lines of credit, mortgages and offer competitive deposit and investment products and services that provide his clients with easy access to the funds they need to achieve their goals.

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JJ is an experienced banker who is committed to providing his clients with the best service and advice in the industry. JJ draws on more than a decade of progressive experience in commercial and private banking which allows him to understand the deeply intertwined nature of his clients’ personal and business dealings.

JJ has two young sons and a wife who share many common interests. They enjoy skiing, camping, and golf as a family. JJ enjoys personal fitness and is also part of a competitive BBQ team.

He also believes that clients want real-time, proactive expert advice which will help them understand their options as well as how to address upcoming challenges and opportunities. His deep network allows him to facilitate the right connections at the right time which gives his clients unmatched access to BMO’s resources.

He is a Certified Public Accountant (CMA) since 2005. He also holds a Masters of Business Administration from the Richard Ivey School of Business and an undergraduate degree in finance and accounting.

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As a Senior Private Banker with BMO Private Wealth, I create and implement custom banking and lending solutions for Ultra High Net-Worth individuals, entrepreneurs and families, ensuring dedicated, results-oriented service to help propel them and their business forward. 
Acting as a trusted partner, my sole focus is to meet the unique needs of every client through a consultative and responsive approach, inherently forming deep and meaningful long-term relationships and delivering exceptional personalized service. Drawing on a significant depth of industry expertise and creative insight, I take the time to simplify and address the inherent challenges of wealth – from the unified management of my clients personal, trust, business and holding company accounts, to offshore income and highly complex credit structuring.
Integrating the disciplines of taxation, financial and estate planning, and business advisory through our in-house network of technical specialists, I’m able to seamlessly execute on delivering timely and efficient access to capital, ensuring ongoing alignment with my client’s objectives.

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Catharine Sloan has been helping business owners, professionals and executives achieve their short and long-term financial goals for the last 14 years. Her approach involves working closely with clients to develop a comprehensive understanding of their needs in order to craft customized advice on preserving and growing their wealth. Catharine leverages her experience in banking to provide clients with unique solutions to their challenges and goals, tapping her network of experts across all BMO service lines to secure results. Her commitment to clients to taking the time to develop deep relationships her clients has earned her accolades.

Prior to joining Private Banking, Catharine spent over a decade in commercial banking, assisting businesses in the corporate finance space with their lending, investment and cash management needs. She understands the interconnection between business and personal wealth.

Catharine is an alumna of Queen’s University. Prior to her career in banking, she was a civilian for the Canadian Forces in Afghanistan, and NATO in Belgium. She volunteers with the Association of Women in Finance.

Ken was born and raised in Vancouver, BC and his built his career and network in the communities where he lives, works and raises his family. By remaining fiercely local, Ken has forged long lasting relationships with a diverse group of Business Partners both within BMO and externally. Before joining BMO Private Banking, Ken was fully involved in advising successful business owners along with their Accountants and Lawyers for credit structures that was in line with their business expansion, tax and succession planning.

Ken joined BMO in 2006 through the Personal Banking Training program and graduated from the Branch Manager Program at BMO. He managed a Retail Branch of BMO and understands the challenges of running a highly complex operation. In 2010, Ken Joined BMO Commercial Banking and most recently held the position of Director of Commercial Banking for the Upper Mid Market segment. He participated in all aspects of origination, negotiations, credit underwriting & overall relationship management of highly valued Commercial clients of the Bank. Ken remains active in the community, acting as Team Ambassador of the Bank’s Employee Giving Campaign and BC Children’s Hospital. Also outside the Bank, Ken is an active donor to BCSPCA and highly involved in his Daughter’s School fundraising committees.

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