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Phil Comtois

Estate and Insurance Advisor, Senior Vice President

With over 20 years in the estate planning and insurance industry, Phil has been with BMO Estate Insurance Advisory Services since 1998. Phil provides comprehensive advice for personal estate, corporate estate, insurance and retirement needs. Areas of expertise include estate creation and preservation techniques and corporate financial security planning, all with an emphasis on elimination of taxes. By collaborating with Investment Advisors, Phil facilitates the planning process and coordinates clients' other Advisors, including lawyers and accountants.

In addition to his advisory role, Phil plays a key role on the division’s management team as an ambassador for Estate and Insurance Advisors across Canada. In this position, Phil leverages his experience as a top performing advisor to create opportunities and tools that will help Estate and Insurance Advisors in becoming successful advisors and leaders in their field.

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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.

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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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Deborah Desforges, CFP

Director, Wealth Planning

Deborah has over 30 years’ experience in the Canadian Financial Services industry. In 2000, Deborah obtained the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designation. She joined the Private Bank in 2013 as a Private Wealth Advisor after being a Financial Advisor for many years at another Financial Institution.

Deborah’s many years of experience dealing in investments, credit solutions and insurance solutions help her create detailed and comprehensive Wealth Plans for BMO Private Banking clients.