Meet our Wealth Planning Team

Prior to joining BMO Private Wealth in 2018, Adam worked for KPMG Corporate Finance Group, advising private company owners across multiple industries, with business enterprise values ranging from $3 million to +$100 million, on divestitures, acquisitions, due diligence, projections/financial modeling, and business valuations for multiple purposes. Other areas of experience include corporate restructuring and insolvency, financing, financial modeling & projections and corporate audits. Adam’s goal is to develop rapport with clients through open communication, trust and exceptional service. Leaning on his diverse background and experience, Adam provides guidance to private business owners and families throughout Ontario in the areas of business succession, transition, growth through acquisitions, sell-side M&A, and valuations for the purposes of wealth planning and exit planning.

Leigh is a Director of Tax Planning at BMO Private Wealth. With over twenty years of experience, Leigh understands the broad issues that wealthy families face. By taking the time to understand client’s specific goals and objectives, she brings her 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, and family governance.
Leigh can skillfully take complex tax and estate issues, and speak to clients about these in a way that they can easily understand.  In addition to her accounting background, she has extensive experience in the investment industry, including working at a multi-family office where she led a diverse team. For four years, Leigh co-authored the book “Tax Tips for Canadians for Dummies”.
When not at work, Leigh and husband, Dave manage a busy house with two teenagers. She enjoys running and hiking the many trails Ancaster offers.

Melissa is a dedicated Trust Officer at BMO Trust Company, where she has been instrumental
in managing and administering trust accounts. She has acted as an estate trustee, attorney
for property, guardian of property, and agent for executor or attorney over the span of her
career. In every case she is dedicated to providing a keen attention to detail, professionalism
and an informed client experience. With 20 years of working in Wills, Trusts and Estates
and Estate Planning our clients appreciate her extensive knowledge in all areas of trust
administration and management.
Melissa is committed to delivering exceptional client services and prides herself on building
lasting relationships based on trust and integrity. She is an active member of the Waterloo
Wellington Estate Planning Council and frequently attends workshops to build and strengthen
her knowledge of Estate management and administration.
During her spare time, Melissa enjoys volunteering in her community with the National
Service Dogs and spending time with her family as avid golfers and hockey fans.

Laura works very closely with clients to ensure they are well supported through times of transition. She administers a diverse portfolio of Estate, Trust, and Power of Attorney accounts.
Laura is a seasoned professional with over 21 years in the financial services industry. She has spent her career in various roles at Bank of Montreal where she developed extensive expertise in banking, finance, and client relations. Over the past four years, Laura transitioned into the Estate and Trust department where she continues to leverage her financial acumen and client relationship skills. She has a deep understanding of the complexities involved in preserving and transferring wealth. Her skill set includes managing Estate and Trusts, fostering strong client relationships, and ensuring the seamless execution of fiduciary responsibilities
In her personal life, Laura enjoys spending time with her family, travelling, and running. Laura also actively volunteers in the community and is the secretary for her local school parent council.

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.

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.