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Linas Pilypaitis, CIM®, PFP®

Senior Portfolio Manager and Senior Wealth Advisor

Linas has been working with high net worth clients at BMO Nesbitt Burns for over 20 years.  His prior experience includes 21 years serving as a Naval Officer (Navigation and Operations) in the Royal Canadian Navy.  During his naval career he received his Bachelor degree in Maritime Studies.

For many years, Linas coached basketball, ultimately coaching for Basketball Ontario at the Provincial Level.  His teams achieved two National Championships under Linas' leadership.

Linas supports his community as the Treasurer of the Royal Canadian Naval Benevolent Fund.  He is also a member of the Ottawa Bytown Rotary Club and the Naval Association of Canada.

Married, with four children and three grandchildren, Linas enjoys hiking, golfing, skiing and fishing.

Education:

  • Chartered Investment Manager, CIM, Canadian Securities Institute
  • Professional Financial Planning Course (Honours), Canadian Securities Institute
  • Canadian Insurance Course, Canadian Securities Institute
  • Conduct and Practices Handbook (Honours), Canadian Securities Institute
  • Canadian Securities Course (Honours), Canadian Securities Institute
  • Bachelor of Maritime Studies, Memorial University, St. John's Newfoundland

Derek Ralph, CFP®, CIM®

Senior Investment Associate and Financial Planner

Prior to immigrating to Canada from the United States in the summer of 2014, Derek spent seventeen years in various aspects of the financial services industry, from working with individual clients, to compliance and proprietary trading. Derek's investment acumen and financial planning qualifications ensure clients' portfolios and plans stay on track for long term success.  

Married with one child, Derek is active in his community through volunteering at his child's school and coaching soccer.

Education:

  • Chartered Investment Manager, Canadian Securities Institute
  • Certified Financial Planner, Financial Planning Canada
  • Branch Managers Course, Canadian Securities Institute
  • Conduct and Practices Handbook, Canadian Securities Institute
  • New Entrants Course, Canadian Securities Institute
  • Conduct and Practices Handbook, Canadian Securities Institute
  • General Securities Representative Examination (Series 7), FINRA
  • Bachelor of Arts, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, United States of America

Patrick Kelley

Senior Client Service Associate

Patrick has 24 years of financial industry experience. He is a proven analyst and manger who has also served as a branch compliance supervisor. Patrick has many years of client service interaction and delivers an exceptional client experience with timely and relevant updates.  

Patrick is married, with three children. He enjoys martial arts in his spare time.

Education:

  • Branch Manager Course, Canadian Securities Institute
  • Options Supervisor, Canadian Securities Institute
  • Derivatives, Futures and Options, Canadian Securities Institute
  • Bachelor of Arts, History, Carleton University.

Our Partners

Sarah Burke

Sarah Burke, CFP®, CIM®

Wealth Planning Consultant

Sarah is a Wealth Planning Consultant with BMO Private Wealth, specialized in planning for high-net-worth families, professionals, and business owners. With over 15 years of experience spanning wealth management, public accounting, and fintech, she brings a combination of technical expertise and practical insight to complex wealth planning matters.

She works closely with specialists in tax, estate law, philanthropy, insurance, and business succession to develop integrated strategies that address the full spectrum of wealth preservation, intergenerational planning, and legacy objectives.

A Finance graduate of McGill University and a Certified Financial Planner, Sarah is committed to continuing education and is currently pursuing a Master of Taxation to further strengthen her expertise in complex tax and wealth planning matters. She is fully bilingual and advises clients in both official languages.

Sarah is particularly passionate about helping prepare the next generation for wealth and responsibility, believing financial literacy is key to preserving family wealth across generations. She takes the time to truly listen and understand each client’s concerns, goals, and family dynamics, knowing that the best planning starts with understanding what matters most to the people behind the wealth.

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Korin Flindall, MTI, TEP, PFP

Director, Wealth Services - Trust at BMO Trust Company

Korin is the Director of Wealth Services with BMO Trust Company and has 25 years of experience in the trust industry. She oversees the full estate and trust administration process and is responsible for servicing our clients and their beneficiaries.

Her extensive experience has allowed her to build strong relationships with strategic partners (i.e. real estate agents, art collectors, auctioneers, etc.) which is imperative to ensure superior client service and to properly administer estates. She holds the TEP designation (STEP Canada), M.T.I. designation (Member of Trust Institute) and PFP designation (Professional Financial Planner).

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Carol Willes

Director, Estate Planning

Carol brings over 30 years of legal experience with 17 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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Karen Gowdy

Senior Estate and Insurance Advisor

Karen has more than 35 years of experience in the Financial Services & Insurance Industry. Karen provides comprehensive advice for personal and corporate estate and insurance. Areas of expertise include estate creation and preservation techniques and corporate financial security planning, all with an emphasis on taxes and liquidity.

Her work is especially key toward delivering exceptional client experiences to all advisors and clients across Eastern Ontario.

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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.