John Neil

Senior Wealth Advisor

John has worked in Wealth Management for over 28 years bringing along his experience of Private Banking.
John provides investors with tailored and strategic Wealth Management advice.  His designation of Personal Financial Planning (PFP) and his Insurance License with BMO Estate Insurance Advisory Services help determine customized portfolios and wealth solutions for our clients.
Clients describe John’s style as experienced and knowledgeable.
When John isn’t enjoying the outdoors hunting and fishing, you will find him travelling the world with his wife and spending time with his grandchildren.

Jessica Durka, CIM

Investment Advisor

With more than 20 years of experience helping people achieve financial confidence and understanding, Jessica Durka co-leads Neil & Durka Wealth Advisory Group in the heart of Norfolk County. Born and raised on a farm in Waterford, Jessica helps farmers and families to navigate unfamiliar financial considerations and retire supported by a steady stream of tax-efficient income and her team’s trademark wraparound wealth care.

Jessica will ask the right questions and listen carefully to your worries, priorities and goals, help map out your path and create strategies and solutions that put you at ease about your future. Many of her clients are renting out their land, nearing retirement and have children who don’t want to farm. She helps them decide how to sell, maximize capital gains exemptions, structure their farms advantageously, and build income-generating portfolios to replace rental income. Jessica collaborates with a network of inhouse partners to set up clients’ estates to benefit valued loved ones instead of the CRA, provide corporate executorship, and streamline the transition after death to keep all family members around the dinner table. She can also navigate trust strategies to protect families, especially those with special needs.

Jessica joined BMO Financial Group in 2005, graduated from Sir Sandford Fleming College in Business Financial Planning and holds the Chartered Investment Manager (CIM®) designation, a Life Insurance licence with BMO Estate Insurance Advisory Services, and certificates in Portfolio Management Techniques and Advanced Investment Advice from the Canadian Securities Institute.

A long-time cancer survivor, Jessica has contributed significantly to health services in the region. She is Vice Chair of the Board for Hamilton Health Science Foundation, serves on the Finance and Governance Committees, and is past Chair of the Fundraising and Gift Planning Service Committees. Jessica founded South Coast Community Caring for Cancer, which has delivered 1,300+ men’s and women’s cancer care bags as well as mastectomy pillows to bring patients comfort and support. Having raised $250,000 selling pumpkins in Waterford on the roadside for Hamilton Health Sciences’ Juravinski Cancer Centre, she is known locally as “The Pumpkin Lady.” She was proudly named Citizen of the Year at the Simcoe and District Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Business Achievement Awards 2022.

Jessica resides on a 10-acre riverside property near Port Dover. Her personal passions include gardening, raising heirloom chickens, cycling, walking, and soaking up the natural beauty of Norfolk County with her husband.

Sarah Reinbrecht

Client Service Assistant

With over 17 years of experience in the banking industry, Sarah has had the privilege of serving as a Customer Service Representative at BMO Financial Group's Simcoe branch.  However, driven by her desire to expand her knowledge and skills decided to join Nesbitt Burns in 2023 and embark on a new professional journey.

During her time at BMO, she was honoured to receive the prestigious "Best of the Best" recognition for consistently delivering exceptional client service for five consecutive years.

Outside of her career, she has a passion for reading, driving her ATV and kayaking.

Meet Our Partners

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Stuart Clark, M.Tax, TEP

Estate & Insurance Advisor

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.

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Leigh Vyn, CPA, CA, CFP, FEA

Director, Tax 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.

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Melissa Saunders

Trust Officer

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.