Sarah Burke, CFP®, CIM®
Wealth Planning Consultant
As a Wealth Planning Consultant, Sarah specializes in developing financial plans tailored to meet the unique needs of Canada’s High-net-worth Individuals, Corporations, Trusts, Estates, Charitable Foundations, and First Nations.
Leveraging over 14 years of experience in the Wealth Management, Accounting & Fintech industries, Sarah brings extensive knowledge to her current role where she collaborates with a specialized team of Professionals in the areas of Taxation, Estate Law, Philanthropy and Business Succession, helping our clients improve their financial outcomes through the delivery of tailored strategies and solutions meant to enhance the structure, growth, and transfer of their Patrimony.
Before joining BMO, Sarah worked as a Private Banker and Financial Planner, helping her clients realize their vision for a lasting family legacy and broader community impact, by providing a clear roadmap that would guide every step of their financial journey. Her tenure at a Public Accounting firm as a Lead Wealth Planner saw her working alongside seasoned Tax Advisors and Accounting Partners to deliver a comprehensive service model that integrated Portfolio Management with Tax and Estate Planning.
Passionate about promoting Financial Literacy and educating the next generation, Sarah will often work with our clients’ children to improve their financial acumen and readiness to take over their family’s wealth. She is a Finance Graduate from McGill University and holds the Certified Financial Planner® and Chartered Investment Manager® designations.
Fluent in English, French, and Arabic, she offers her expert advice in all three languages.
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.
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.
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.
Korin Flindall, CFP, TEP, MTI, PFP
Director, Wealth Services, 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.
With thirty years of experience in the financial services industry, 25 years dedicated to the Estate and Trust, Korin understands the broad complex tax, legal that wealthy families face. By taking the time to understand each 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, trust planning and family governance.
Adam E. Carter, CPA, CA, CBV, FEA
Vice President, Business Advisory & Transition Planning
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.