Our Partners

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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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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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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.

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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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Lydia Potocnik, LL.B, TEP

Vice President, Philanthropic Advisory Services

Lydia assists affluent clients in building a philanthropic legacy by taking a strategic approach. She guides families through the unique opportunities and strategies that exist to create a legacy that is meaningful and lasting. Her estate planning and trust administration background allow her to also ensure that clients’ philanthropic goals are part of their larger wealth and estate plan. Having worked with both clients and beneficiaries of estates, Lydia’s approach to planning takes into consideration unique family dynamics and conflict resolution.

Lydia joined BMO Wealth Planning in 2011 as a Will & Estate Planning Consultant working with clients on all aspects of their estate and trust planning. She then assumed a leadership role with BMO Trust Company where she was responsible for overseeing all aspects of the estate and trust administration business in Ontario. Prior to joining BMO, Lydia led a very successful philanthropy program at a major hospital foundation where she advised donors on how to build a lasting philanthropic legacy. She has contributed to numerous publications and media appearances related to her work.

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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.