Our Partners

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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.

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Katelyn Culliton, CPA, CA, CFP

Director, Wealth Planning

Katelyn works with high net worth families to deliver proactive, customized wealth planning solutions. She draws on her extensive tax planning experience and analytical skills to help clients define their goals, set priorities and build a roadmap to implement their long-term plans. Katelyn provides ongoing education to clients on tax, retirement and estate planning issues, to help them make informed financial decisions and meet their goals.
 
Katelyn has over 10 years of tax and financial planning experience. Prior to joining BMO in 2017, she was a tax manager at a national accounting firm, where she advised business owners, farmers and other professionals on complex tax, corporate restructuring, succession and estate planning matters. Katelyn is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA), a Certified Financial Planner professional and has completed the CPA Canada In-Depth Tax Course. She graduated from the University of Waterloo with a Bachelor of Mathematics (BMath) in chartered accountancy and finance and a Master of Accounting (MAcc).

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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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Karen Sparks, MBA, CFP, TEP

Senior Wealth Management Consultant

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 understands their unique objectives for accumulated wealth. A skilled listener, she acts as a value-add resource for Investment

Advisors and their clients, ultimately providing a blueprint from which to execute a customized – and optimized – wealth plan.

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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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Chris Markou, LL.B, BA (Hons)

Director, Estate Planning

Chris advises high net worth individuals and families on specialized Estate & Trust solutions as part of an integrated wealth planning team.

Chris draws on his prior experience as an estates lawyer in private practice to assist BMO clients with complex estate and trust planning solutions in a variety of contexts. He provides support and direction on matters related to estate, gift and tax planning, succession planning for business owners, charitable giving and planning for family members with special needs.

Prior to joining BMO Wealth Management, Chris operated his own law firm, worked as in-house counsel with an insurance company, and worked in the estates and real estate groups in one of the largest and oldest law firms in Brampton, Ontario. Chris has been actively involved in the community as a member of numerous boards and committees, and has chaired and presented at several programs for the Ontario Bar Association.

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Arthur Diochon

Head, Alternatives Research, Canada

Arthur has over a decade of experience in the investment industry across all asset classes. As BMO’s Head of Alternative research, he is responsible for providing insight, support and research on the alternative asset class. These responsibilities include alternative portfolio construction for UHNW clients, maintenance of the recommended list and product shelf.

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Husayn Sidi

Director, BMO Family Office

Husayn is a Director on the BMO Family Office Team where he is the primary contact for wealth professionals outside of the Quebec Market. He is responsible for coordinating the delivery of a specialized suite of services across investments, philanthropy, family governance, planning, and other areas of the business.

Prior to joining the Family Office Team, Husayn was a Partner in a family manufacturing business in charge of leading the growth of the US Business. Prior to this, Husayn spent 10 years in BMO’s Commercial business in various roles, including as Director, Diversified Industries – Corporate Finance Division, where he was responsible for the portfolio management of large public and private companies, and the credit underwriting of complex transactions.

Husayn holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from McGill University and was awarded the Dean’s Honour List and is a McGill University Scholarship Recipient. Husayn resides in Toronto.

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Alexander Jansen, CFA

Investment Strategist, BMO Family Office

Alexander is the Investment Strategist for the BMO family Office. He is responsible for Ultra High Net Worth client asset allocation, portfolio construction, with an emphasis on alternative investments and enhanced portfolio reporting.

Prior to BMO, Alexander was at one of the most prestigious financial firms for 11 years, working across trading, portfolio management and alternative investments. He led a number of fundraisings for Private Equity at the firm as well as other alternative managers. He also worked with clients developing portfolios using cross asset solutions.

Alexander is a Chartered Financial Analyst and completed his Bachelors of Commerce at the University of Toronto. He resides in Toronto with his wife and two children.

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Jillian Berry, JD

Senior Trust Officer and Director

Jillian is a member of the BMO Trust team and provides ongoing support and guidance to help clients manage and transition their wealth. Prior to joining BMO Trust, Jillian practiced as a lawyer specializing in estate planning and administration and, as a result, is able to draw on her experience and knowledge to assist clients in matters of asset management through BMO’s Encircle/Continuity program and Power of Attorney appointments as well as manage the day to day administration of large Estates and Trusts.