Our Partners

headshot

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.

headshot

James Keene, CFP, TEP

Wealth Planning Consultant

As a member of the BMO High Net Worth Wealth Planning team, James brings together the knowledge and experience of our in-house tax and estate professionals and works with BMO financial professionals and their clients to develop sound wealth management plans. He provides support and direction about complex issues such as retirement and income planning, tax planning, cash management, business succession, transition planning, estate and gift planning, and charitable giving.

James joined BMO in 2007, beginning his career at BMO Nesbitt Burns as an Investment Representative (IR) with a Wealth Advisory Team serving clients in the Toronto area. Most recently James served as a Financial Planner specializing in Investment and Retirement planning at the retail branch. Before joining BMO, James spent two years with a large bank-owned brokerage firm. Drawing on his experience as a Certified Financial Planner®, his clients benefit from a depth of knowledge and an ability to simplify financial plans aimed at maximizing wealth.

Neol Perera

Noel Perera

Director, Tax Planning

With almost 25 years of experience, Noel understands the broad issues that wealthy families face. By taking the time to understand each client’s specific goals and objectives, he brings his 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.

Noel can skillfully take complex tax and estate planning issues and considerations, and speak to clients in a way that they can easily understand these issues.

Noel joined BMO Wealth Management in 2017. In addition to his tax/accounting background of almost 18 years at Deloitte & Touche  LLP, he has extensive experience in the investment industry as well, including working at a large fund management company. Most recently, Noel worked as a Tax Planning & Consulting Specialist where he focused on tax planning and wealth transfer strategies for high net worth clients and business owners.