Mark Rossignoli, CFP, CFA, FEA
Senior Investment Counsellor & Portfolio Manager
Bailey Bertrand, CFA
Associate Investment Counsellor
Michael Stirpe
Portfolio Assistant
Andy Guidi, CPA, CA
Director, Tax Planning
Andy is a dedicated professional helping people preserve and grow their wealth. With an expertise in Canadian income tax, Andy assists clients on business structures, succession and estate planning, owner- manager remuneration, corporate reorganizations, the appropriate use of trusts and holding companies, asset divestitures, business split-ups and a variety of other tax planning strategies.
Drawing on public practice experience, he offers a depth of practical insight, as well as the unique ability to translate complex tax concepts into efficient strategies clients can easily comprehend.
Andy joined BMO Wealth Management in 2014, after filling progressively senior management roles in the domestic tax practice of Grant Thornton LLP, where he developed and implemented tax planning strategies for business owners and high net worth individuals.
Elizabeth Creates, LL.B
Director, Estate Planning
Elizabeth provides estate planning guidance to high and ultra high net worth individuals, families and business owners in the context of their personal wealth and business succession planning. Her background as an estates lawyer and over 20 years of experience in the wealth management industry allow Elizabeth to facilitate wealth transfer decision-making for clients and assist them with action planning regarding their legacy goals (financial and non-financial). Her modern approach focuses on the well-being and personal empowerment of clients by bringing them peace of mind and encouraging the pursuit of personal fulfillment.
She works collaboratively with internal and external advisors in order to ensure that all aspects of a client’s wealth plan support their estate planning, succession and legacy goals. She has LL.B. and B.Comm. degrees from McGill University and is a member of both the Law Society of Ontario and the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP).
Jason Skentzos, MBA, CFP, CIM, FMA, FCSI
Director, Wealth Planning
With over 15 years of experience working in the financial services industry, Jason’s goal, as part of the BMO Wealth Planning team, is to educate and empower business owners, entrepreneurs and high net worth clients with comprehensive and customized solutions, resolving complex situations through coordinated and proactive wealth plans.
Using a holistic approach, Jason collaborates with his investment, banking, trust, estate and tax colleagues to help clients clearly articulate their personal wealth goals. Together, we provide a multi-dimensional perspective that offers a valuable complement to our clients’ other professional counsel.
Jason currently lives in Toronto with his wife Carley, and in his spare time enjoys golf, tennis, skiing and traveling to personally unexplored destinations.
James Kraft, CPA, CA, M.Tax
Estate and Insurance Advisor
James provides estate and insurance advice to high net worth clients though sophisticated, forward-thinking wealth management planning. James offers clients informed insight across the broad spectrum of wealth and estate planning issues, leveraging advanced market experience – more than 20 years of specialized tax, estate, and insurance expertise – and a unique understanding of the financial and emotional complexities of family wealth.
He works collaboratively with his colleagues to simplify the complexities associated with wealth and offering affluent families and entrepreneurs a uniquely personalized experience. Together, they aim to help clients realize their aspirations, at all stages of life, through meaningful conversations.
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.
Greg Woolston, TEP
Senior Trust Officer, Director
Joined BMO Private Banking as a Director, Trust Services in 2019. Greg is part of the team of professionals at BMO Trust Company. He provides a full range of trust services to high and ultra-high net worth clients of BMO Nesbitt Burns and BMO Private Banking. Prior to joining BMO, Greg spent 29 years in the trust industry, most recently as a Senior Trust Advisor at another major Canadian financial institution. Greg has a BA from York University, majoring in Mathematics for Commerce, is a member of the Estate Planning Council of Toronto, and holds his TEP designation through the Society of Estate and Trust Practitioners (STEP).
Stefan Sohns, CFA
Director, Business Advisory & Succession Planning
Stefan brings a broad-base of technical and business planning experience to BMO Private Wealth. He offers individuals and business owners expertise in business succession, transition, sale, M&A, insurance and valuations for the purposes of wealth planning and transfer. Stefan has more than 12 years of experience providing leading insight to complex business valuations and business advisory engagements for private and public companies. He specializes in the M&A field, corporate reorganizations and income tax planning, shareholder disputes, corporate finance activities, as well as succession, tax and estate planning for private business owners.