Event Speakers
For 2022, the Advocis Estate Planning Summit is focusing on a select group of speakers from across the industry. From sought after estate lawyers, to cross-border tax specialists, to financial planners - you can be sure to benefit from their first-hand experience.
Ari Brojde
Estateably
Founder and CEO
Ari Brojde is Founder and CEO of Estateably, a leading provider of digital solutions for the North American trust and estates industry. Prior to Estateably, Ari worked for over a decade as a private wealth manager at two of Canada’s largest financial institutions, where he helped manage a portfolio of over $600 million in private client assets. In 2014, he founded Onist Technologies, the world's first SaaS-based virtual family office collaboration platform. Ari holds a Certificate in Trust and Estate Administration from STEP Canada and is a Certified Executor Advisor designate of the Canadian Institute of Certified Executor Advisors (CICEA).
Cathy Wong
Baker Tilly WM LLP
Senior Tax Manager
Cathy Wong joined Baker Tilly WM LLP in 2012 as a student in the firm’s Audit and Assurance group before transitioning full-time to the Tax team. Cathy has completed Parts I, II and III of the CPA Canada In-Depth Tax Course.
Cathy focuses primarily on tax planning and compliance for individuals, estates and trusts in a Canadian and U.S. cross-border context. She has experience in cross-border reorganizations and post-mortem planning involving U.S. citizens and residents and is involved in the preparation of Canadian and U.S. tax returns for individuals, estates, and trusts. She also provides cross-border income tax advice to individuals and corporations doing business in Canada and the U.S.
Deena Chochinov
KPMG Family Office
Family Enterprise Advisor—Family Dynamics and Governance
Deena Chochinov is a therapist, family enterprise advisor, and management consultant. She supports executives and senior teams in the corporate and non-profit sectors, with a focus on leadership, talent management, and organizational development. She advises multi-generational business families who seek the tools and techniques to make smart decisions, manage conflict effectively and develop strong, lasting relationships. And she is a Registered Clinical Counsellor, working with individuals, couples, and families to help them navigate life’s challenges and increase their resilience. Deena has a Master’s in Counselling Psychology from the University of Manitoba, a Post-Master’s in Family Therapy from the University of Pennsylvania and the Philadelphia Child Guidance Clinic, and is a graduate of the Family Enterprise Advising Program at the UBC Sauder School of Business. She is based in Vancouver, Canada.
Her new book, HomeWork: How To Be A Leader In The Boardroom And The Living Room is now available.
Felicia Lee
Clarity Planning Inc.
Principal
Before becoming a financial planner, Felicia spent 6 years as a business coach to over 200 business owners who grossed between $200K – $5M. This gave her a front row seat to noticing how making money doesn’t always translate to keeping the money.
She watched many smart people generate good revenue, while on the flip side, not being strategic about what to do with the money they were making, to live the flexible future that they most wanted.
She got into financial planning because she noticed that as her client’s finances grew and they were working harder, they weren’t sure they were gaining ground financially to meet the future that they envisioned for themselves.
Her approach to financial planning may look different from your typical financial planner. For starters, her insight as a business coach and the tested ability to navigate the complexities of growing a business or practice is married with financial planning competencies.
With her engineering background, her left brain is trained to analyze, evaluate, and create solutions, while her right brain is seasoned from years of coaching to help clients clarify and navigate to the big picture.
Gary Hagel
Pryke Lambert Leathley Russell
Partner, Mediator and Lawyer
I am a lawyer and mediator, practising civil litigation since 1999. I hold the Qualified Mediator designation through the Alternative Dispute Resolution Institute of Canada (ADRIC) and am a member of the ADRIC civil roster and the MediateBC Associate Civil Roster. I am a partner at PLLR Lawyers in Richmond.
PLLR is a full-service firm, with both solicitors and litigators, that provides advice and representation in a wide variety of areas including: Estate Planning, Administration and Litigation; Family Law; Employment Law; Construction Law; Real Estate Development; Real Estate Purchase and Sale Disputes; Banking and Lending; Corporate Structures and Reorganization.
Geeta Gill
Connect Family Law
Family Law Lawyer
Geeta is a family law lawyer at Connect Family Law in Vancouver. Having practiced for more than 17 years, Geeta brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to her practice, helping guide her clients through their own unique circumstances and providing practical solutions to meet their needs.
Geeta advises her clients on all aspects of family law, including property division (including businesses, family trusts and real estate), spousal support, child support, guardianship, parenting time and separation agreements. She also assists clients prepare cohabitation and marriage agreements relating to their property and business interests, family trusts and anticipated inheritances.
Geeta is an accredited Family Law Mediator, Arbitrator, Parenting Coordinator, and qualified Collaborative Divorce practitioner. Geeta has been a member of the BC Parenting Coordinator’s Roster Society and a past member of its Board of Directors. She is also a member of the Collaborative Divorce Vancouver group.
Outside of her practice, Geeta enjoys spending time with her family and friends, loves travelling and exploring new places and people and unwinding with a glass of wine and good book.
John H. Askin
Wealth Strategy Group
Founder
John Askin is a founder and principal of the Wealth Strategy Group. He received his Bachelor of Commerce Degree from the University of Alberta and his Bachelor of Laws Degree from Osgoode Hall Law School.
John is a member of the Law Societies of Alberta and British Columbia. In addition to advising high net worth individuals and families, John’s corporate clients have included Sun Life, TD Evergreen, CIBC, Investors Group, the Berkshire Group, Manulife Financial, Scotia McLeod and the Hong Kong Bank. John currently consults with clients and professional advisors throughout North America in the areas of succession and transition planning.
John is past president of the Estate Planning Council of Edmonton and is a current member of the Vancouver Estate Planning Council and the Canadian Tax Foundation. He has written for and presented papers to organizations such as the Canadian Tax Foundation, the Institute of Chartered Accountants, The Globe and Mail Newspaper, the Canadian Institute of Chartered Life Underwriters and the All China Lawyers Association, Beijing, China. John is co-author of Materials on Corporate Taxation and Materials on the Alberta Business Corporations Act and has authored articles in numerous publications including the Canadian Tax Journal and the Insurance Digest. He is also a regular contributor to the Insurance Planning Journal and author of the best-selling book “For Love Not Money”.
Kevin Parton
Parton Group - IG Private Wealth Management
Principal and Executive Financial Consultant
Kevin Parton, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® (CFP) professional with IG Private Wealth Management, specializes in personal and business financial planning, tax reduction, and estate planning. His focus on client education as a means of establishing financial certainty has led him and his team to qualify for IG’s President’s Council in 2019 and 2021, which recognizes leaders among IG Consultants based on new business.
Kevin holds the CFP®, Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU), Registered Retirement Consultant (RRC), and Elder Planning Counselor (EPC) designations, and has 13 years of experience supporting clients in making the most of their money and helping them to reach their long-term financial goals. As no financial situation is the same, Kevin and his team monitor clients’ plans and implement personalized strategies to reduce their personal and corporate taxes, and protect their income, assets, and loved ones against the financial consequences of a serious illness, injury or death, ensuring clients maintain financial certainty and peace of mind.
Kevin is married to his wife of seven years, Amy, and has two daughters, Chloe and Mila. He loves spending time with friends and family as often as possible and in his down time he loves to read and share his love of reading with the many members of the Kaizen Book Club he started in 2021
His focus on client education extends to the general public through his social media channels
Laurent Munier
Safe Pacific Financial Inc.
Partner
In 2011, Laurent founded his fifth company, Safe Pacific Financial, to help Canadians achieve their financial dreams. He’s been living the Canadian dream since immigrating here at 5 years old. His work life started with a paper route in the 3rd grade and he’s been working and building ever since.
The “Why” behind launching Safe Pacific is to work with great people, add value to both their business & personal life and demystify the convoluted world of finances so they can focus on being the best at what they do for their families, companies and community.
Laurent’s personal work philosophy is simple: Independent, relationship focused, no pressure, no rush. He loves working with like-minded and motivated people that strive for success every day.
Laurent gives back to the industry by volunteering his time and expertise on the Vancouver board of Advocis – The Financial Advisors Association of Canada where he won Volunteer of the Year award for 2019. Laurent is licensed to serve clients in – BC, Alberta and Ontario .
Morgyn Chandler
Hammerco Lawyers
Managing Partner
With over a decade of litigation experience, Morgyn has a reputation for successful resolution based on persuasive and astute legal strategies. She believes that establishing and maintaining open, honest, and ongoing communication with her clients is critical to ensuring the best possible outcome.
In addition to practicing in the areas of personal injury and civil sexual assault, Morgyn works extensively in estate litigation. She knows that estate disputes can be highly emotional, and acts on behalf of her clients to ensure fair distribution of an estate as well as protection from fraud and misconduct by executors and trustees.
Morgyn is a sought-after speaker in her field and has been recognized for her work in Personal Injury Litigation by Best Lawyers in Canada since 2020.
Raphael Tachie
Gowling WLG
Partner & Head of Private Client Services Group in Vancouver
Raphael Tachie is a partner and head of Gowling WLG's Private Client Services Group in Vancouver. He is a 2022 nominee of the Canadian Lawyer’s Top 25 Most Influential Lawyers.
Raphael assists high-net-worth individuals, families, entrepreneurs and business owners with estate and trust planning, business succession planning, incapacity matters and planned charitable giving in a manner that is both tax efficient and in line with their personal, family or other important values and objectives. In addition, he advises executors, trustees and other fiduciaries in all aspects of estate and trust administration, including probate, fiduciary duties, obligations and liability issues, and post-mortem planning.
Raphael also has extensive experience in delivering strategic advice to insurance, investments and trust companies with regard to the impact of the laws and regulations relating to older and vulnerable customers, incapacity, estates, trusts and beneficiary designations on their products, services and market conduct. He collaborates closely with financial institutions and their advisors in developing, implementing and maintaining best-in-class estates and trusts, life and health insurance, registered and non-registered investments, and high-net-worth advice practices and processes that are compliant with applicable laws and regulations.
An active member of the legal community, Raphael is the current president of the Canadian Association of Black Lawyers (CABL). He also sits on the editorial board of Canadian Lawyer magazine.
Robert Trasolini
Safe Pacific Financial Inc.
Partner
Robert was born and raised in Vancouver and began his career as an advisor in 2010. He has since founded Safe Pacific Financial Inc with the mandate to build long term trust by giving the best advice and service possible to his clients. The company was built on the philosophies of independence, relationship focus, with no pressure, and no rush.
Robert has specialized in working with business owners and professionals in the Vancouver area. He is most passionate about working with his clients to better understand their financial situations. Robert believes that by uncovering their goals, and the potential challenges they may face, he is able to proficiently help clients achieve their objectives.
When Robert is not working, he spends time with his wife and two kids with a third due on the conference date. He also enjoys biking the sea wall, playing beach volleyball, and enjoying the food scene in Vancouver.
Spencer McCaig
Westcoast Actuaries
Senior Consultant
Spenser is a senior consultant and leads the IPP team at Westcoast Actuaries. He holds a degree in actuarial science from the University of Waterloo and has 10 years of industry experience working with some of the pioneers of the IPP vehicle, who are also the founders of Westcoast Actuaries.
Spenser assists his clients as well as potential candidates with education on how the IPP can add value to their retirement and tax-optimization planning. He frequently collaborates with advisors, accountants and regulators to continually improve the IPP client experience.
Steven McLeod
Tax and Estate Planning Group (TEPG) - Canada Life™
Director of Estate & Tax Planning
Steven is a tax lawyer and the Director of Estate & Tax Planning in the Canada Life Tax and Estate Planning Group. Before joining Canada Life in 2010 as a tax consultant, Steven practiced with a national boutique law firm in Toronto that specializes in tax law. While in private practice, Steven’s tax and estate planning experience was mostly with private business owners and their families, as well as high-net-worth individuals. As Director of Estate & Tax Planning, Steven leads a team that develops articles and presentations on taxation and strategies relating to both life and living benefits insurance. Steven also supports the wholesaling organization with complex case work.