Our Partners
Tax Solutions
Debbie Wong
Vice President, Tax Consulting, Raymond James Financial Planning Ltd. (Canada)
- Works with advisors to guide high net-worth clients toward practical solutions to their tax issues.
- Has expertise in Canadian and U.S. personal tax, tax issues affecting U.S. Citizens or green card holders, and cross-border tax.
- Debbie is CPA licensed and has earned the U.S. Chartered Retirement Planning CounselorTM (CRPCTM) designation.
Insurance Solutions
Greg Jizmejian
Insurance Planning Specialist, Raymond James Financial Planning Ltd. (Canada)
- Guides and helps families protect the people and values they cherish most.
- Over 22 years of industry experience including 17 years as Vice President, Estate & Insurance Advisor at a bank owned firm.
- A Certified Financial Planner (CFP®), Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU), Chartered Financial Consultant (CH.F.C) and Trust & Estate Practitioner designation (TEP).
Estate & Trust Services
Paula Lester
Associate Vice President, Estate and Trust Solutions
Solus Trust Company, an Affiliate of Raymond James
- Provides comprehensive estate, incapacity, and trust planning services to Ontario-based clients.
- Believes that estate and trust planning serve to ensure a better future and a sound legacy for clients and their loved ones.
- A graduate of the Juris Doctor program at Queen’s University, Bachelor of Arts degree with honors, and holds the Trust and Estate Practitioner (TEP) designation.
Financial Planning
Matko Pevec
Financial Planner, Raymond James Ltd. (Canada)
After graduating from George Brown College’s Financial Management program in 2011, Matko began working in the financial industry as an associate financial advisor at an independent wealth management firm. During his tenure there, he helped service hundreds of clients with holistic financial planning, portfolio management and insurance planning. He obtained his Certified Financial PlannerTM (CFP®) designation in 2016 and his Chartered Life Underwriter ® (CLU®) certification in 2017. In 2017, he joined a bank-owned brokerage firm in the role of financial planning analyst and was responsible for creating and presenting comprehensive financial plans for high-net-worth clients across Canada.
Matko is detail oriented and believes that having a proper financial plan can help clients reduce uncertainties, understand their true situation and assess whether their goals can be achieved.
Eric Saarvala
Eric Saarvala is the Executive Director of the Raymond James Canada Foundation (RJCF) and the Head of Corporate Sustainability for Raymond James Ltd. Eric brings 20+ years of consulting and management experience in social impact through sustainability, corporate social responsibility (CSR) and strategic philanthropy in the private, public and non-profit sectors, including financial services, to the Foundation. The RJCF is responsible for employee engagement activities such as RJ Cares & the RJ Cares Grant Program, 5K 4 Kids, disaster relief and the Annual Giving Campaign. The Foundation also helps clients seamlessly incorporate strategic philanthropy into their overall financial plan through Charitable Giving Funds (CGF).
Eric is a Certified Sustainability Practitioner (CSR-P), holds a Graduate Diploma in Social Responsibility and Sustainability from the University of St. Michael’s College in the University of Toronto (G. Dipl. SR&S) and has an Executive MBA from the Ivey Business School at Western University. With the expanded mandate of his role, Eric will work collaboratively across the firm to lead the development and advancement of a corporate sustainability program.
Eric is deeply involved in his community and the advancement of sustainability and philanthropy, and sits on various boards and committees.
Jennifer Hodgson
Chief Executive Officer of Raymond James Trust (Canada)
Jennifer Hodgson is Chief Executive Officer of Raymond James Trust (Canada) and is responsible for all of the firm's trust activities nationally inc luding Raymond James Trust (Quebec) Ltd.Prior to joining Raymond James, Jennifer held various senior roles in two of Canada’s biggest bank-owned Trust companies. With over 25 years in the Wealth management and Trust services industry, Jennifer brings extensive experience and knowledge to our organization and Trust offerings. A native Montrealer, Jennifer is bilingual and holds a Bachelor of Economics from Concordia University. She also holds a trust designation (MTI) from the Institute of Canadian Bankers as well as a TEP designation from the Society of Estate and Trust Practitioners.
Estate & Trust Services
Riaan Botha
Senior Trust Advisor
Solus Trust Company, an Affiliate of Raymond James
- Takes educating clients very seriously and makes it his mandate to look at their complete picture.
- Over 20 years experience in Estate and Trust services.
- Bachelor of commerce degree, bachelor of law degree, postgraduate diploma in taxation and member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP).
Insurance Solutions
Stephen Miziolek
Insurance Planning Specialist, Raymond James Financial Planning Ltd. (Canada)
- Expertise in business succession planning, wealth preservation, tax minimization, critical illness, and long-term care.
- Helping individuals and businesses protect their income and assets through the critical stages of their financial lives.
- A certified life underwriter (CLU) with over 40 years experience.
Tax Solutions
Sam Kyriazis
Manager, Tax Consulting, Raymond James Financial Planning Ltd. (Canada)
- Provides tax guidance and investment planning solutions to clients.
- Over 15 years experience in cross border tax planning and tax compliance for high-net worth individuals and globally mobile employees.
- Specialized in working with U.S. citizens, cross-border trusts and estates, U.S. gift tax as well as tax planning for individuals with U.S. retirement plans.
