Find a CEA

I am a graduate of McMaster University in Hamilton and I have been an independant financial advisor for over 20 years. I became a Certified Financial Planner 20 years ago and added my Insurance license shortly after that. I work together with my clients helping them reach their financial and life goals . Our office looks after clients from their first savings to their estate plans.

John Tabet and the Viewstone Investment Team are independent financial advisors. He brings more than 25 years of experience in financial services and wealth management, serving clients by providing perspective, plans and strategies that help individuals and families face the future with anticipation rather than apprehension.    John takes a holistic perspectives of a client's financial life, and not solely the investment portfolio.  This ensures that key issues are identified, prioritized and plans are put into action, providing the foundation that helps clients achieve their goals.

Shirley Tom is owner/manager of Shirley Tom Professional Corporation (est. 2005), a professional full service accounting and advisory firm located in Brampton, Ontario.  Shirley holds the designations FCPA, FCGA, LPA (Licensed Public Accountant) and C.Dir (Chartered Director).  Previously, Shirley worked within the estates and trust practice of a major Toronto law firm and continues to specialize in the preparation of estate accounts, including estate administration, planning and tax filing compliance, with her network of business partners.  She is currently Past-President of EPCOH (Estate Planners' Council of Halton).

My role at The Gryphin Advantage is to build relationships with advisors by offering coaching, mentoring and education, in order to bring value and assist them in growing their business in the most professional environment possible.

Brent van Ryzewyk, CFP, CLU, CH.F.C., CHS., CEA. Principal,

Brent is the President of the Certified Executor Advisor Network (CEAN), he also operates his financial advisory firm, Barron's Financial Group Inc. With over 36 years of professional advisory, practice and agency management experience, his advisory team is specialized in advanced estate and tax planning techniques, family and business succession, sponsored and association benefit plan design and administration, as well as individual pension and other retirement income strategies.

Brent has held executive leadership roles, as well as senior regional management positions representing national public insurance corporations, investment banking institutions, as well as privately held financial advisory services corporations.

In addition to his professional designations, he is a member of Advocis, The Financial Advisors Associations of Canada since 1984, CALU, The Conference for Advanced Life Underwriting, The Institute for Advanced Financial Education, The Financial Planner Standards Council, The Million Dollar Round table and The Canadian Institute of Certified Executor Advisors.

In addition to his current role as President of CEAN, Brent has most recently been a Trustee with The Institute of Advanced Financial Education, he has also held several senior leadership roles with Advocis Nationally, and at a Chapter level, as well as past President and current board member of the Estate Planning Council of Mississauga.

In his spare time, Brent is active with select charities including the Community Foundation of Mississauga and enjoys traveling, golf, boating, flying and the occasional poker game.

Micheline Varas, BA, RHU, RFC, EPC, GBDS

Senior Partner, Senior VP Living Benefits

CustomPlan Financial Advisors

Micheline assures safeguarding financial advice is of the highest quality. She works in conjunction with several insurers and their respective underwriters delivering results to individuals and corporate clients. Micheline is also a resource to financial advisors and large institutions. Her focus is to structure and ensure creative, cost and tax effective risk mitigation solutions. She believes that professional financial advice adds significant value to individuals and their businesses. To provide the best to clients, Micheline works with the best! This mindset allows for collaboration with independent specialists delivering comprehensive plans designed to create value. Her extensive experience in Living Benefits enabled Micheline to be the first recipient of the GBDS (Group Benefits Disability Specialist) designation in Canada, and a founding moderator for the Canadian Initiative for Elder Planning Studies. A Top of the Table (MDRT – Million Dollar Round Table) member, Micheline has penned many industry and non-industry publications, holds various training and educational events and has been a speaker at numerous national and international congresses. In 2014 Micheline was named one of 50 Women of Influence in Canada’s insurance industry.

For the past 50 years I have helped advise my clients through my law practice, initially as Speal, Viner and then growing over time to Viner, Kennedy, Frederick, Allan & Tobias, commonly known as Viner, Kennedy.

With my experience, and as a creative problem solver, I can assist in any of the following areas:

• Guiding an Executor so as to avoid costly errors and delays.
• Suggesting pitfalls to avoid if considering a Will or Power of Attorney.
• In advising small and family businesses with succession planning.
• As mediator in conflicts and disputes as an alternative to litigation.

I am a CPA, CA with many years of experience in tax planning and in the preparation of tax returns for deceased individuals, estates and trusts.  I enjoy helping individuals, whether it's someone who needs assistance developing an estate plan to achieve peace of mind, or an executor who needs help with the many challenges in their important role. 

Estate Specialist | Founder, New
Dawn Financial

Shannon Williams is an Estate Specialist and the founder of New Dawn Financial, dedicated to guiding estate executors through the complexities of estate administration with clarity and confidence. With over 12 years of experience working directly with Estate Trustees and 20 years in the financial services industry, Shannon has helped countless executors navigate their responsibilities, avoid costly mistakes, and ensure a smooth estate settlement process.

Holding prestigious designations such as TEP (Trust and Estate Practitioner), CFP (Certified Financial Planner), CEA (Certified Executor Advisor), and MTI (Master Trust & Estate Practitioner), Shannon brings a deep level of expertise and insight to every client. Unlike traditional estate services that focus solely on paperwork, she takes a personalized, step-by-step approach to simplify estate administration while providing the support executors need during an emotionally challenging time.

Through New Dawn Financial, Shannon helps clients stay organized, communicate effectively with beneficiaries, and ensure compliance with all necessary financial and administrative obligations. By breaking down complex estate tasks into a clear and manageable process, she empowers executors to fulfill their duties with peace of mind and confidence.

Independent Financial Advisor since 1994.

Del is a Financial Advisor, primarily for retirees,  as well as successful professionals and business owners who aspire
to financial independence and a "work optional" lifestyle. He has
developed and refined a process that puts the pieces of the financial puzzle together for
his clients as their life unfolds and needs evolve. Retirement planning, estate
planning, risk management planning are a big part of the process, as is debt
and cash flow planning. Del works with his client's other professional
advisors, such as lawyers and accountants, to facilitate a team approach to
financial planning.