Find a CEA

Randy is a life experienced insurance advisor and broker.  He works with policyowners and their advisors who have plans and policies with Life Insurers, Banks, Investment Firms and Credit Unions.   My area of expertise is helping policyowners and their beneficiaries solve financial problems and estate planning issues created at death, disability, incapacity and retirement.  

With 28 years of experience in the industry, I have learned that a strong planning process is the best way to create a more financially secure retirement plan. It is crucial to create a plan that seeks to protect your needs now, and that plans for the future, in a tax-efficient manner. It is my goal to assist you to build a solid financial structure that will stand the test of time and that will grow and build wealth for you and your family.

I have established a process to do this that is based on two key aspects of financial security: asset protection and wealth creation. A plan must help ensure financial security throughout your life, for you and for your loved ones. It must provide income replacement and asset protection in the event that the unthinkable were to happen: disability, critical illness or death. The plan must also aim to build the maximum it can via a solid, tax efficient wealth portfolio.

With these goals in mind, we will work together to assess your total retirement planning needs. We will consider important milestones such as major purchases, marriage, children, education, dreams and retirement. This plan will entail regular review of ongoing financial management strategies.

I currently also carry the CFP, CIM, and CHS designations.

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.