ZLC FINANCIAL - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Financial Associate
- President of ZLC Foundation
Aeronn is the President of ZLC Foundation, President of Richmond Country Club, Past President of the Vancouver Chapter of Family Enterprise Xchange (formally CAFE), Peninsula Community Foundation Board Member, as well as an active member of both Advocis and the Conference of Advanced Life Underwriting (CALU). He received his Economics Degree from Simon Fraser University.
In March 1990, Amin joined ZLC Financial as a specialist in estate, tax, and insurance planning, with particular emphasis on estate preservation, intergenerational transfers and funding of shareholder agreements. In recent years, Amin's services to his clients have expanded to include retirement planning and executive benefits.
Amin Jamal began his insurance career in Kenya with the Jubilee Insurance Company and in 1957 moved to Uganda to become Jubilee's principal representative in that country. After immigrating to Canada in 1971, Amin joined the Canada Life Assurance Company as a life insurance underwriter. During his 15 years with Canada Life, Amin became an executive consultant and was recognized on several occasions for his expertise in estate and tax planning.
For over three decades, Amin has served his community in Canada in a voluntary capacity holding senior positions at the local and national levels in areas of education, administration and conflict resolution.
Married with two sons, Amin is a Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU), and an Associate of the Chartered Insurance Institute (A.C.I.I.).
Job Titles:
- Life Insurance Specialist
Ann brings a wealth of experience in full-cycle life insurance processing, client and business management to her role as a Life Insurance Specialist. Her greatest professional joy comes in helping clients achieve financial security and success. Prior to joining ZLC, Ann served as the Operations Manager of a financial advisory firm where she managed day-to-day operations while maintaining her firm care and commitment to providing support excellence to every client.
Ann graduated from Tsinghua University in China where she earned her dual degree BA and BSc. She subsequently completed the Financial Management & Financial Planning program at BCIT.
When she's not helping clients, Ann can be found playing golf and hiking in the Vancouver area; she also enjoys reading and exploring arts & culture events.
Ben wakes up energized to conquer problems that keep others up at night. By helping his clients achieve theirfinancial goals, it allows them to live out their passions, both professionally and personally. As an adviser, Ben serves high net-worth clients who often use a corporate or trust setup, solving their challenges in preserving wealth throughout multigenerational families.
Job Titles:
- Client Services Coordinator
Bonnie is a results-driven professional who has achieved success in a variety of roles with increasing levels of responsibility. She has broad experience in life insurance, critical illness, and wealth products and takes initiative by seeking out and owning opportunities to improve the experience of clients who work with her. Bonnie thrives in a collaborative environment and celebrates success as a team, which is one reason why she is a great fit for ZLC.
Bonnie holds the CPCA designation and an Associate Financial Planner Certification with BCIT. In her spare time, she enjoys being ‘Nana' to her two beautiful granddaughters, Olivia and Isla.
For as long as he can remember, Brent has always found joy in helping others and giving sound advice. Whether saving to purchase a first home, starting a family, starting a business, or planning for the future, Brent works with families, professionals and business owners to build unique financial plans, tailored to their specific goals in life.
Bruce is an expert in specialized insurance solutions, and creating investment strategies for both individual and corporate clients. His extensive experience in the industry enable Bruce to provide a wide range of unique and innovative financial solutions to his clients.
Job Titles:
- Marketing Manager
- Member of the Management Team
- Marketing Manager, Client Engagement
Camila is a passionate self-starter who enjoys being creative and building a better environment for everyone around her. She takes ownership of every project assigned to her and is always ready to put new ideas into action.
At ZLC, she is the manager responsible for building strong and positive relationships, inspiring others, and creating true followership through communications and marketing programs.
Camila holds two bachelor's degrees, an MBA with a focus on Marketing and a Marketing Management Certificate. With that important mix of creativity and analytics, Camila's role includes a special focus on engagement programs, digital campaigns, marketing initiatives, event management, as well as business development.
Outside of work, she can be found enjoying outdoor activities with her Brazilian crew. Not only is she a pro when it comes to skiing and local mountains, but she can also advise on where to find the best lakes around Lower Vancouver to enjoy summer.
Job Titles:
- Manager, Individual Wealth and Insurance & Client Services
Caroline is a seasoned, licensed professional in the individual wealth and insurance management department at ZLC. She strives to stay on top of the evolving changes in the insurance industry and is committed to sharing her knowledge and expertise with the associates and their clients to ensure they have the best possible experience from start to finish, and beyond.
Outside of ZLC, Caroline is a musician. She enjoys creating atmospheric, electronic ambient music with her various synthesizers, working both within an ensemble and on her own solo projects.
She also enjoys cycling around the city with her husband on their hot pink tandem bicycle and cuddling with their two cats.
Job Titles:
- Manager, Technical Insurance Support
Born and raised in Vancouver, Cindy completed the Marketing Management Program from BCIT in 1998 and joined ZLC Financial in 2001. She oversees ZLCs individual wealth management team, along with managing the firm's charity golf tournament, raising funds for local charities in BC. Cindy has a passion for organization and planning and takes pride in seeing every project to the end.
Cindy supports the Lymphoma and Leukemia Society of Canada and was the 2013 Corporate Walk Chair for Light the Night, a fundraising event taking place in Vancouver in October. As a 19 year survivor of Hodgkin's lymphoma, she understands the battles and difficulties going through daily and weekly treatments. Without the support of local businesses and fundraising efforts, the research and development of new drugs wouldn't be possible.
With over 35 years in the employee benefit sales and consulting field, Collette LOVES to help companies and their employees with benefit plan needs! Throughout her career, she has had the good fortune to work with specialty carriers in the Disability and Health arena, as well as industry leading consulting firms. With her service-first approach, everything she does is with the end user in mind; whether advisor, client, member or colleague.
On a personal note, for the past 18 years, Collette has been actively involved with the Make A Wish Canada Foundation as a Wish Grantor, Wish Interviewer, Board Member and Board Chair. Because of this connection, she has had a chance to fundraise doing crazy things for the wish kids, such as climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro, and rappelling down the side of the Hyatt Regency across the street from the ZLC office! But she does draw the line at "swimming with sharks", that's never going to happen!
Job Titles:
- Employee Benefits Advisor
Dan's passion is working with human resource and finance professionals that share the belief there is a better way for employee benefits and broader workforce planning strategies. While human resources is very dynamic, the industry solutions for employee benefits are often dated and stale. Dan partners with organizations to develop unique solutions that are more innovative than the same old solutions used for the past 20 years.
Deanna graduated from the Applied Business Technology program at the University of the Fraser Valley.
In her free time, Deanna likes to reorganize and decorate her home, take care of her cats, read novels and be a tourist in her own city - Vancouver.
Elizabeth graduated from UBC Interdisciplinary Arts in 2018 where she learned about healthcare and wellness through the lenses of social sciences and humanities. She brings with her experience in customer service and administration, and a love of organizing everything and anything.
Elizabeth is passionate about health and wellness, social justice, music, food and cooking, travel, reading, and cats!
Job Titles:
- Business Owners, Human Resource Professionals, and Accounting Professionals
- Employee Benefits Advisor
Farzin brings to ZLC his wealth of knowledge in the areas of estate planning and business succession. This knowledge along with his years of tax planning experience, enable Farzin to understand the investment objectives and life insurance needs of clients and implement financial planning strategies in a tax efficient manner. As a Chartered Accountant, Farzin works closely and effectively with accountants, lawyers and other advisory team professionals to ensure the smooth implementation of all recommendations.
Prior to joining ZLC, Farzin had a successful career in public accounting where he specialized in personal, corporate and trust income tax matters. He most recently served as a Senior Tax Manager at a national accounting firm where he advised businesses and their owners on tailored strategies to reduce their overall tax burden and maximize wealth.
In 2002, Farzin earned a joint degree in Economics and Business with concentrations in Accounting and Finance and in 2005 achieved his designation as a Chartered Accountant. Farzin has also completed the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants (CICA) In-depth Tax Program, the CICA Advanced Tax Issues for the Owner-Managed Business course and the CICA course on Advanced Corporate Reorganizations.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- CEO
- Chairman
- Member of the Executive Leadership Team
Garry's primary objective is his clients and their financial wellbeing. Working with successful business owners, executives, high networth families and individuals, Garry is there through the full cycle of his client's business, circumstances and life changes providing trusted financial advice. Under Garry's leadership, ZLC's mission and core value was built upon the foundation that clients make the best decisions when they have been given the most comprehensive expert advice possible.
"Most Canadian companies are spending up to 70% of their operating budget on employee compensation and employee benefits represents a large portion of this expense. As a matter of fact for many companies, employee compensation represents their largest operating expense".¹ Nick helps companies get the most out of their valuable investment by showing them how to spend their money more wisely. He matches companies with the right type of benefits plan from the beginning or helps them get the most out of their existing benefits plan
Job Titles:
- Account Executive
- Employee
Helen Robinson joined the ZLC Employee Benefits team in August 2012 as an Account Executive. With over 25 years of employee benefits experience, Helen has been involved in all aspects of managing employee benefits, from the initial design to the successful delivery of a benefits plan. Helen attained her CEBS designation under the Certified Employee Benefits Specialist program in 2005.
Job Titles:
- Executive Assistant to Garry Zlotnik
Ida was born and raised in the small town of Trelleborg, in southern Sweden, where she played soccer competitively, while attending college for Business and Administration.
Before joining ZLC in 2011, she was in administration and sales for various organizations such as The Red Cross and WSPCA.
Outside of ZLC, she also models and acts, and can be seen in her latest gig on CW's TV-Show, Supernatural. In her free time, she likes to stroll around her neighborhood in Kitsilano, have coffee with friends at a good café, or relax at the beach.
Ida is fluent in both English and Swedish, speaks Danish and Norwegian, and is now learning Spanish as well!
Ivan graduated from Simon Fraser University with a Bachelor of Business Administration. He has been working in the area of accounting since graduation. With the interest in accounting, he is currently pursuing the CPA designation.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Financial & Wellness Associate
Joanna brings her wellness and coaching background to further develop client relationships at ZLC Financial - the company her grandfather founded. Financial well-being impacts an individuals' mental and physical health, so Joanna helps clients with proper planning, financial readiness and literacy, working with clients to align personal, family, financial and wellness goals.
Job Titles:
- Employee Benefits Advisor
John's experience in the group insurance industry spans more than 30 years. He held senior leadership and consulting roles with two global human resource and financial services firms. John's background also includes Sales Director positions with two of Canada's largest group insurance providers. He serves on the national Sanofi Healthcare Survey Advisory Board, AbbVie Advisory Board and past council member for the Pacific chapter of the Canadian Pension and Benefits Institute. His broad experience with consulting, insurers and other industry stakeholders provides a unique advantage that will be leveraged to benefit our clients.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Business Development Associate
John has worked in business development for the Employee Benefits Division of ZLC since 2007. He has been assisting business owners in ensuring that their benefit plan is cost-effective and continues to be a valuable part of their compensation package. He is also involved in liaising with CEO's and high networth individuals, alongside ZLC's Associate team.
Jonathan joined the Employee Benefits team as an Account Executive in June 2018 and brings more than 10 years of industry experience. He has served clients from the perspective of a major Canadian insurer and a global consulting firm.
Jonathan enjoys cycling and rock climbing in his spare time and has actively volunteered to fundraise for various charities.
Job Titles:
- Account Executive & Manager, Employee Benefits
Judy joined ZLC's Employee Benefits team in 2013. With her many years of experience in the group insurance industry, she has managed a variety of benefit plans from the perspective of the insurer, consultant, and client. Judy is committed to continuous growth and learning, and is proud to be a member of the ZLC team.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Life Member of the Million Dollar Round Table
Ken is a Life Member of the Million Dollar Round Table, and has been a member since 1990. Ken has earned the following professional designations: Certified Financial Planner (CFP); Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU); Chartered Financial Consultant (Ch.F.C.); Certified Health Insurance Specialist (CHS).
In the 1980's, Ken was coerced into his first and last game of golf. When he recovered from the trauma, he decided to dedicate his recreational life to gardening, cooking, and traveling. His current quest, with his wife Linda, is to see how many weeks they can travel with just one carry on bag apiece.
Job Titles:
- Client Services Coordinator
Kiran's passion for helping others led her to the financial services industry in 2012. From assisting a team of financial advisors and being a paraplanner to also running her own financial planning practice, Kiran built a solid experience in the financial industry that ZLC's clients can benefit from. She enjoys putting solutions together and seeing all the pieces of the puzzle come together for clients. Working alongside driven individuals who share the same passion is what made her choose ZLC Financial.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Financial Advisor
- Life Insurance Advisor
Linda is an experienced financial advisor who helps take the confusion and mystery out of insurance and financial products. She has built a career based on kindness and empathy, and her focus is on relating to clients and their worries. It gives her great satisfaction to know that her clients have a sound financial plan for the future, as well as the correct insurance products for the unforeseen life events that can take us by surprise.
Linda is a licensed life insurance advisor, has a diploma in Marketing and Sales from British Columbia Institute of Technology and is currently completing her Bachelor of Commerce degree.
Linda is a strong believer in bringing real-life change to our community, so she gives her time as a volunteer. She has been the President of Swim BC for the past three years and she is a Level Five certified referee. You can often find her volunteering at swim meets throughout the Lower Mainland on the weekends and if she is not there, you will find her running through the rain, snow, and mud on the trails in the Fraser Valley.
Job Titles:
- Controller
- Member of the Management Team
Mandy graduated from the Bachelor of Arts program at UBC with a specialization in Economics. She went on to complete the Diploma in Accounting program at the Sauder School of Business, as well as the Certified General Accountant program. Mandy joined ZLC in 2009 and has been part of the Accounting department since.
Martin graduated from UBC in 1966 with a BCOM, majoring in Finance and Real Estate, and obtained his law degree from UBC three years later in 1969.
Matthias joined ZLC in May 2018. Prior to joining ZLC, he held a consulting role at a global human resources firm for 6 years where he served a variety of national and BC clients. He manages the ZLC small business pool and possesses technical expertise in renewal rating, plan design, and flexible benefit pricing. He is a graduate of Wilfrid Laurier University's Honours Financial Mathematics program.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Leadership Team
- Member of the Management Team
- President
Michelle is a versatile, high-energy financial professional with a history of success in streamlining and strengthening financial operations. She loves working in fast-paced environments and is motivated by working with a talented team of professionals.
Job Titles:
- Executive Assistant to Garry Zlotnik
Miguel joined the ZLC team in 2021 after moving to the west coast from Toronto, Ontario. Bringing a positive attitude and a quick ability to learn, Miguel enjoys taking initiative on different projects, supporting different departments where he can, and is always looking for new ways to challenge himself.
Miguel brings great experience, holding a Bachelor of Arts from Queen's University, where he served as the President of the Alma Mater Society, Queen's student government. Following his departure from Queen's University, Miguel became a political staffer at Queen's Park where he worked for the Ontario Minister of Labour, Training, and Skills Development.
As the Executive Assistant to our CEO, Garry Zlotnik, Miguel is charged with various tasks including providing full-cycle administrative duties to the CEO, day to day planning, being a first point of contact for clients, managing relationships with key stakeholders, coordinating accounting and bookkeeping activities including investments, sponsorships, donations, and other banking requirements.
Miguel also works closely with other members of the team to organize different events, meetings, and functions. In his spare time, Miguel enjoys surfing, skydiving, playing chess, and cooking for friends and family. If you ever need to find Miguel outside of the office, you can find him at the gym, on the beach, or camping in a tent on top of a mountain.
Mike brings 12 years of employee benefits experience working in the insurance industry with a large group benefits insurer and helped lead his department through the modernization of claims technology. This background provides him with a deep understanding and working knowledge of benefit plans and needs from both the insurer and employer perspective. His wealth of knowledge comes from devoting his entire career to health care. Mike has provided strategic innovation and direction on various projects to continually improve client experience while ensuring that the benefit plans stay competitive and current in the marketplace.
Mike prides himself on having a balanced personal and work life and enjoys spending his free time with his family and his daughter.
Job Titles:
- Vice President & Employee Benefits Advisor
Nancy works with employers to ensure they are delivering the best benefit and retirement programs to their employees and ensuring that all factors are considered when clients are making decisions. She thrives on thinking outside the ‘benefits box', considering different options, and going above and beyond for clients in a most honest and integral way.
Job Titles:
- Senior Service Representative
Job Titles:
- Senior Service Representative
Job Titles:
- Senior Service Representative
Job Titles:
- Senior Service Representative
When Nancy joined ZLC, she was drawn to the family business structure and ZLC quickly became her new family. Family, Clients First, Support, Loyalty, Trust are all words that Nancy uses to describe ZLC, and the team of colleagues, on a regular basis.