- Words by Lauren Kramer Photography by Lia Crowe

It happens to many Okanagan residents. Introduced to the region as visitors, they fall in love and make the move, smitten with the beauty of BC害羞草研究所檚 wine country. For Judith Charbonneau Kaplan, vice president of advanced wealth planning at Wellington-Altus Private Wealth, that害羞草研究所檚 precisely how she came to move to Kelowna in 2014.

The Montreal native studied law at L害羞草研究所橴niversit茅 de Montr茅al and received a master of law degree in taxation. She was working as a tax lawyer at a national law firm in Montreal when her boyfriend, now her spouse, coaxed her west.

害羞草研究所淗e took me running on the Kettle Valley Rail Trail and swimming in Okanagan Lake,害羞草研究所� she says, laughing at the memory. 害羞草研究所淗ow could I not move here?害羞草研究所�

At Wellington-Altus, the 37-year-old uses her tax law expertise to help ensure her clients are as tax-efficient as possible. That means protecting their assets, assisting with estate planning and helping them understand how to transition their assets in a tax-efficient manner during their lifetimes and after their death.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 passionate about making tax law relevant and accessible to all,害羞草研究所� she admits. 害羞草研究所淚 remember being astounded during my first year of law school that what we were learning wasn害羞草研究所檛 something taught to everyone. I think that a basic understanding of the law and our tax system is 害羞草研究所榯able stakes害羞草研究所� to smoothly navigating most aspects of our lives. I love taking those intricate rules, identifying how very tangibly they impact an individual, and then utilizing those same rules to bring about the best possible outcome for a client.害羞草研究所�

She works closely with high-net-worth clients to help them establish a wealth plan that is consistent with their needs and life goals.

害羞草研究所淢any people don害羞草研究所檛 have any kind of wealth plan in place and the first step is helping them understand why they need one, regardless of their level of wealth,害羞草研究所� she explains.

害羞草研究所淲e start our wealth-planning discussions with a discovery process, where we ask clients about their assets, liabilities and incomes, but more importantly, about their values, hopes and dreams for themselves, their families and their businesses. By asking hard and sometimes probing questions, we empower clients to think very intentionally about what they want for themselves today and in the years to come. Then, through the wealth planning process, we help them get there.害羞草研究所�

The approach at her firm is very holistic.

害羞草研究所淓verything we do at Wellington-Altus is to serve our clients in the manner that is best for each particular client, and that can look very different from one client to the next,害羞草研究所� she reflects. 害羞草研究所淲e have the freedom and support to try things at this firm, which is a very dynamic and entrepreneurial workplace. What I love about working at Wellington-Altus is that everyone here has chosen to be here, and we害羞草研究所檝e chosen it because we are empowered to do what害羞草研究所檚 right for our clients, always. It害羞草研究所檚 really energizing.害羞草研究所�

These days, Judith is doing a lot of running around. She害羞草研究所檚 running after a busy toddler, but she害羞草研究所檚 also lacing up her running shoes several times a week. In her 25 years as an athlete, she害羞草研究所檚 completed many marathons and triathlons, and with a front door located five minutes from a trail run, she害羞草研究所檚 out on trails a few times a week. And when she害羞草研究所檚 not running, she害羞草研究所檚 cycling.

But catch her tearing down a trail, she says, and there害羞草研究所檚 a good chance she害羞草研究所檚 thinking about tax law.

害羞草研究所淚 love the challenge of it, the fact that you could read the same provision of the tax act every day, and a new fact pattern will force you to view that provision in a new light and bring a different approach to how you solve your clients害羞草研究所� problems,害羞草研究所� she says.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 never dull and the law is always evolving, so it forces you to be on top of changes to find the best opportunities for clients. The other amazing thing about tax is that it allows me to meet people who害羞草研究所檝e built up significant wealth and to hear their approaches on life, business, work and wealth. Everyone has a great story with a different trajectory, and it害羞草研究所檚 really fun and fascinating to get to know my clients.害羞草研究所�

Judith is also passionate about literacy and began tutoring adult literacy programs as a student at McGill. Since moving to Kelowna, she害羞草研究所檚 tutored with Project Literacy, helping students learn English as a second language. 害羞草研究所淭he ability to read is critical to one害羞草研究所檚 day-to-day, but it also opens up new worlds of possibility and adventure,害羞草研究所� she reflects.

害羞草研究所淚 wouldn害羞草研究所檛 be where I am today without having been given the tools for success, and that starts with reading. So I害羞草研究所檝e tried, where I can, to impart that love of learning onto others who haven害羞草研究所檛 had the same opportunities as I害羞草研究所檝e had.害羞草研究所�

Story courtesy of , a Black Press Media publication
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