Joel Kruzich
Senior Portfolio Manager, Senior Investment Advisor
Tel: 416.572.5472

Joel fell in love with the investment industry while working for a summer with his father, who was an advisor for a bank-owned firm. After earning a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance at Bishop’s University in 1994, he began his career at TD Evergreen, where he witnessed a severe market crash that shaped his conservative approach to investing. He worked for seven years and then moved to Hampton Securities for another seven years, developing a loyal clientele of investors and a specialty in helping people to generate a steady income in retirement. In 2011, his fifteenth year in the investment industry, Joel made the move to Macquarie Private Wealth, which was acquired by Richardson Wealth (formerly Richardson GMP) in 2013. After working closely with his friend and mentor, Lloyd Leonard, for some time, Joel teamed up with Lloyd in 2014 to create Kruzich Leonard Wealth Management. Joel is also an Assistant Coach of his son’s Leaside Flames hockey team. He enjoys spending time with his wife, son and daughter, especially being outdoors at his family cottage in the Kawarthas.

Gil Shapero
Associate
Tel: 416.864.3514

Gil embarked on his journey in the financial services industry with a mission to make a meaningful impact on people’s lives by helping them achieve their financial goals. A graduate of Wilfrid Laurier University, he earned a Bachelor of Business Administration with a Minor in Economics and a concentration in sustainability, equipping him with a solid grasp of financial principles and a deep appreciation for environmental stewardship.

Since joining Richardson Wealth in 2023, Gil has become an integral part of the team. His expertise spans financial planning, streamlining account paperwork, addressing client needs, and actively participating in client meetings. With a knack for building genuine connections, he takes pride in understanding each client’s unique goals and crafting tailored solutions to help them succeed. Witnessing the tangible impact of his efforts is what fuels his passion for the role.

When he’s not in the office, Gil immerses himself in the great outdoors. He loves embarking on multi-day canoe trips through Algonquin Park, braving whitewater rapids alongside his brother, and unwinding at the cottage with family and friends. A true believer in work-life balance, Gil treasures evenings by the campfire, morning paddles on misty lakes, and cheering on the Toronto Raptors during game nights. These experiences fuel his creativity and keep him grounded in what matters most—relationships and connection.

Our extended team

Sylvia Azoulay TEP

Vice President, Tax & Estate Planning

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Sylvia works closely with Investment Advisors and their clients to explore and identify issues that address clients’ overall wealth planning needs. She helps clients formulate objectives, understand issues and strategies and facilitates implementation of their goals. Sylvia understands the sensitive issues relating to family dynamics and wealth transfer.

Sylvia is an estate planning lawyer with many years of experience. Prior to joining Richardson Wealth, she was a principal in her own strategic wealth planning firm and also spent many years in the financial industry dealing with wealth planning solutions for high net worth clients.

Sylvia has been an instructor at Humber College School of Business and at the Bar Admission course at the Law Society of Upper Canada. She is a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners and the Estate Planning Council of Toronto. She is a seasoned presenter on topics of importance to high net worth families.

Sean Hsu CPA (U.S.), MTax, TEP

Vice President, Tax

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Sean collaborates with advisory teams and their clients to develop wealth planning strategies and to deliver integrated solutions addressing their unique needs.

Sean is an accountant with experience in Canadian and U.S. tax planning for high-net-worth individuals, with a focus on integrated cross-border wealth, estate, and trust matters. Before joining Richardson Wealth, Sean was at a multi-national accounting firm practicing in the private client group.

Sean participates in the development of thought leadership content delivered by our Tax & Estate Planning team. He has appeared in The Globe and Mail and has authored and contributed to several articles for BorderCrossings, a Thomson Reuters publication with insightful commentary on crossborder issues faced by Canadians and U.S. citizens. He is also a facilitator in the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada’s In-Depth Tax Program.

Sean is a U.S. Certified Public Accountant, a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners, and holds a Master of Taxation from the University of Waterloo.

Jason Middleton CFP®

Estate and Insurance Advisor

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Jason has a well-rounded knowledge of the Insurance industry having worked at all levels of the business. He has worked at the manufacturer level, at the distributor level and, most importantly, as an Independent Insurance Broker and business owner.

Jason’s financial and accounting backgrounds allow him to take a comprehensive approach to advanced Estate and Insurance planning for clients. His ‘educate first’ approach resonates well with clients, who feel that his solution-based recommendations are tailored to their individual needs.

Jason earned a Bachelor of Business Administration with Honors in Accounting and Corporate Finance in 1999 from the University of New Brunswick. He began working on his CA (Chartered Accountant) with Deloitte and Touche in 2001 after taking a sabbatical to train and try out for the Canadian Olympic Swim Team. Upon returning to the work force Jason completed the CSC (Canadian Securities Course) and earned his CFP (Certified Financial Planner) designation in 2003.

*Insurance services offered through Richardson Wealth Insurance Services Limited.