James Kraft

James Kraft

Vice President and Head of Business Advisory and Succession Planning, BMO Wealth Management

Jim is a member of the High Net Worth Planning team at BMO Wealth Management, where he leads the Business Advisory Team, supporting advisors across Canada.  He offers BMO Advisors and their clients valuable insight and expertise in planning for business owner succession, complex business owner needs, tax planning, estate planning, wealth transfer and corporate reorganizations.  With over 25 years of senior level experience in the tax and estate planning community, Jim possesses a comprehensive understanding of the financial and personal complexities faced by owners of private businesses and affluent families.

Jim is the in house expert in aligning client planning conversations on business succession with BMO partners and can act as the primary interface with BMO Partners, coordinating client contact and planning business opportunities.

Education and Professional Achievements

  • Chartered Professional Accountant, CPA, CA
  • Master of Taxation (MTax), University of Waterloo
  • Certified Financial Planner, CFP and a FELLOW of FPSC
  • Trust and Estate Practitioner, TEP
  • Completed the CICA In-Depth Tax Program and Wealth Preservation Program
  • Completed in the Family Enterprise Advisor (FEA) program

Volunteer and Community Service

  • Financial Planners Standards Council Board of Directors (’04 to ’15)
  • Lecturer at CPA Owner Manager Indepth Program (’12 to present)
  • Financial Planning Foundation Board of Directors (’08 to ’10)
  • Co-Author of The Advisor’s Guide to Business Succession Planning
  • Co-Author of Comment a bi-monthly professional publication
  • Author of numerous technical papers and articles
  • Frequent speaker at professional and educational seminars