By Surbhi Gogia
Over the years, Kyle Sarai, Senior Investment and Wealth Advisor, has observed firsthand the remarkable wealth the South Asian community has accumulated in the Lower Mainland, especially in the Fraser Valley. Whether through small businesses, real estate, or other assets, the South Asian community has shown an impressive capacity for building capital. Kyle, however, often observes a recurring theme: “Many lack a clear strategy for structuring their wealth to ensure it grows and passes seamlessly to future generations; thus, the next generation is often unprepared to inherit these assets and significant stresses in retaining this new wealth.”
Kyle has assembled a team of independent Advisors under Sarai Wealth Management (www.kylesarai.ca) to provide a solution to this issue. Operating with RBC Dominion Securities, Sarai Wealth Management has assisted clients in achieving their wealth management goals for over a decade in Vancouver. Recently, the team moved to a new office in South Surrey, strategically positioning themselves to better serve clients in the South Fraser region.
He explains the move: “Approximately $80 trillion in wealth will need to be transferred to the next generation across North America over the next 15 years. The Fraser Valley holds a significant share of this wealth, with our South Asian community members as key contributors. Our goal is to ensure the protection of their wealth, to promote its continued growth, and to pass it seamlessly to future generations without it being diminished by estate taxes.”
Wealth typically includes bank accounts, savings, RRSPs, businesses, real estate, stocks, and shares accumulated over a lifetime. Kyle explains that managing wealth involves three critical stages. The first stage is accumulating earnings and growing assets. The second stage is protecting those assets by structuring them under a secure framework to prevent loss or oversight. And the third stage is efficiently passing wealth to the next generation, so it continues to grow, and support loved ones. Unfortunately, most people remain focused on accumulation, neglecting the vital steps of protection and transfer. He observes, “Many people spend their lives creating wealth, only to pass away without a plan.
Families are often unaware of their assets and can lose significant amounts during acquisition. Wealth management is essential if you want your next generation to thrive and benefit from your hard work.”
Wealth management is a comprehensive process that includes cash and debt management, investment planning, tax strategies, retirement and estate planning, and risk management. Kyle explains, “We specialize in growing wealth through GICs, stocks, and bonds. However, our real expertise is in ensuring wealth is not only grown but also passed on tax-efficiently to future generations. As one of our clients, if you were to pass away tomorrow, we would meticulously manage 100% of your wealth. Your beneficiaries would know precisely what steps to take. They would know who to contact first, how to structure the wealth to minimize taxes, and how to manage and grow the inheritance effectively moving forward.”
He emphasizes that RBC boasts a dedicated team of chartered accountants, lawyers, financial planners, and advisors who provide reliable financial planning, trusted investment advice, and comprehensive wealth management solutions. “RBC Dominion Securities is Canada’s largest full-service investment and wealth management firm, overseeing the wealth of one in four Canadians, with over $500 billion in assets—25% of the country’s investable wealth,” Kyle states. “Through our partnership with RBC Wealth Management, Sarai Wealth Management collaborates with estate and trust planners, private bankers, and other professionals to create comprehensive plans. We ensure that your wealth is safeguarded and passed on to future generations in a tax-efficient manner.”
Born and raised in Vancouver, Kyle is a third-generation Indo-Canadian who has witnessed the remarkable wealth generation within the South Asian community. However, he points out, “A lack of awareness, financial education, and planning often results in wealth loss, especially due to estate taxes. Many individuals need to update their wills, powers of attorney, or financial plans. Families are frequently unaware of their assets, making them vulnerable. We cultivate long-term relationships with families to structure wealth, ensuring it continues to grow after retirement or the passing of a loved one, and allows the next generation to inherit without unnecessary tax losses.”
He advises that regardless of your financial status, if you possess above-average financial assets, you also require an above-average financial plan. As a trained professional from Salem University in West Virginia, where he received a golf scholarship, Kyle, along with his partners Chris Ma and Susanne Wells, provides services such as investment management, retirement income planning, will and estate planning, comprehensive financial planning, charitable giving and philanthropy, and tax planning for clients.
Now, with a strong presence in the Fraser Valley, Kyle’s team is dedicated to protecting and enhancing the wealth of the South Asian community, transforming current wealth into a legacy for future generations.
