Women’s superpower: Investing

Watch our experts share ways to tap into your ability to build a more secure financial future.

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Women’s superpower: Investing

Watch our experts share ways to tap into your ability to build a more secure financial future.

Watch now

Merrill Lynch

THE FISH GROUP

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Merrill Lynch
Wealth Management

The Fish Group is dedicated to helping people achieve their financial goals and believes every client is entitled to the highest level of personalized service and care. Leveraging the global resources of Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, we place you at the center of our proven Wealth Management Process as we work together to design goals based financial strategies to help you achieve what matters most to you.

Welcome

We chose to be part of the financial services industry to help others. As witnesses to challenges faced by important people in our lives, we recognized the need for a professional and caring team to help others realize the life they want. Our purpose is to help others define their goals, establish a wealth management strategy centered on their priorities and then help them manage the inevitable changes in life. When you succeed, we succeed.

Our team brings shared ideas and resources to clients, offering a Goals-Based Wealth Management Process that puts you, rather than the market, at the center of the Wealth Management Process, which includes: 

Education: The Fish Group takes the time to provide clients with the information they need to make prudent decisions about their financial futures. Knowledgeable clients are empowered to stay focused on their goals and less likely to be distracted and influenced by extraneous financial pundits and the media.

Planning
: The Fish Group begins by helping clients articulate and prioritize their goals. They then work “backwards” to develop and implement a plan designed to increase the probability of achieving those goals.

Investing: The Fish Group leverages the vast resources of Merrill, which include “best in class” research and due diligence, to help clients develop non-propriety portfolios customized to reflect both their goals and risk tolerances.

We believe that you should be fully involved in the Wealth Management Process. Instead of simply starting a client relationship with an investment-focused discussion, we begin with an assessment that helps us determine your investment personality. That information helps us identify and address individual goals that are personally meaningful to you. With a better understanding of how you feel about investing, we can help you decide how to make the most of your financial resources so you can pursue your specific goals.

Named to Forbes “Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams” 2023 and 2024.

   Published annually in January. Rankings based on data as of March 31 of prior year.**

 

*Institutional Investor magazine announced BofA Global Research as one of the Top Global Research Firms in 2022 based on surveys held throughout the year. The magazine creates rankings of the top research analysts in a wide variety of specializations, drawn from the choices of portfolio managers and other investment professionals at more than 1,000 firms. BofA Global Research is research produced by BofA Securities, Inc (“BofAS”) and/or one or more of its affiliates. BofAS is a registered broker-dealer, Member SIPC, and wholly owned subsidiary of Bank of America Corporation. Learn more about the methodology at Institutional Investor. Rankings and recognition from Institutional Investor are no guarantee of future investment success and do not ensure that a current or prospective client will experience a higher level of performance results and such rankings should not be construed as an endorsement.

*Any information presented in connection with BofA Global Research is general in nature and is not intended to provide personal investment advice. The information does not take into account the specific investment objectives, financial situation and particular needs of any specific person who may receive it. Investors should understand that statements regarding future prospects may not be realized. BofA Global Research is research produced by BofA Securities, Inc. (“BofAS”) and/or one or more of its affiliates. BofAS is a registered broker-dealer, Member SIPC, and wholly owned subsidiary of Bank of America Corporation. BofA Global Research does and seeks to do business with companies covered in its research reports. As a result, investors should be aware that the firm may have a conflict of interest that could affect the objectivity of this report. Investors should consider this report as only a single factor in making their investment decision.

 
**Source: The Forbes “Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams" list, published annually in January. Rankings based on data as of March 31 of prior year.

Forbes “Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams” list. Opinions provided by SHOOK* Research, LLC and is based on in-person, virtual and
telephone due-diligence meetings and a ranking algorithm that measure best practices, client retention, industry experience, credentials,
compliance records, firm nominations, assets under management and Firm-generated revenue (investment performance is not a criterion
because client objectives and risk tolerance vary). SHOOK’s rankings are available for client evaluation only, are not indicative of future
performance and do not represent any one client’s experience and available for investor help in evaluating the right financial advisor and not
an endorsement of the advisor. Compensation was not received from anyone for the rankings study. Past performance does not guarantee
future results. Details available at the SHOOK Research website. SHOOK is a registered trademark of SHOOK Research, LLC.

Philosophy

We believe the best financial approach is the one that helps you pursue your goals. That's why, from the start, we talk about your aspirations and encourage you to ask questions about issues that matter most to you. Calculating how to manage future health care expenses? College on the horizon? Considering the sale of a business or purchase of a home? Preparing to pass your wealth to future generations? It all starts with a plan intended to help you manage, grow, and preserve your wealth today, while also considering the impact it can have for years to come. With access to the investment insights of Merrill and banking solutions from Bank of America, we will work with you to develop an approach designed to help address your financial needs.

Approach

Every relationship begins with a conversation, helping you identify and prioritize which goals matter most to you. Whether it's transferring wealth to the next generation, customizing your financial approach to help you pursue your passions, or providing advice and guidance to help you stay informed, we start by listening to learn more about you and your family.

Your approach to investing

Drawing upon research in the field of behavioral finance, Merrill developed the Investment Personality Assessment to help us get to know you better as an investor and potentially help you refine your own investing preferences. By gaining a deeper understanding of how you think and feel about investing through this assessment, we can customize the financial approach we develop together to help you pursue what matters most to you. Our Investment Personality Assessment is one of the ways to help us get to know you - to understand your goals and priorities. These questions will help us provide you with additional insights and resources.

Understanding your goals and priorities

Your life and goals change. We have tools to help you keep track of these changes so they can be reflected in your financial approach.

Capabilities

Merrill’s process is designed to help deliver a customized, comprehensive experience to assist you not only in wealth accumulation and preservation, but in areas that go beyond investments. Providing you with access to the investment insights of Merrill, trust and fiduciary services from Bank of America Private Bank, and the banking and lending solutions of Bank of America offers a way to help you manage all of the pieces of your financial life. Working one-on-one with a Merrill advisor means you have a single point of contact to help you with potential strategies for transferring wealth to the younger generation.

Focus On Individuals, Families and Small Businesses

We believe that financial success can be achieved when you’re able to make investment-related decisions and trade-offs that can help you reach personally meaningful goals. Whether you’re planning your retirement, saving to buy a home or funding a child’s education, the process begins by getting to know you and how you feel about the following:

  • Health: Managing healthcare expenses, now and in the future
  • Home: Upsizing, downsizing, remodeling or buying a vacation home
  • Family: Taking care of your family and other people in your life
  • Leisure: Spending your free time in meaningful ways
  • Giving: Volunteering, mentoring others and giving to charities
  • Work: Working in retirement, selling or starting a business
  • Finance: Bringing it all together and defining your financial goals

Success will be measured by the amount of progress you are making toward reaching your goals, making thoughtfully considered adjustments as events and conditions warrant.

This material should be regarded as general or educational information on healthcare or Social Security considerations and is not intended to provide specific healthcare or social security advice. If you have questions regarding your particular situation, please contact your legal or tax advisor.

Community Service

The Fish Group is actively involved in the communities we serve. We devote significant time, energy and resources to help create positive change. Our team is enthusiastically involved with organizations such as:

Alameda County Food Bank
Alzheimer’s Association
ARF Animal Rescue Foundation
Boys & Girls Club of Oakland
Contra Costa Food Bank
Cookies for Kids’ Cancer
Creative Growth
FIDF
Little Free Library
Muttville Senior Dog Rescue
National Parkinson’s Foundation
Oakland Museum of CA
Oakland Zoo


Meet the Team

Supported by the global resources of Merrill, our team is comprised of talented and experienced individuals committed to building strong client relationships based on trust and personalized service.

Additional Resources

The following specialists do not make securities recommendations. Please contact your Merrill Lynch Wealth Management Advisor if you have questions about how a specialist might be able to assist you.

Karla Kwiatkowski

Wealth Management Banking Specialist

Merrill

Samantha C Sylvester

Wealth Strategies Advisor

Bank of America, N.A.

Reham Asaad

Wealth Management Lending Officer

Bank of America, N.A.

NMLS #633262

Staying on Track

We understand that both your life and the financial markets can change over time. By checking in to discuss changes in your life and revisiting your financial approach, our goal is to help you stay on track to achieve what's most important to you.



Reviews to help you
stay on track

We’ll meet with you to review your goals and the progress you’ve made toward reaching them. We’ll also discuss any adjustments needed to your financial approach to help you stay on course.



    Changes in your life
    and to your goals

    Your life and goals change. As these changes occur, we can update your approach to reflect them.

    #DigitalMerrill

    MyMerrill is your online destination for access to your financial information, secure communications, and a robust offering of tools and capabilities.

    Your advisor is a click away within our site or mobile apps

    You can manage account security with our customizable security capabilities such as touch ID, one time passcode, and other security features

    Access to your complete financial life is available with My Financial Picture, Merrill’s asset aggregation tool

      Let’s Have a Conversation

      Helping you reach your goals starts with getting to know you personally. Through understanding what matters most to you, together we can help you create a financial approach that reflects your personality. Only then can we offer an approach that is built around your life priorities and the advice you need to help you address fluctuations in the market and changes in your life. Let’s work together to help you achieve your goals.

      Why Merrill?

      As Merrill Lynch Wealth Management Advisors, we will sort through the financial complexities of your life, helping you build a customized investment approach to address your needs and pursue your goals.


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      We put you first, every day.
      Learn more about the dedicated one-on-one relationship you can have with a Merrill Lynch Wealth Management Advisor.

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      Transcript of Video 

      No question too big or moment too small
      For every question you have, every decision you make and every answer you need, we are with you to listen and help guide you along the many paths your life can take. Watch this video to see some questions we can address together.


      The Power of the Right Advisor®
      Working with a dedicated Merrill advisor means you get personalized investment strategies from Merrill plus access to comprehensive financial solutions only Bank of America can deliver.

      Personalized advice from a dedicated financial advisor.

      We get to know you and your family, your financial situation and what matters most to you.

      A comprehensive approach, built around your life’s priorities.

      Drawing from our experience and the best thinking of Merrill, together we will design an approach that reflects your unique needs, priorities and financial situation.

      Adjusting your investment approach as your life and the markets change.

      We will work to help you stay on track, regardless of what the markets are doing.