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 HART Group

Learn more about an advisor's background on
FINRA's BrokerCheck

Merrill Lynch
Wealth Management


Conversations with clients are focused on:

Their Unique Needs and Priorities
Retirement Planning Goals
Mortgage and Lending Strategies
Trust and Estate Planning Services
Tax Minimization Strategies
Wealth Transfer Goals
Income Planning Strategies

When you succeed we succeed.

Welcome

The HART Group is a team of professionals who provide highly customized and tailored strategies to individuals, executives, business owners, and their families. The HART Group is also part of Merrill's Retirement Education Services area that assists corporate retirees in the area. Our team was formed in 2005 by 4 financial advisors who recognized that the level of knowledge required to serve clientele was beyond what any one person could effectively know. Since that time we have continued to expand our team and our services to include not only investment acumen, but also retirement, college funding and estate planning services, as well as foundations, philanthropy and intergenerational wealth transfer. Each partner brings a differentiated area of professional experience and we work collaboratively to serve clients.

We are proud to have been named as the #1 team in Delaware in the Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams" list in 2023 and 2024* (published annually in January. Rankings based on data as of March 31 of prior year). We seek to understand clients, their families, and ultimately their unique goals and maintain the highest levels of communication as specific needs may change over time. We believe our dedication to client service is unparalleled. Clients have entrusted our team with approximately $1.7 billion in assets as of 1/12/2024 and they come to us seeking advice that will help them better organize their financial lives, preserve their wealth and minimize the impact of market volatility.

Philosophy

Our clients have come to us with questions such as:

  • What should I do with my 401(k) when I retire or change jobs?
  • Do I have enough money to retire?
  • When should I take social security?
In order to help you find individualized answers to these types of questions, we believe a disciplined, goals-based approach provides the greatest opportunity for success. We utilize the vast, global resources of Merrill, as well as the expertise of third party managers, to help our clients meet their financial goals. Collectively, our team brings well over a hundred years of cumulative professional experience. It is our commitment to bring all of this experience together to provide you and your family with a level of excellence that simply can’t be found elsewhere.

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.

Watch Our #WomenInvested On-Demand Virtual Event

Watch now as expert panelists explore the new realities for women presented by Merrill Perspectives.

Moderated by Soledad O’Brien, award winning journalist, documentarian, entrepreneur & philanthropist.

 womeninvested.png

Caregiving in the Age of Coronavirus: Taking Care of Your Loved Ones—and Yourself
Lee Woodruff and Renée Peterson Trudeau will share their own personal experiences of caregiving--and discuss how they are working through the challenges.

Finding Purpose and Staying Connected in a Disconnected World
Shiza Shahid & Lisa Nichols will discuss how to stay connected with family, friends and loved ones, while also continuing the journey to find meaning and purpose in life.

A Century of Progress: The Road to Gender Equity
With the 100th anniversary of the passing of the 19th amendment, Jackie Vanderbrug, Chief Investment Office for Merrill and Bank of America Private Bank & Savita Subramanian, BofA Global Research, will explore gender lens investing and how it can help society at large while providing potential opportunities for investors to consider.

Visit our #WomenInvested event page to learn more.

watchnowbutton.png

Recognition

Merrill is proud of our advisors who’ve received recognition from financial industry publications or directly from Bank of America Corporation. We believe they are setting the standard for exemplary client service.

Thomas B Rice

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.*

Barron's "Top 1,200 Financial Advisors: State-by-State" 2019-2024
Published annually in February - March. Rankings based on data as of September 30 of the prior year.

Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Advisors" 2018-2023
Published annually Jan- April. Rankings based on data as of June 30 of prior year.

Jill M Angstadt-Truesdell

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.*

Forbes "Top Women Wealth Advisors Best-in-State” 2022-2024
Published annually in February. Rankings based on data as of Sept 30 of prior year.

Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Advisors" 2022-2023
Published annually Jan- April. Rankings based on data as of June 30 of prior year.

Forbes "America's Top Women Wealth Advisors" 2020 and 2021
Published annually Feb- April. Rankings based on data as of June 30 - September 30 of prior year.

Working Mother/SHOOK Research's "Top Wealth Advisor Moms" 2020-2021
Published annually Sept - Oct. Rankings based on data as of Mar 31 of current year.

Donald P Truesdell Jr.

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.*

Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Advisors" 2018-2023
Published annually Jan- April. Rankings based on data as of June 30 of prior year.

Barron's "Top 1,200 Financial Advisors: State-by-State" 2018
Published on March 12, 2018. Rankings based on data as of September 30, 2017.

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.

Lisa Rainforth

Wealth Strategies Advisor

Bank of America, N.A.

Michael Nitsche

Wealth Management Banking Specialist

Merrill

Shawn DeAngelis

Wealth Management Lending Officer

Bank of America, N.A.

NMLS #1450823

Past Events

Market Outlook 2024

Wilmington Country Club, 4825 Kenneett Pike, Wilmington, DE 19807

February 1st, 2024|12:00 PM EST

Please join The HART Group and our partners at J.P. Morgan Asset Management for a special, educational lunch event designed to provide insight into the global markets and explore the implications of current economic data and changing market conditions.

    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.


        MLBrochure.png

        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.

        Anthem video thumb.jpg 
        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.