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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.

William F Adolph

Forbes “Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams” 2024
Published on January 12, 2024. Rankings based on data as of March 31, 2023.*

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

J. Norman Deitrich

Forbes “Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams” 2024
Published on January 12, 2024. Rankings based on data as of March 31, 2023.*

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.

Mason Flinn

Employee Benefits Specialist

Bank of America, N.A.

Elizabeth M Burlinson

Senior Wealth Management Lending Officer

Bank of America, N.A.

NMLS #364508

Christopher Caradec

Wealth Strategies Advisor

Bank of America, N.A.

Where do we begin? It starts with you.

At Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, your financial advisor focuses on the things you care about most- family, goals and priorities - even as they change over the years.

Understanding Your Life

Insight and experience applied to exceptional clients

The Adolph Group is an experienced, multidimensional financial advisory team backed by the full scope of Merrill's global investment insights and Bank of America's broad range of banking products and services.

Who we work with
Our nationwide client base is composed of institutions and private clients.

Institutions We are privileged to work with a number of employee benefit plan sponsors. We offer an integrated suite of services to assist companies and plan managers with their retirement benefit plans, such as 401(k)s and defined benefit pension plans; we also assist with equity compensation plans, such as profit sharing plans, stock option arrangements, non-qualified deferred compensation programs and other executive services.

Private clients– We offer advice and guidance to affluent families, couples and individuals. We serve many entrepreneurs, business owners and corporate executives, and we believe that we connect well with these clients because we understand how they think about goals, aspirations and risk. Many family clients have been with us for many years, and our service to them extends to two or three generations. We truly value these important relationships.

William F. Adolph III, CRPC, C(k)P
Senior Vice President
Senior Financial Advisor
Retirement Benefits Consultant

 

Helping plan sponsors pursue objectives


J. Norman Deitrich...on benefit plans

"For employers, offering benefit plans is more complex than ever. We are an experienced team, dedicated to supporting employers as they face the challenges of expanding regulations, due diligence and plan compliance. For employees, we believe that financial wellness and retirement preparedness require personal engagement with a seasoned financial advisor to assist in identifying and tracking their long-term goals. We help and guide them in decisions to reach a happy and healthy retirement. We believe positive outcomes do not happen by chance; rather, they are a result of working effectively with plan sponsors and employees alike."

The Adolph Group works with sponsors of 401(k) and 403(b) retirement benefit plans, defined benefit pension plans, and qualified and non-qualified equity compensation plans of all types.

Services
We offer a range of services to plan sponsors and participants, including:
  • guidance on designing a new plan or converting an existing one
  • guidance on implementing new plan features resulting from regulatory changes
  • guidance on developing an investment strategy
  • guidance in refining investment menus to fit sponsor and participant needs
  • access to detailed analytics and investment performance reporting
  • educating plan participants—general and targeted group programs
  • reviewing plan performance and benchmarking

Special training and focus
Both William Adolph and J. Norman Deitrich have earned the designation of Retirement Benefits Consultant, a credential reserved for a select group of highly qualified Merrill financial advisors. The designation allows them to work directly with benefit plans of all types and all sizes and bring a deeper level of service and support to plan sponsor clients. In addition, Bill holds the Certified 401(k) Professional (C(k)P®) designation, an elite designation obtained through The Retirement Advisor University, Inc. after completing the educational component at the University of California, Los Angeles' (UCLA) Anderson School of Business.

*C(k)P® and Certified 401(k) Professional is a registered trademark of The Retirement Advisor University, Inc. 

Disciplined wealth management for families and individuals


William F. Adolph III, Senior Financial Advisor...on customized wealth management
"Our view is that wealth management extends beyond transactions and beating market benchmarks. It encompasses a comprehensive approach to creating a strategy that is supported by a diversified portfolio of investments, to pursue the financial goals and life goals that are most important to you. By and large, we focus on helping clients to develop financial strategies that focus on the relationship between risk reduction and investment outcomes as they relate to clients' goals. They have worked hard to create wealth, and they want to preserve what they have and grow it sensibly over time."


Foundations of a goals-based approach:
  1. Effective wealth management is built around a process that is focused on your goals and financial concerns.

  2. The approach we decide on together is aligned with your personal circumstances as well as your unique attitude toward investing, risk tolerance, time horizon and liquidity needs.

  3. The process and approach are designed to make the very most of your resources.

For Institutional Clients:

Investment menu design

  • Assist in determining the appropriate menu for your plan based on participant needs and demographics
  • Provide access to services for drafting your investment policy statement
Investment due diligence
  • Propose appropriate investment recommendations from Merrill's recommended investment list
  • Offer guidance for replacement funds on an regular basis
  • Integrate research and due diligence across all asset classes
Conduct quarterly performance reviews
  • Performance reports and individual fund profiles
Group employee education
  • On-site educational and communication meetings to help employees prepare for each life stage
  • Assist participants with allocation strategies and income strategies for short- and long-term needs
For Individual Clients:
  • Help clients understand the relationship between investment returns and investment risk
  • Assist clients in setting realistic goals and discuss the returns needed over time to get them there
  • Consider time horizon, liquidity needs, risk tolerance and tax sensitivities to structure portfolios and suggest investments
Norman Deitrich, Senior Financial Advisor…on asset allocation
"Asset allocation is key to our investment process for wealth management clients. We take a focused and consistent approach that helps us uncover a deeper understanding of clients' concerns and priorities, and develop portfolios and strategies designed to pursue each goal." 
*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 equity research produced by BofA Securities, Inc. (“BofAS”) and/or one or more of its affiliates. 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.

Upcoming Events

Healthcare in retirement: Medicare and the HSA

https://rsvp.bankofamerica.com/event/18273

April 4th, 2024|11:00 AM - 12:00 PM EDT

This seminar is designed to take an in-depth look at how an HSA can work with Medicare to help pay for healthcare expenses during retirement.

Please click on the below link to register for the seminar.

https://rsvp.bankofamerica.com/event/18273 

    For more information: 267.663.2058 or Norm_Deitrich@ml.com

    Past Events

    Journey of Caregiving

    December 28th, 2023|3:00 PM - 4:00 PM EST

    This seminar will cover how caregiving can affect you and the people you love and potential impacts to your finances. However, there are things you can do to help mitigate some of these impacts by planning ahead and having the conversation with your family today.

    Please click on this link to register https://rsvp.bankofamerica.com/event/16012

      Planning for the retirement you want

      WebEx

      February 14th, 2024|2:00 PM - 3:00 PM EDT

      How much will you need in savings for retirement? While the amount is different for each of us, the need for a plan isn’t. Join this seminar to begin the process and put a plan in place for your retirement.

      Please click the link below to register for the meeting.

      https://rsvp.bankofamerica.com/event/18245 

        Early Retirement Trend

        https://rsvp.bankofamerica.com/event/18250

        March 19th, 2024|4:00 PM - 5:00 PM EDT


        Regardless of whether you think you may retire earlier than you originally planned, reviewing your retirement plan and preparing for a range of outcomes can help you be prepared for the unexpected and help you pursue your retirement goals.

        Please click on the link below to register for this event.

        https://rsvp.bankofamerica.com/event/18250 

          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.

              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.