Tune out the noise: Wealth planning for the year ahead

Tune out the noise: Wealth planning for the year ahead

Hear from a panel of experts as they explore how rising interest rates, high inflation and increased volatility are impacting the economy, how family dynamics are changing estate planning and hear some actionable strategies for investors to consider in 2023.

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Justin Gillham, CPFA, CFP, CRPC

Senior Vice President
Wealth Management Advisor
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Merrill Lynch
Wealth Management

We provide sophisticated strategies and personalized attention to a limited number of wealthy individuals and families.  We combine the experience of understanding the complex financial needs of clients with substantial wealth with broad capabilities of a global institution to address your goals.

Profile

Justin Gillham - Senior Vice President, Wealth Management Advisor

Justin has been in the financial services industry since 2002 and joined Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in 2008. Justin is part of a team of wealth-management professionals who offer diverse financial strategies to high net worth individuals and businesses. His group offers a holistic approach to wealth management that includes investing, estate planning strategies, retirement planning strategies, wealth transfer strategies, education planning, wealth preservation and life insurance.

WGS insists on understanding the goals and specific situations of their clients, and endeavor to establish deep and valued relationships. Clients can expect to receive personalized advice and strategies through services required by a dedicated and experienced team.

Justin's approach to wealth management is consultative and objective, and he is committed to providing excellent service. First, he takes the time to listen to and review client financial situations, preferences and goals. Second, he offers recommendations for asset allocations designed to accurately reflect each client's income and growth expectations as well as time horizon, risk tolerance and liquidity needs. And third, he follows up with discussions covering a wide range of opportunities, including investments, retirement, estate planning services and philanthropy.

Justin is a 2002 graduate of Bowling Green State University, with a B.S. in Business Management with specializations in Finance, Financial Planning and Management Information Systems. He earned his CFP® certification in 2008 and his CRPC® designation in 2007. Justin enjoys playing golf in his free time and spending time with his family and friends. Justin is currently an active volunteer for the Little League in his community, Cactus Foothills Little League.  Justin served on the board for the Little League as well as devoted time to coaching.  Prior to his involvement in the Little League, Justin served as a member of the Fresh Start Women’s Foundation on the Men’s Council as well as a volunteer with the Phoenix Chapter of First Tee. He and his wife, Jen, live in Scottsdale, Arizona, with their three children.

Justin holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification, awarded by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc., and the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor designation awarded by the College for Financial Planning Institutes Corp.

Bryan Wollheim - Senior Vice President, Wealth Management Advisor

Bryan has worked in the industry 20+ years, joining Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in 2009. Bryan's goal is to be the very best in his field by working with high net worth families, individual investors and business owners in the development of their long-term financial goals. Bryan is a Portfolio Manager who can help clients pursue their objectives by managing on a discretionary basis his own Personalized or Defined Strategies, which may incorporate individual stocks and bonds, Merrill Lynch Wealth Management model portfolios, and third-party investment strategies.

Bryan graduated with a B.S./B.A in Finance at the University of Arizona. Along with his wife Jaclyn, Bryan has three daughters. He enjoys golf, traveling, snowboarding, and rooting for the Wildcats, Cardinals, Suns, and Diamondbacks.

Edward Sarraf - Senior Vice President, Senior Financial Advisor

Ed utilizes all his resources to deliver a clear and productive wealth management experience. He focuses on getting to know your unique situation and builds relationships based on trust. He evaluates your needs and desires, and employs wealth-management services to help meet those needs.

Ed earned his Bachelors of Science in Personnel Management from the University of Arizona Business School in 1991. Ed has more than 30 years of experience in the financial services industry. Ed began his career with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in 1992, as a 401(k) representative at the World Financial Center in Manhattan, NY. Following nine years as a NASDAQ and hedge-fund trader, Ed rejoined Merrill in 2004. Ed, his wife and daughter reside in North Scottsdale. In his spare time Ed enjoys his lifelong passion of playing recreational ice hockey.

I follow the deep-seated Merrill tradition of participating in the communities we serve. This drives my interest in spending time volunteering with organizations in our community.

  • LANGUAGES

    English

  • EDUCATION

    Bowling Green State University

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

Approach

My approach to investing is grounded in an understanding of you. It all begins with a conversation. I take the time to get to know you — your kids' names, how hard you worked to get where you are and how you define success. I'll work together with you to understand your investment personality, prioritize your goals and build a financial approach that reflects your needs. I believe investors can benefit from our advice, access to the investment insights offered by Merrill, trust and fiduciary services from Bank of America Private Bank and the banking convenience of Bank of America. When it comes to your success, there’s only one financial approach that really matters — yours.

Capabilities

My process is designed to help deliver a customized, consistent experience to assist clients not only in wealth accumulation and preservation, but in areas that go beyond investments. My ability to provide access to the investment insights of Merrill, trust and fiduciary services from Bank of America Private Bank, and the banking convenience and lending solutions of Bank of America offers a way to help clients manage all of the pieces of their financial lives. I view myself as a financial resource, helping clients with potential solutions for transferring wealth to the younger generation.

Trust and fiduciary services are provided by Bank of America Private Bank, a division of Bank of America, N.A., Member FDIC, and a wholly owned subsidiary of Bank of America Corporation (“BofA Corp.”).

Focus On Individuals, Families and Small Businesses

I 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. So whether you’re planning your retirement, saving to buy a home or fund a child’s education, I start by getting to know you and how you feel about the following seven life priorities.

  • 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

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.

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.

Philosophy

We live in a world that's constantly changing. Markets can fluctuate frequently. Potential investment opportunities can arise daily. Regulations are amended. That's why I believe that you and your situation are the best starting points from which to help plan your financial future: where you are today, where you want to be tomorrow, and what you want to accomplish along the way. Because by understanding you and your priorities, I can more effectively offer my experience and resources and help you build a financial framework that is rooted in the unique complexities of your life.

Welcome

As a Merrill Lynch Wealth Management Advisor, I focus on connecting all aspects of clients’ financial lives to help them prioritize and pursue goals that matter most to them. I work with individuals and families to understand their financial situation, risk tolerance, time horizon and liquidity needs. I help them articulate their short- and long-term goals, then work with them to establish a financial approach aligned with what they strive to achieve. I do so while combining personalized service with the investment insights of Merrill and access to the banking convenience of Bank of America.

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.

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      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 I can help you create a financial approach that reflects your personality. Only then can I 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.

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      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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      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.

      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.