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.

Watch now

Paula N Gonzales, CPWA, CRPC

First Vice President
Wealth Management Advisor
Contact Me
Learn more about an advisor's background on
FINRA's BrokerCheck

Merrill Lynch
Wealth Management

Accessible, knowledgeable and experienced, I am committed to building and maintaining strong client relationships. I am passionate about what I do and I bring that passion to helping every client make what may be the most important financial decisions of their lives.

Profile

paula1.jpg

 Paula Gonzales is a co-founder of Isaac/Gonzales and Associates, a Merrill wealth management team that focuses on helping individuals, families, and businesses approach their wealth more thoughtfully and strategically. With more than 25 years of experience, Paula is skilled in really listening to clients, engaging with their priorities, and helping them create a path to pursue their goals more effectively.

 Clients from multiple states and various backgrounds engage Paula’s assistance. Many are weighing the timing of their retirement or have already attained that milestone. Others are actively building their wealth and want to know if they are on track for a smooth and secure future. And still others are the children, relatives, or friends of current clients, who appreciate the care that Paula invests in each relationship.

 Paula recognizes that wealth management is about more than investments. She spends significant time with clients, learning their stories, hearing their concerns, and demonstrating a genuine interest in their lives. She also takes the time to tackle relevant issues in their finances: creating a budget, consolidating assets, explaining options for trust and estate planning services, providing access to banking and lending opportunities from Bank of America, and designing a balanced portfolio. To each relationship, Paula brings her characteristic energy, empathy, and insight. Discreet and trustworthy, she is often welcomed as a member of a family’s inner circle, serving as a reliable friend during life’s key crossroads. Paula looks to a simple rule—treat others the way you would like to be treated—as the inspiration for her work ethic and responsiveness.

 Paula has worked at the firm since 1994. Over the course of her career, she has served as a Premier Banker as well as a Financial Advisor, providing her with valuable insights into the lending process. She earned her B.S.B.A. from the University of Arizona, where she majored in Finance and Real Estate. Committed to professional excellence, she holds the Certified Private Wealth Advisor® designation and the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor designation.

 Within the firm, Paula serves on the Leadership Team for the Merrill Women’s Exchange and is the dedicated Tucson liaison. She also serves as the Mentor Chair for the group. In this role, she helps to foster mentor/mentee relationships and serves as a mentor to promising new advisors.

 Outside the office, Paula loves to dote on her chihuahua, Izzy, and spend time with her family. A live music enthusiast, she likes to attend concerts with friends, sometimes in far-flung destinations. She also enjoys spoiling her nieces and nephews, whether taking them on trips, attending sporting events, or supporting their interests. Comfortable traveling internationally and domestically, Paula loves to trade ideas about great destinations. Her hobbies also include reading and photography.

  • EDUCATION

    University of Arizona

Professional Staff

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

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

Welcome

As a Merrill Lynch Wealth Management Advisor, I offer advice based on your goals and priorities– for yourself, your family, and your business. Our goals-based wealth management approach places the investor at the center of our focus, not the market. I can help you understand the pros and cons of every decision and maintain discipline so you can pursue your goals. As your needs or market conditions change, I will continue to work with you to agree upon adjustments to your investment approach.

Philosophy

It’s important to plan for your financial future, which means getting more than investment advice. I believe you may find value in a one-on-one relationship with someone dedicated to knowing who you are and what you want to accomplish. Someone who knows your kids’ names, how hard you worked to get where you are, how you define a successful life and how you view investing. My commitment is centered in helping clients achieve their goals by making their needs and wants a priority. My advice and financial approach are guided by what’s important to you, and our success is defined by your satisfaction over time.

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.

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

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.

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.

    DigitalMerrill2.png 
    Transcript of Video
    #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 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.

      Request Appointment

      Articles

      DISPLAYING:

      Market Briefs

      Compare and contrast: 4 key ways to save for college

      Because it’s never too early to start saving — a Roth IRA for teens

      3 Ways Trusts Can Protect Your Family

      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.

      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.