Welcome

A Different Kind of Relationship 

When your wealth takes on a certain scale, it can be helpful to have a solid team behind you. We look to be that team for a select group of clients, helping them gain confidence, ease, and a higher echelon of strategy in managing their financial affairs. 

Located in Little Rock, we are five-members strong, all dedicated to a common mission: adding value to your life. 

Our founders, Douglas Jackson and John Engskov, have been with Merrill throughout their careers. Their deep roots at the firm—and in the Little Rock community—have heightened their ability to identify impactful solutions for the families and businesses we serve. 

Douglas and John have earned national accolades for their work—recognition that they believe reflects the caliber of clients they serve:

 Douglas Jackson:

• Barron’s “Top 1,200 Financial Advisors in the U.S.,” 2018 – 2023 (published annually in Feb-March. Rankings based on data as of September 30 of prior year)
• Forbes “Best-In-State Wealth Advisors,” 2019 - 2022 (published annually Jan - April. Rankings based on data as of June 30 of prior year.)

 John Engskov:

• Barron’s “Top 1,200 Financial Advisors in the U.S.,” 2017 – 2023 (published annually in Feb-March. Rankings based on data as of September 30 of prior year)
• Forbes “Best-In-State Wealth Advisors,” 2019 - 2022 (published annually Jan - April. Rankings based on data as of June 30 of prior year.)

Our service model is anchored by three outstanding Associates—Jackie Sebastian, Blake Gateley, and Billie-Ann Bruce, who demonstrate each client’s importance through their precise execution and diligent outreach. 

Here are a few of the ways that we look to deliver a different caliber of experience for the clients we serve. 

• Continual Improvement. We are restless in our desire to add value to clients’ lives. We don’t simply speak those words—we live them. Client well-being is our ultimate aim—an ambition that grounds our efforts in integrity. 

• Comfort with Complexity. Clients often come to us with intricate situations—from concentrated portfolios and stock options to the possible sale or transfer of a business. We’ve handled these issues many times before, so we’re attuned to what to consider—and what to avoid. We’re gratified that clients leverage our knowledge to pursue better outcomes for themselves and the people they care about. 

• A Long-Term Perspective. We’ve seen multiple market cycles—from the 1990s and the tech bubble, through the financial crisis of 2008 and the 2020 pandemic. Our judgment and perspective have been honed through varied market conditions. We’re long-term investors, avoiding the “hot dot” for enduring principles, grounding our approach in analysis, rather than emotion.

• A Commitment to Excellence. We hold high standards on our team, and appreciate that clients do, too. Client referrals are our primary source of new relationships, a fact that spurs our continuing efforts to exceed expectations and deliver a preeminent experience for the families we serve. 

To speak with one of our Advisors, please see the red “Contact Us” button at the top of our webpage. We welcome the opportunity to speak with you. 

*Source: The Barron’s “Top 1,200 Financial Advisors: State-by-State” list, published annually in Feb-March. Rankings based on data as of September 30 of prior year.  

The Barron’s “Top 1,200 Financial Advisors” ranking considered advisors with a minimum of seven years financial services experience and who have been employed at their current firm for at least one year. This is a list of the top advisors in each state, with the number of ranking spots determined by each state’s population and wealth. Other quantitative and qualitative measures include assets under management, revenues generated by advisors for their firms, and the quality of the advisors’ practices, regulatory records, internal company documents, and 100-plus points of data provided by the advisors themselves. Rankings and recognition from Barron’s 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 of the advisor. Barron’s is a trademark of Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All rights reserved.

 
*Source: The Forbes “Best-in-State Wealth Advisors” list, published annually Jan - April. Rankings based on data as of June 30 of prior year.

Data provided by SHOOK® Research, LLC. Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Advisors ranking was developed by SHOOK Research and is based on in-person, virtual, and telephone due diligence meetings to measure best practices; also considered are: client retention, industry experience, credentials, review of compliance records, firm nominations; and quantitative criteria, such as: assets under management and revenue generated for their firms. Investment performance is not a criterion because client objectives and risk tolerances vary, and advisors rarely have audited performance reports. SHOOK’s research and rankings provide opinions intended to help investors choose the right financial advisor and are not indicative of future performance or representative of any one client’s experience. Past performance is not an indication of future results. Neither Forbes nor SHOOK Research receive compensation in exchange for placement on the ranking. For more information, please see www.SHOOKresearch.com. SHOOK is a registered trademark of SHOOK Research, LLC.