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.

Jonathan Chang

Forbes “Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams” 2023
Published on January 12, 2023. Rankings based on data as of March 31, 2022.*

Forbes "Top Next-Generation Wealth Advisors" 2018
Published on July 25, 2018. Rankings based on data as of March 31, 2018.

Forbes "Best-in-State Next-Generation Wealth Advisors 2022
Published on August 3, 2022. Rankings based on data as of March 31, 2022.

Forbes "Best-in-State Next-Generation Wealth Advisors 2019
Published on September 4, 2019. Rankings based on data as of March 31, 2019.

Profile

Jonathan believes that personalized service is essential when matching clients with the right wealth plan. He is sensitive to the risk parameters, personal timelines, lifestyle needs and long term goals of each and every client.  Jonathan recognizes the importance of capital preservation and down-side risk reduction for the effective stewardship and transfer of wealth. 

Jonathan is a qualified Portfolio Manager who, in addition to providing traditional advice and guidance, can help clients pursue their objectives by building and managing his own personalized or defined strategies, which may incorporate individual stocks and bonds, Merrill Lynch Wealth Management model portfolios, and third-party investment strategies. When servicing clients through the firm’s Investment Advisory Program, a Portfolio Manager may manage his strategies on a discretionary basis.

Jonathan was named to the 2022 and 2019 Forbes Best-in-State Next-Generation Wealth Advisors List (Published annually Aug – Sept. Rankings based on data as of March 31 of current year).  The Best-in-State Next-Generation Advisors list represents the top 250 next-gen advisors in each state.  Each advisor on the list is selected by Shook Research based on an algorithm of qualitative criteria, including: in-person interviews, industry experience, compliance records, revenue produced and assets under management. 

Jonathan was also recognized on the 2018 Forbes Top Next-Generation Advisors List (Published on July 25, 2018. Rankings based on data as of March 31, 2018). The 2018 Top Next-Generation Wealth Advisors list includes 1,000 young, talented advisors who represent the future of the wealth management industry. Each advisor was nominated by their respective firm, then vetted and ranked by SHOOK Research.

Jonathan holds the Certified Private Wealth Advisor®, CPWA® designation. The CPWA® is administered by the Investments & Wealth Institute™ (The Institute) and taught in conjunction with The University of Chicago Booth School of Business.  
   
Jonathan holds the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor, CRPC® designation. He focuses on the pre and post-retirement needs of clients.

Jonathan has been in the financial services industry since 2003. He earned his B.A. in Finance from California State University, Fullerton. He is a Senior Vice President and designated Wealth Management Advisor.  Jonathan and his wife reside in Newport Beach with their twin girls.  

If you are interested in scheduling a financial review with Jonathan, please contact him at (949) 456-8114.


*Source: The Forbes “Top Next-Generation Wealth Advisors” list, published on July 25, 2018. Rankings based on data as of March 31, 2018.

Forbes’ “Top Next-Generation Wealth Advisors” list was developed by SHOOK Research. Advisors considered for this ranking were born
in 1980 or later with a minimum of four years of relevant experience; advisors have: built their own practices and lead their teams; joined
teams and are viewed as future leadership; or a combination of both. Ranking algorithm is based on qualitative measures: telephone and
in-person interviews, 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 criteria because
client objectives and risk tolerances vary, and advisors rarely have audited performance reports. Rankings are based on the opinions of
SHOOK Research, LLC and not representative nor indicative of any one client’s experience, future performance or investment outcome.
Neither Forbes nor SHOOK Research receives compensation in exchange for placement on the ranking. Forbes is a trademark of Forbes
Media LLC. All rights reserved.

*Source: The Forbes “Best-in-State Next-Generation Wealth Advisors” list, published annually Aug - Sept. Rankings based on data as of
March 31 of current year.

Data provided by SHOOK® Research, LLC. Forbes “Best-in-State Next Generation Wealth Advisors” ranking. SHOOK considered advisors
born in 1983 or later with a minimum 4 years as an advisor. Advisors have: built their own practices and lead their teams; joined teams and
are viewed as future leadership; or a combination of both. Ranking algorithm is based on qualitative measures: telephone and in-person
interviews to measure best practices, 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. Rankings are based on
the opinions of Forbes and not representative nor indicative of any one client’s experience, future performance, or investment outcome
and should not be construed as an endorsement of the advisor. 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.

  • EDUCATION

    California State University, Fullerton

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.

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.

Sara Burns

Wealth Strategist

Merrill

Richard Mitchell

Wealth Management Lending Officer

Bank of America, N.A.

NMLS #680263

Alson Chao

Market Linked Investments Specialist

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

Welcome

My goal is to help clients pursue their personal goals, such as planning for and funding their children’s educations, helping to ensure that their money lasts in retirement, planning for their potential health care costs and managing the transfer of wealth to the younger generation. Everything I do takes into account clients’ personal perspectives and priorities. I aim to help bring simplicity and transparency to the complexities of investing; making the intimidating task of planning for the future an exciting journey of managing and helping reach your goals.

Philosophy

I believe the best financial approach is the one that helps you pursue your goals. That's why, from the start, we talk about your aspirations and encourage you to ask questions about issues that matter most to you. Worried about managing future health care expenses? College on the horizon? Considering the sale of a business or purchase of a home? Preparing to pass your wealth to future generations? With access to the investment insights of Merrill and the banking convenience of Bank of America, I will work with you to develop an approach designed to help address your financial needs.

Approach

I begin every relationship 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, I start by listening to learn more about you and your family.

Drawing upon research in the field of behavioral finance, Merrill developed the Investment Personality Assessment to help me get to know you better as an investor and help you refine your investing preferences. Together, I can help customize your investment approach. Using an understanding of your priorities and investment personality as a foundation, I help you access the full breadth of resources from Bank of America’s banking products and services and Merrill’s investment insights to address all aspects of your financial life.

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.

    #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.

      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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      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 AdvisorTM
      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.