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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The Hazany Group

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Merrill Lynch
Wealth Management

The strong relationships we build with our clients and their families are the most important assets to our practice. By listening to their needs and connecting with them on a personal level, we strive to help them navigate through life’s many complex financial decisions. Our achievements are measured by their success. We are committed to looking beyond their investable assets focusing on what’s most important to them—today and in the future.

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.

Sara Burns

Wealth Strategist

Merrill

Jason Angel

Wealth Management Lending Officer

Bank of America, N.A.

NMLS #459929

Ramiro R Villegas

Wealth Management Banking Specialist

Merrill

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 Greeting

Today’s markets are fast moving and complex, and many clients do not have the time or inclination to make the day-to-day decisions necessary to navigate them. We are privileged to work with a select group of exceedingly accomplished individuals and multigenerational families throughout California and the United States, including professionals in the private equity industry, corporate executives, business owners, entrepreneurs, and other high-income professionals, each of whom has distinctive needs and priorities.

We relish the opportunity to apply our depth of knowledge and skills, harnessing the extensive resources of Merrill Lynch Wealth Management and the banking convenience of Bank of America to advance clients goals, streamline financial management, and intensify the beneficial outcomes of wealth for successive generations. Our disciplined approach starts with asking detailed questions to truly understand what they are trying to achieve and to define the true purpose of their wealth.

The long-standing relationships we have developed with clients throughout the years have continued to flourish through various economic conditions. We believe this is a testament to our insightful advice and guidance, out-of-the-box thinking, and exceptional client service. It is our intention to be a financial resource to help clients make informed decisions about their money—today and in the future.

Focus On Individuals, Families and Small Businesses

We 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, We 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.

Business Owners

As a busy, successful business owner and entrepreneurial spirit, we understand that your personal and business lives are intrinsically intertwined. Our team is skilled at evaluating the big picture—carefully exploring your overall financial situation to help you navigate the challenges you may encounter on both sides of your life.

From growing your business, to realizing its value through a succession strategy or sale, to maintaining family ownership by the next generation, we can provide strategic advice to help meet your goals by working with you to understand your unique situation and recommend which strategies are most appropriate for your specific needs.

Additionally, members of The Hazany Group hold the Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor designation and can help you increase the amount of income you can defer for retirement while providing a valuable benefit to your employees through 401(k) plans and other defined-benefit plans.
 

Corporate Executives

Like so many time-pressed, successful executives, you work hard to help assure your company thrives. In doing so, you may find that you have little time and energy to devote to your own complex financial well-being.

The Hazany Group understands the important role equity compensation programs serve in building executive wealth. Our team is well versed in helping corporate executives manage complex compensation packages including company and restricted stock.

Working in concert with your tax and legal advisors, we can guide you in developing diversification strategies designed to help mitigate the risk inherent in concentrated positions. These may include such elements as 10b5-1 sales plans, gifting, and other tax-sensitive strategies that seek to minimize the risk of a concentrated position while working to enhance your portfolio liquidity.

Private Equity Firms

In a fiercely competitive investment environment, private equity firms face a number of issues from regulations and oversight to an ever-changing market with limited investment opportunities. You need a tenured and technically proficient financial advisory team who understands your transaction methodology from start to finish.

That’s why key stakeholders at private equity firms and their portfolio companies look to the experience of The Hazany Group to help maximize returns and build value from acquisition through exit. Whether your goal is to increase your worth through a transaction, strengthen portfolio-company performance, or structure a new fund, we have years of industry-specific experience in private equity to help you create value and achieve growth throughout the investment life cycle. Additionally, as a private equity professional, we can help you with specialized wealth management opportunities for the ownership and income from your fund that are unique to you.

We pride ourselves in our ability to bring the following services to our private equity clients:

Private equity firm partners

·         Tax deferral strategies

·         Estate planning strategies

·         Wealth management services 

Private equity portfolio companies

·         Retirement plan 401(k) reviews to help reduce fiduciary liability of private equity firms and owners

·         Exit planning strategies through Merrill Lynch Wealth Management or through our network of boutique investment banks

·         Pre-sale planning for business owners during private equity buyout or sale

·         Lending capabilities through Bank of America, N.A.


*Some or all alternative investment programs may not be in the best interest of certain investors. No assurance can be given that any alternative investment’s investment objectives will be achieved.

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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    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.

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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.