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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Derek James Nan, CPFA

Senior Vice President
Resident Director - Wealth Management Advisor
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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

Our Focus

We are a group that focuses on the Agricultural, Industrial, Medical and Tech based businesses, business owners and employees that are the heart of California's economy. We adhere to a disciplined process that delivers a consistent yet customized wealth management experience. Our mission is to always do what is best for our clients, build on our integrity, and earn their respect and trust. We structured our team with your needs in mind, and provide you with a broad range of wealth management strategies from Merrill and over 60 years of financial markets experience between the 3 of us. Using our Goals-Based Wealth Management approach, we can leverage the expertise of BofA Global Research for market analysis and risk management strategies to help you address your financial goals. We have a tremendous opportunity to help our business owners put together a thoughtful succession plan to help them achieve their goals. We work closely with our partners at Bank of America for banking and lending services, as well as clients Attorneys and CPAs to offer their expertise in:

Buy Sell Agreements
Wealth Transfer and Trusts
Pre-Liquidity planning
Recapitalization
Lending to a potential buyer
ESOP
Company Retirement Plans
Define Contribution Plans/Defined Benefit Plans
Help Individuals going from Accumulation to Distribution Phase
 


Derek J. Nan
Senior Vice President
Resident Director - Wealth Management Advisor

Derek Nan is a Senior Vice President, Wealth Management Advisor in the Modesto Merrill Lynch Wealth Management Office. Derek joined Merrill in 2007 and he is a graduate of California State University of Stanislaus, where he focused his studies in Economics as well as Business Finance. He has been a life long citizen of the Modesto area and is a member of American Mensa, Past President of Oakdale Sunrise Rotary and involved in the Modesto Sons of Italy. Derek business focus is in planning-based financial advice, estate planning issues, money management, retirement planning issues, small business & corporate 401Ks including defined benefit and cash balance plans.



Eric G. Chu
Wealth Management Advisor

Eric Chu joined the Global Wealth Management division of Merrill in 2016. He is a graduate of the University of California Merced, where he obtained double bachelor degrees in Economics and Business Management. Eric has been involved in the VLAB: MIT Enterprise Forum at Stanford University, Merced Sunrise Rotary, and is involved in the University of California Merced Friend’s Circle philanthropic organization. Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, Eric now currently resides with his wife in Merced, CA. He enjoys spending time with his family and friends in all aspects from boating on Lake McClure to evening dinner and card games.



Patty Jacques
Registered Senior Wealth Management Client Associate

Patty joined Bank of America/Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in 1979.  Since 2007 Patty has been the client associate for our team helping our clients focus on achieving their financial goals. Patty is a life long citizen of the Modesto area and is currently a proud resident of Ripon, CA with her husband Bart.

**Any information presented in connection with BofA Global Research is general in nature and is not intended to provide personal investment advice. The information does not take into account the specific investment objectives, financial situation and particular needs of any specific person who may receive it. Investors should understand that statements regarding future prospects may not be realized. BofA Global Research is equity research produced by BofA Securities, Inc. (“BofAS”) and/or one or more of its affiliates. BofA Global Research does and seeks to do business with companies covered in its research reports. As a result, investors should be aware that the firm may have a conflict of interest that could affect the objectivity of this report. Investors should consider this report as only a single factor in making their investment decision.

  • LANGUAGES

    English

  • EDUCATION

    California State University of Stanislaus

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.

Samantha C Sylvester

Wealth Strategist

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

My mission is to understand you and what matters most to you. To take the time, to ask hard, smart questions and to listen carefully, then to understand, in great detail, exactly where your wealth stands today, and where you’d like it to be tomorrow. I help you design and implement a customized wealth management approach that helps you and your family pursue your personal financial goals while helping manage investment risk. My wealth management approach is about using wealth to help turn goals into reality.

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.

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    #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.

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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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      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.