Profile

Oscar’s financial skills and community efforts have been a profile of influence and devotion for decades. His reputation has led to a largely referred clientele of active and retired physicians, farmers, vintners, growers and other business owners who rely on his knowledge, know-how and ability to provide thoughtful advice and guidance.

Celebrating 15 years in the financial industry and relationships that span generations of families, Oscar works closely with clients in California and more than ten other states.

To learn what motivates and concerns clients, Oscar often asks, “What’s most important to you? Do you want to spend more time with your kids or your grandkids, travel or something entirely different? What’s your biggest financial challenge? What’s your greatest achievement? And what role would you like me to play?”

As a proactive advisor fluent in English and Spanish, Oscar helps clients plan and prepare for circumstances they anticipate and those they don’t. Often, he is a client’s first advisor – which is why he explains the importance of consistent saving and investing. Oscar also serves clients whose complex financial lives can benefit from his ability to build multi-faceted strategies and manage financial tasks on their behalf. Other times, a client may have had poor financial experiences with currency devaluation or economic volatility in their previous country of residence.

Oscar’s efforts often extend to clients’ families and employees. He holds meetings with multiple generations – educating whenever possible and helping each family member share ideas and understand what drives an overall wealth strategy. With business owners, he discusses succession and exit planning strategies and ways to monetize the value of their enterprise. He also explains aspects of retirement plans to owners and employees – and how regular contributions can allow for desired, long-term outcomes.

Before joining Merrill in 2015, Oscar spent eight years at Met Life. He holds the Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor, CPFA designation from the National Association of Plan Advisors (NAPA) and a place in his heart for serving others. Currently, Oscar is:

• Board Chair of CHI (Community Health Initiative) a Napa non-profit that he helped found. Now with offices now throughout California, CHI provides access to quality healthcare for thousands of families who cannot afford it.
• A board member of HOLA (Hispanic/Latino Organization for Leadership and Advancement), the oldest and largest Bank of America Employee Network.
• An annual speaker to incoming Latino transfer students at Santa Clara State University, offering a “financial boot camp” with helpful tips and advice.
• Active with the Hispanic Bar Association (Oscar does not provide legal advice in his current role with Merrill).

Oscar also leads outreach for The Sonoma Valley Vintners and Growers Association. During the pandemic, he showed many growers how to apply for PPP assistance.

Well acquainted with hard work, Oscar grew up in Juarez, Mexico. His grandfather was a migrant farm worker and his dad trained greyhounds and horses. After moving to Salinas with his mother, Oscar’s father joined them and opened an auto body shop, where Oscar’s time working as a teenager taught him the value of building financial skills – especially important in navigating the recession in 2008.

The first in his family to attend college, Oscar graduated from San Francisco State University with Bachelors degrees in Cinema and Anthropology. Today, Oscar and his wife, Pamela, reside in Napa with their son and two daughters. Active on the sidelines and “playing chauffeur” to his kids’ lacrosse, tennis and cheerleading events, Oscar still finds time to enjoy road biking with his son and experiencing the wine country with friends and family.