The Cooke Group

Merrill Lynch Wealth Management
2 Pine St
New Canaan, CT 06840
203.972.2507
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Understanding your life priorities is an important part of the relationship with you. It’s not just about markets and returns, it’s about what matters most to you.  We can collaborate to help create a personalized plan designed around you, your family, your goals and your aspirations.
The Cooke Group
Merrill Lynch Wealth Management
Welcome

Our mission, first and foremost, is to understand you and what matters most to you. Armed with that information I can ask thoughtful questions -- listening carefully, then understanding in detail where your wealth stands today and where you’d like it to be tomorrow. We help you design and implement a personalized plan intended to help you and your family pursue financial goals while helping manage investment risk. Our approach is to focus on potential solutions that can help turn goals into reality.

Recognition
Linus Cooke
Barron's "America's Top 1200 Financial Advisors State-by-State", 2017-2020
(Published annually in March. Rankings based on data as of September 30 of prior year.)
Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Advisors", 2019-2024
(Published annually Jan – April. Rankings based on data as of June 30 of prior year.)
Click here to learn more about advisor recognitions
About Us
Welcome

Our mission, first and foremost, is to understand you and what matters most to you. Armed with that information I can ask thoughtful questions -- listening carefully, then understanding in detail where your wealth stands today and where you'd like it to be tomorrow. We help you design and implement a personalized plan intended to help you and your family pursue financial goals while helping manage investment risk. Our approach is to focus on potential solutions that can help turn goals into reality.

About Us
Welcome

Our mission, first and foremost, is to understand you and what matters most to you. Armed with that information I can ask thoughtful questions -- listening carefully, then understanding in detail where your wealth stands today and where you'd like it to be tomorrow. We help you design and implement a personalized plan intended to help you and your family pursue financial goals while helping manage investment risk. Our approach is to focus on potential solutions that can help turn goals into reality.

Philosophy

Life is always changing and growing more complex. In the same way, your priorities and needs around your family, work, health and home are always evolving. And since your finances are so deeply connected with the rest of your life, an investment approach that is specific to your unique situation can be helpful. Even if you're accustomed to managing your finances on your own, you may find value in having a relationship with someone who understands your priorities and who has the knowledge and resources to help you make more informed decisions, no matter where you are in life.

Approach

Helping you pursue your goals starts with getting to know you and your family. We will work together to create a financial strategy that reflects your investment style and is built around your life plan. Our planning process can help you identify and prioritize your personal and professional financial goals, including education funding and retirement lifestyle. Potential strategies are offered to provide the "fit" that may best serve your objectives, risk tolerance, time horizon and liquidity needs. We help you understand fees and expenses associated with your accounts.

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

It is important to know exactly where you are with your finances, where you plan to go, and how much you may need to help get you there. Drawing on Merrill's investing insights and with access to Bank of America's credit and lending solutions, we can offer you a comprehensive, personalized plan to help you pursue your goals. We will provide transparency on what you're paying for and what you're getting, as well as potential opportunities and risks. Understanding that life needs and market conditions can change, we will meet with you, as necessary, to help make sure your strategy remains on track to pursue your goals and adjust your approach for the journey ahead, as needed.

The broad investing resources of Merrill provide you with access to potential strategies for income management, education funding, retirement income planning, and guidance for executives with concentrated stock positions. In addition to traditional and alternative investments and wealth transfer solutions through Merrill, you have access to estate planning services from Bank of America. As your single point of contact we can connect with key professionals in your life, working closely with your outside advisors, such as attorneys, accountants and elder care specialists.

DISCLOSURE: Some or all alternative investments may not be appropriate for certain investors. Certain alternative investments carry significant risk and are not subject to the same regulatory oversight as mutual funds and other appropriate investments. For these reasons, access to alternative investments may be limited to investors who are designated as sophisticated, high-net-worth investors.

Focus On

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. Whether you're planning your retirement, saving to buy a home or funding a child's education, the process begins by getting to know you and how you feel about the following:

  • 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

Success will be measured by the amount of progress you are making toward reaching your goals, making thoughtfully considered adjustments as events and conditions warrant.

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.

Meet Our Team
Linus Cooke, CPWA®,SE\-AWMA™
Managing Director, Senior Financial Advisor
203.972.2507
Jonathan Borrajo, CFP®
Financial Advisor
203.972.2543
Brian E Keefe, CFP®
Vice President, Senior Wealth Planner
203.972.2511
Maria R Frattaroli
Assistant Vice President, Wealth Management Associate
203.972.2512
Cassidy Schiff
Wealth Management Associate
203.972.2518
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.
Allyssa Dougiello
Wealth Management Banking Specialist
Jeffrey Wiedmann
Wealth Strategies Advisor
Louis Tesoriero
Wealth Management Lending Officer
NMLS #78196
About Merrill

Bringing fresh perspectives to your financial life

The financial decisions you make today can help determine the future you build for yourself and your family. Carving a clear path forward starts with connecting your life and finances. A Merrill advisor provides access to the investing insights of Merrill and banking capabilities of Bank of America to help you make informed decisions as you pursue your goals.

About Merrill
Fresh perspectives

Bringing fresh perspectives to your financial life

The financial decisions you make today can help determine the future you build for yourself and your family. Carving a clear path forward starts with connecting your life and finances. A Merrill advisor provides access to the investing insights of Merrill and banking capabilities of Bank of America to help you make informed decisions as you pursue your goals.

Personalized planning

Helping you create a personalized plan

At Merrill, we go beyond the traditional role of an advisor.

  • Your goals, concerns and attitude about investing are the foundation of your plan.
  • We actively listen and provide personalized advice — ensuring we understand what matters most to you and your family.
  • We're committed to creating a personalized plan that evolves with you to help you live well today while preparing for the future.
Team and resources

Giving you access to our teams and solutions

Your advisor is one part of an experienced team dedicated to helping you achieve your goals. Acting as your single point of contact, your advisor provides personalized strategies and connects you with:

  • Bank of America specialists, such as mortgage or trust professionals
  • Timely insights from BofA Global Research1 to help you stay informed and navigate ever-changing markets
  • A full suite of Merrill investing and Bank of America banking solutions

1BofA Global Research is research produced by BofA Securities, Inc. ("BofAS") and/or one or more of its affiliates. BofAS is a registered broker-dealer, Member SIPC, and wholly owned subsidiary of Bank of America Corporation ("BofA Corp.").

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Investments & Wealth Institute™ (The Institute) is the owner of the certification marks CPWA® and Certified Private Wealth Advisor®. Use of CPWA®, and/or Certified Private Wealth Advisor® signifies that the user has successfully completed the Institute’s initial and ongoing credentialing requirements for wealth advisors.
Sports & Entertainment Accredited Wealth Management Advisor™, SE-AWMA™, and the SE-AWMA™ logo are certification marks or registered certification marks of The College for Financial Planning Institutes Corp. in the United States.
Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (CFP Board) owns the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, and the CFP® (with plaque design) in the United States, which it authorizes use of by individuals who successfully complete CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements.