Women’s superpower: Investing

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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.

Lori Patrick

Wealth Management Banking Specialist

Merrill

Virginia Dobbs

Wealth Management Lending Officer

Bank of America, N.A.

NMLS #167942

Jeffrey Wiedmann

Wealth Strategies Advisor

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

Value Proposition

Families with substantial wealth often lead complex financial lives. Fischer, James and Associates are dedicated to helping these families achieve the life goals they envision through strategies to grow and preserve wealth and pass it along to future generations.

The journey through life can bring many challenges, from the expected (such as educating children or preparing for retirement) to the unforeseen (such as divorce, disability or the death of a spouse). We are attuned to these challenges and committed to helping you prepare financially to meet them.

Our approach is collaborative. We work closely with clients to understand their financial goals and concerns, and then draw on our individual and collective experience to tailor strategies to specific wealth management needs. We seek to provide thoughtful, insightful guidance on the financial matters that are most meaningful to you — from investment management strategies to home financing through Bank of America, N.A., and assistance with liabilities to wealth transfer and retirement income planning strategies based on your anticipated lifestyle.

We believe in building long-term relationships based on transparency and trust. We are committed to working within your financial strategy and we will assist you with any course corrections in your wealth management “road map” as important changes occur in your life. Our over-arching goal is to provide the financial guidance you need to pursue your life on your terms.

*NMLS ID 589601

Philosophy

We 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. Calculating how to manage 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? It all starts with a plan intended to help you manage, grow, and preserve your wealth today, while also considering the impact it can have for years to come. With access to the investment insights of Merrill and banking solutions from Bank of America, we will work with you to develop an approach designed to help address your financial needs.

Approach

Wealth Management is a dynamic process. As we focus on you today and help you identify your goals for tomorrow, we can strive to work together throughout life’s ups, downs, triumphs, and transitions. Helping you pursue your goals starts with getting to know you, your family and developing a plan. Our job is to understand what matters most to you. We will work together to create a financial strategy that reflects your investment personality and is built around your life priorities. We will be here to help you make adjustments to your plan if and when necessary over time.

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

In 1914, Charles Merrill said, “The interests of our customers must come first.” That’s a commitment that we still honor today. Charles Merrill would be gratified to see how the business he founded continues to place a premium on service and commitment. With the investment insights of Merrill, and with access to the credit and lending capabilities of Bank of America, services are available that can help you address virtually every financial challenge you face.

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. 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.

Upcoming Events

REIT Market Update Lunch Seminar with Cohen & Steers

Via Sforza Trattoria, 243 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06880

April 30th, 2024|12:00 PM EST

Please join us for a REIT market update seminar featuring Chris Boland of Cohen & Steers.  

Lunch will be provided.

  • Lunch

For more information: 203.341.4932 or william.b.james@ml.com

Past Events

Valentine's Day Lunch Seminar

Valbella, 1309 E Putnam Avenue, Riverside, CT 06878

February 14th, 2024|12:00 PM - 2:00 PM EST

Please join us for our upcoming lunch event on Valentine's Day to hear from Ashely Rose Maisano of JP Morgan and Gaby Baum of Lord Abbett at Valbella.

  • Lunch

Lunch Seminar featuring Phil Orlando of Federated Hermes

Via Sforza, 243 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06880

November 15th, 2023|12:00 PM - 2:00 PM EST

Please join us for a lunch seminar featuring Phil Orlando of Federated Hermes.

  • Lunch

Lunch Event featuring Chris Kerwin of Columbia Threadneedle

Via Sforza, 243 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06880

October 27th, 2023|12:00 PM - 2:00 PM EST

Please join us for an informative lunch event featuring Chris Kerwin of Columbia Threadneedle.

  • Lunch

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 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.

      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 Advisor®
      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.