David Ornstein
Senior Vice President, Wealth Management Advisor
1020 Boston Post Road
Darien, CT 06820
203.662.5508
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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.  I can collaborate to help create a personalized plan designed around you, your family, your goals and your aspirations.
Welcome

David S.Ornstein, Wealth Management Advisor

Since joining Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in 1991 David has helped high-net-worth families, business owners, as well as corporate executives to develop strategies to manage their personal and business finances. He has been in the Darien office since it opened in 2000. David has experience with technical investment strategies, including hedging and diversifying concentrated single stock positions. Additionally, the team focuses on sophisticated wealth transfer strategies and philanthropic issues. Drawing on his experience and internal relationships the team has access to all areas of Merrill for their clients. David and his family live in Greenwich where he served over 14 years on the Representative Town Meeting. He is a lifelong sailor and is a former board member of the Indian Harbor Yacht Club.


Erica L. Westfall, Wealth Management Associate

Erica works closely with clients to provide fundamental support in all phases of client service, client relationship building and account maintenance. Additionally, she handles all restricted stock and stock option transactions and government filings. She graduated summa cum laude from Iona College with a BBA in Finance. Erica began her career at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management as an intern in 1998.


In practice, our service differs from some others' in the field. We combine the breadth and technical depth of a large global firm, with the fast response, enthusiasm and personal attention to detail usually found only in smaller or specialized firms. We limit our workload to make that possible.

About Me
Welcome

As your Merrill advisor, I take the time to understand what's important to you so I can provide personalized investment strategies built around your priorities, risk tolerance, time horizon, liquidity needs and goals. Thoughtful advice and guidance is provided to help you achieve your goals, including those related to your preferred lifestyle and desire to secure a legacy that can last beyond your lifetime.

About Me
Welcome

As your Merrill advisor, I take the time to understand what's important to you so I can provide personalized investment strategies built around your priorities, risk tolerance, time horizon, liquidity needs and goals. Thoughtful advice and guidance is provided to help you achieve your goals, including those related to your preferred lifestyle and desire to secure a legacy that can last beyond your lifetime.

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. 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, I will work with you to develop an approach designed to help address your financial needs.

Approach

Every relationship begins 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.

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

Merrill's process is designed to help deliver a customized, comprehensive experience to assist you not only in wealth accumulation and preservation, but in areas that go beyond investments. Providing you with access to the investment insights of Merrill, trust and fiduciary services from Bank of America Private Bank, and the banking and lending solutions of Bank of America offers a way to help you manage all of the pieces of your financial life. Working one-on-one with a Merrill advisor means you have a single point of contact to help you with potential strategies for transferring wealth to the younger generation.

Focus On

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. 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 Professional Staff
Erica L Westfall
Assistant Vice President, Wealth Management Associate
203.662.5510
Alexis P Becroft
Assistant Vice President, Wealth Management Associate
203.662.5518
Michael C Mancuso
Officer, Registered Wealth Management Client Associate
203.662.5504
Susan Fast
Assistant Vice President, Registered Wealth Management Client Associate
203.662.5538
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.
Mark D Temple
Employee Benefits Specialist
Stephen Pavia
Wealth Management Banking Specialist
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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David Ornstein is registered to do business in AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, IL, KS, MA, MD, ME, MO, NC, NJ, NY, PA, RI, SC, TX, VA, VT.