In the constantly evolving financial world, many investors see investing as a complex science depending on slick strategies and complicated products — when more likely a less complex and rational perspective will provide the results they seek. Whether you’re accumulating wealth, or distributing it for retirement, Joe commits to simple and clear strategies at every stage in the investment cycle. To uphold this commitment, Joe delivers logic-driven and time-tested services — from helping a company with their retirement plan’s fiduciary responsibility to supporting affluent families’ investment and insurance-planning needs.

Joe is a Retirement Benefits Consultant at Merrill. This designation is awarded to a limited number of Advisors who have completed a rigorous assessment process and enable him to advise large multinational publicly traded institutions on 401k and retirement planning needs. This includes experience working with committees and various branches of the committees ranging from internal and external legal counsel as well as payroll and various HR employees to help achieve a positive investment committee and participant experience.

To be a Wealth Management Advisor, Joe had to pass various trainings to help with the most complex needs of families that may have far above average wealth. He works with individuals and families, and committees of these families or their family offices, to help develop wealth management strategies, including investment advice and guidance, as well as wealth transfer strategies for multigenerational families.

Joe has relationships with Merrill’s Institutional Investments & Philanthropic Solutions group to help advise Endowments and various 501(c)(3) charities with their unique investments needs, as well as providing access to Donor-Advised funds and Foundations.

On a continuous endeavor to learn, Joe has earned the Certified Investment Management Analyst® (CIMA®) designation awarded by the Investments & Wealth Institute™ (The Institute),  the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor, CRPC® designation from the The College of Financial Planning Institutes Corp. and the Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor, CPFA® designation from the National Association of Plan Advisors (NAPA). Joe has earned to the Sports & Entertainment Advisor title from Merrill as well as the Sports & Entertainment Accredited Wealth Management Advisor (SE-AWMA) designation to help manage the financial situations of this type of clientele. Joe earned his Bachelor's of Science in 2006 from Weber State University in Utah and a Master's degree in Business (MBA) in 2011 from Florida International University.

Prior to joining Merrill in January of 2010, Joe worked in private banking, and brings a dual focus on investments and lending (commercial lending and residential loans). Utilizing CMBS and other forms of commercial credit, and conventional home loans, Joe can help make the process less burdensome by maintaining consistent communication and faster response times.

Over the last few years, Joe has received recognition, including the following:
Forbes/Shook "America's Top Next-Generation Wealth Advisors" list, 2018.
Published on July 25, 2018. Rankings based on data as of March 31, 2018.

Joe is married, with their four children, and currently resides in Miami, FL. and holds a basic focus in life of family, faith and finances.

In-between work, he enjoys traveling, trying new amazing foods, playing games, telling a good joke, playing 9-ball, watching movies, and having dance parties with his children.


*Banking products and services provided by Bank of America, N.A.

*Joe Bowden NMLS ID 804074

*Source: The Forbes “Top Next-Generation Wealth Advisors” list, published on July 25, 2018. Rankings based on data as of March 31, 2018.

Forbes’ “Top Next-Generation Wealth Advisors” list was developed by SHOOK Research. Advisors considered for this ranking were born in 1980 or later with a minimum of four years of relevant experience; advisors have: built their own practices and lead their teams; joined teams and are viewed as future leadership; or a combination of both. Ranking algorithm is based on qualitative measures: telephone and in-person interviews, client retention, industry experience, credentials, review of compliance records, firm nominations; and quantitative criteria, such as: assets under management and revenue generated for their firms. Investment performance is not a criteria because client objectives and risk tolerances vary, and advisors rarely have audited performance reports. Rankings are based on the opinions of SHOOK Research, LLC and not representative nor indicative of any one client’s experience, future performance or investment outcome. Neither Forbes nor SHOOK Research receives compensation in exchange for placement on the ranking. Forbes is a trademark of Forbes Media LLC. All rights reserved