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Michael J. Hart, CPFA, CRPC, CFP

Senior Vice President
Senior Resident Director
Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor
Learn more about an advisor's background on
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Merrill Lynch
Wealth Management

Our team focuses on addressing the investing and fiduciary responsibilities of institutions as well as the wealth management needs of individuals and families. We work closely with clients to determine their needs so that we can craft customized financial strategies to help them pursue their goals.

Recognition

Merrill is proud of our advisors who’ve received recognition from financial industry publications or directly from Bank of America Corporation. We believe they are setting the standard for exemplary client service.

Michael J. Hart

Forbes "Top Next-Generation Wealth Advisors" 2022
Published on August 3, 2022. Rankings based on data as of March 31, 2022.

Forbes “Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams” 2023
Published on January 12, 2023. Rankings based on data as of March 31, 2022.*

Click here to learn more about advisor recognitions

Profile

Michael Hart is a Wealth Management Advisor and Portfolio Manager within Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He is also the Senior Resident Director of the Ocala, FL office and a managing partner of Hart, Greiner & Associates.

Background & Education:
Upon graduation from the University of Florida in June of 2006, Michael went to work for a Fortune 1000 Asset Management Firm as an Investment Advisor in Tampa, FL. His role with the firm included working with individuals and small businesses in building and managing their portfolios by assessing their investment objectives, risk tolerance, time horizon and/or unique circumstances. Once implemented, he would consistently work with clients to make sure the portfolio stayed aligned with their financial goal(s). Michael was also classified as a Subject Matter Expert; a responsibility which involved further educating clients and associates in areas related to overall financial, education and retirement planning. He remained with the same company until January of 2011, when he joined Merrill. A native of the Ocala area, he returned with his wife, Sarah and their four children Daniel, Robert, Elizabeth and Allison.

He's advanced his education by obtaining the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification; a designation awarded by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. and also completed a Master’s Degree from the College for Financial Planning. His specialization was in Personal Financial Planning. Further, he is a Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor℠ designee.

Practice:
We leverage this background and knowledge to help serve the financial needs of individuals, families, retirees, small businesses and foundations. Financial needs may include areas associated with investments, insurance, tax minimization strategies, retirement planning, employee benefits, liabilities management and estate planning services. Michael's goal is to provide the highest level of advice and guidance to clients by utilizing his education, experience and the extensive resources available through Merrill. By appointment, please feel welcome to come in and sit with Michael or a member of his team and outline your financial goals, determine what your portfolio is intended to do and review your financial situation; all with no cost or obligation.

Michael also enjoys supporting the community, local organizations and his Alma Maters. He is a current or past member of the Florida Sheriff’s Association, Florida Guardian ad Litem Foundation, University of Florida Alumni Association and served on the board for the Boys & Girls Club of Marion County. Currently, he serves as a member the Executive Committee for the College of Central Florida Foundation.

*A Portfolio Manager can help clients pursue their objectives by managing on a discretionary basis his own personalized or defined strategies, which may incorporate individual stocks and bonds, Merrill model portfolios, and third-party investment strategies.

*Merrill, its affiliates, and financial advisors do not provide legal, tax, or accounting advice. You should consult your legal and/or tax advisors before making any financial decisions.

  • EDUCATION

    College for Financial Planning

    University of Florida

Professional Staff

Supported by the global resources of Merrill, my 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.

Allison Mulgrew

Wealth Strategist

Merrill

Julie White

Senior Wealth Management Lending Officer

Bank of America, N.A.

NMLS #518440

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

Welcome

My 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. I help you design and implement a personalized plan intended to help you and your family pursue financial goals while helping manage investment risk. My approach is to focus on potential solutions that can help turn goals into reality.

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 Individuals, Families and Small Businesses

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.

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.

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    #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 I can help you create a financial approach that reflects your personality. Only then can I 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.

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      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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      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.