Lee Yost joined Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in 2008. He works closely with clients from a variety of industries to delineate their distinctive goals and priorities, pursuing those objectives with forethought and care. Lee’s belief as a wealth manager is not only to provide financial services, but also to gauge the important changes occurring in clients’ lives. Thoughtful and strategic, he helps them plan for the unexpected, anticipate change, and adjust their strategies over time, as necessary.

Dedicated to using his financial acumen to help clients build and maintain the life that they desire, Lee supports them in making informed decisions about their wealth, such as the timing of retirement, the sustainability of their spending, or the transfer of their legacy to successive generations. Understanding what a successful retirement looks like helps Lee suggest strategies to help clients save enough to maintain their standard of living and retire comfortably. Additionally, he meets with clients regularly to review their accounts, risk profiles, and short- and long-term goals to help keep their retirement strategies on track.

Lee earned a Bachelor’s degree in business administration from University of Florida in Gainesville. He holds the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor CRPC® designation. Lee was named to the Forbes/SHOOK “America’s Top Next-Generation Wealth Advisors” list in 2018(Published on July 25, 2018. Rankings based on data as of March 31, 2018) and Forbes “Best-in-State Next-Generation Wealth Advisors” list in 2019(Published on September 4, 2019. Rankings based on data as of March 31, 2019).

Lee and his wife, Kimberly, live in Tampa with their two children, Hayden and Jordan. A Kiwanis club member, he enjoys watching baseball and playing golf in his spare time.



 

*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.


*Source: The Forbes “Best-in-State Next-Generation Wealth Advisors” list, published on September 4, 2019. Rankings based on data as of March 31, 2019.

Forbes “Best-in-State Next-Generation Wealth Advisors” list was developed by SHOOK Research. Advisors considered for this ranking were born in 1980 or later with a minimum 4 years 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. Rankings and recognition from Forbes are no guarantee of future investment success and do not ensure that a current or prospective client will experience a higher level of performance results and such rankings should not be construed as an endorsement of the advisor.

Before he joined Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in 2015, Robert “Robbie” Shields played professional baseball for six years. At 21, he was drafted by the New York Mets in the third round of the Major League Baseball draft. Working with a financial advisor to manage his newly acquired wealth, he saw the value of professional guidance in his own financial life. The desire to help other individuals and families pursue their financial goals inspired him to become a wealth advisor when his baseball career was over. 

Robbie combines the discipline of professional athletics with a commitment to personalized service. He enjoys working with a nationwide clientele that includes many professional athletes, business owners and physicians. He is mindful of their time management constraints and can work with other members of their professional team (including attorneys, accountants and tax advisors) to coordinate wealth management strategies that reflect the full breadth of their complex financial lives. Robbie is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER certificant* and a Certified Private Wealth Advisor certificant*.

Robbie resides in Tampa, FL with his wife, Ellie. He was raised in Dade City, Florida, and received a baseball scholarship to Florida Southern College. A believer in giving back to the community, he coaches baseball and serves on the board of directors at Bayshore Little League on Davis Island. He also volunteers with the Boys & Girls Club of Tampa Bay. He enjoys golf, fishing, travel and spending time with his family.