Rick Baker has over 40 years of experience in the wealth management industry. He joined Merrill in 2005 and has been named to the 2023 Forbes “Best-in-State Wealth Advisors” list, published on April 4, 2023. Rankings based on data as of June 30, 2022.* 

 

Rick believes all investors want an advisor who will be transparent, care for them and provide them with the best strategies to make smart decisions. He has offices in Atlanta, Beverly Hills and Tampa and specializes in Sports & Entertainment clients as well as a variety of clients, to include ultra-high net worth individuals. He holds the Certified Investment Management Analyst® Certification along with the Sports & Entertainment Accredited Wealth Management Advisor™ or SE-AWMA™ along with the Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor, CPFA® designation. The Baker & Associates Team is composed of a diverse group or professionals that are well equipped to service the needs of our complex wealth management clients.

 

Rick graduated Cum Laude from Auburn University with a degree in Economics and completed the educational component from the prestigious Wharton School of Business for the Certified Investment Management Analyst designation. He holds the Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor designation as well as the Sports & Entertainment Accredited Wealth Management™ designation.

 

Amongst his many honors and awards, Rick received the 2022 Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award for his years of Volunteer Service, the 2020 Global Diversity & Inclusion Award at Bank of America/Merrill and the 2018 Steward Foundation’s Dr. Joseph E. Lowery Courageous Award. He was the original visionary and Committee Member for the project to immortalize civil rights pioneer and broadcaster Ms. Xernona Clayton by donating the seed capital and supporting the fundraising efforts to create her statuette in downtown Atlanta. Rick was also the original visionary in spearheading the efforts to creating the permanent art exhibit “John Lewis-Good Trouble” in the atrium of the domestic terminal at Atlanta’s Hartfield Jackson International. He serves on numerous boards and committees and spends hundreds of volunteer hours supporting charities throughout the county including creating a scholarship fund in his hometown of Crossville, Alabama to provide scholarships to over 250 graduating high school students.

 

*Source: The Forbes “Best-in-State Wealth Advisors” list, published on April 4, 2023. Rankings based on data as of June 30, 2022.*

Data provided by SHOOK® Research, LLC. Data as of 6/30/22. Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Advisors ranking was developed by SHOOK Research and is based on in-person, virtual, and telephone due diligence meetings to measure best practices, 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 criterion because client objectives and risk tolerances vary, and advisors rarely have audited performance reports. SHOOK’s research and rankings provide opinions intended to help investors choose the right financial advisor and are not indicative of future performance or representative of any one client’s experience. Rankings are based on the opinions of Forbes and not representative nor indicative of any one client’s experience, future performance, or investment outcome and should not be construed as an endorsement of the advisor. Past performance is not an indication of future results. Neither Forbes nor SHOOK Research receive compensation in exchange for placement on the ranking. For more information, please see www.SHOOKresearch.com. SHOOK is a registered trademark of SHOOK Research, LLC.

Thien-Hien (Sam) Nguyen immigrated to the United States from central Vietnam with her family. She and her family fled their home country due to significant poverty caused by the Vietnam War. Her family’s journey to America included five years in a Hong Kong refugee camp. Because of intervention by the United States, Sam was eventually airlifted to Atlanta at the age of fourteen. When Sam arrived she did not speak English, but persevered working her way through high school and college while being the sole financial support for her family of eight. Armed with the ability to speak several languages, and a survival instinct, she adapted to life in the United States. Through pure determination, she obtained a double major in Finance and Accounting from Georgia State University.

Sam joined Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in 2012 and quickly became a Junior Partner with Baker & Associates. She is responsible for the team’s portfolio analysis. Sam is responsible for developing and reviewing financial strategies to help maximize returns consistent with the portfolio’s risk parameters. She analyzes the performance of investments in client’s portfolios and makes appropriate recommendations through meaningful discussions.

Sam currently resides with her husband, Khoi in Lawrenceville, Georgia living close to her family. She regularly attends temple and enjoys gardening as her hobby.

William E. Jones is a Business Manager with Baker & Associates.