Getting to Know Me: Advisor Q&A

What type of clients do you work with?

Through my personal practice and trusted associates, I cover the entire wealth spectrum.  The net worth of the clients I work with has steadily grown during my career, so I know the unique concerns that arise at all levels of wealth.  I would welcome an introductory conversation to get to know your needs and how my team can best help. 

My core personal clients tend to be successful families with, or building towards, high levels of wealth.  My high and ultra-high net worth expertise helps them build & maintain their assets, address trust & estate planning, optimize for taxes, borrow effectively, and achieve their goals. 

How and why did you become a financial advisor?

I love building relationships and advising passionate, successful people.  This career allows me to do both, since it requires great people skills as well as the technical skills to execute.  Getting to truly know my clients and help them achieve what’s important to them puts a smile on my face every day.

My dad gave me a copy of the Wall Street Journal Guide to Understanding Money & Investing when I was 14, and I read it cover to cover.  I was hooked.  My life and career path since then have been focused on this profession.  I double majored in Economics and Psychology, which is a great mix for this career.  I have spent over 16 years in financial advising, helping clients and honing my skills & experience.

What are your goals for when working with your clients?

My goals are my clients’ goals.  The most important service I provide them is to help discover what their goals are and how to best achieve them.  That’s why personalized wealth management is so important to my practice. 

I have done my job when I create peace of mind for my clients, who know they have a thoughtful plan in place and a trusted advisor helping them make the right decisions. 

What are the most frequent questions your clients ask?

“Am I doing the right things to make sure my family is going to be OK?” is by far the biggest question I hear.  Answering this with planning and execution is the core of my practice.

Some other common questions I help answer are:

• “Do I have enough to retire?”
• “Are you a fiduciary?” & “How are you compensated?”
• “How can I optimize taxes, now and for my heirs?”
• “What Trust & Estate planning strategies should we be considering?” 
• “How can we best support our loved ones and charities, while making sure we still have enough?”
• “What’s the best way to pay for my child/grandchild’s education?”
  
  

What do you think personally distinguishes you as an advisor?

I am honest, knowledgeable, and comprehensive.  My practice is focused on advice, not sales, and we believe in delivering concierge service to our clients.

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. Worried about managing 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? With access to the investment insights of Merrill and the banking convenience of Bank of America, I will work with you to develop an approach designed to help address your financial needs.

Approach

I begin every relationship 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.

Drawing upon research in the field of behavioral finance, Merrill developed the Investment Personality Assessment to help me get to know you better as an investor and help you refine your investing preferences. Together, I can help customize your investment approach. Using an understanding of your priorities and investment personality as a foundation, I help you access the full breadth of resources from Bank of America’s banking products and services and Merrill’s investment insights to address all aspects of your financial life.

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

My process is designed to help deliver a customized, consistent experience to assist clients not only in wealth accumulation and preservation, but in areas that go beyond investments. My ability to provide access to the investment insights of Merrill, trust and fiduciary services from Bank of America Private Bank, and the banking convenience and lending solutions of Bank of America offers a way to help clients manage all of the pieces of their financial lives. I view myself as a financial resource, helping clients with potential solutions for transferring wealth to the younger generation.

Trust and fiduciary services are provided by Bank of America Private Bank, a division of Bank of America, N.A., Member FDIC, and a wholly owned subsidiary of Bank of America Corporation (“BofA Corp.”).

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. So whether you’re planning your retirement, saving to buy a home or fund a child’s education, I start by getting to know you and how you feel about the following seven life priorities.

• 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

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.