Women’s superpower: Investing

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Insights, observations, and ideas to help you in your pursuit of your financial goals.

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Learn about our practice and the resources we offer to support you on your financial journey.

How we can work with your estate planning attorney and tax advisor to help preserve, protect, and control the wealth you’ve worked so hard to build.

Face your challenges with the resources of one of the world's largest financial institutions at your back.

Learn about our practice and the resources we offer to support you on your financial journey.

Meet the Team

Supported by the global resources of Merrill, our 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.

Ross Morand

Alternative Investments Regional Specialist

Bank of America, N.A.

Rachel Kanter

Investment Solutions Group Portfolio Strategist

Bank of America, N.A.

Ally Bowdoin

Wealth Strategies Advisor

Bank of America, N.A.

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

At The Leeder Wealth Management Group, we have earned our stripes –and a diverse circle of referred clients – for our ability to help successful people meet meaningful goals for themselves and the people they love.

The clients we serve come from all walks of life – near and far – and took different paths to our door. Many are accomplished “wealth accumulators” in the Bay Area. Others are successful business owners, physicians, landowners and tradespeople in Central California. Yet another group of clients resides in more than 20 other states – having been referred by clients who’ve been with us for decades. 

Regardless of their location, level of wealth, or financial sophistication, our clients are serious about money, as are we. In each relationship, we bring our financial skills, open hearts and minds. We are well aware of the roles we play and the trust we must earn.

Our team is led by Michael Leeder, a highly regarded and experienced Merrill veteran with roots in the technology industry and a long history of spearheading support for worthy causes. Since 2004, he has addressed the complex issues facing founders, serial entrepreneurs, and pre- and post-IPO employees at technology and biotech firms. Michael also works closely with many “millionaires next door” who are building their nest egg and see it as their “ticket” to a well-deserved lifestyle in retirement.

He explains, “It’s so rewarding to make a lasting impact on the wealth and happiness of families that have sacrificed and saved. I enjoy meeting with couples in my office, hearing their stories, and sharing mine. There’s no substitute for handshakes and hugs.”

Ultimately, we do our best work for clients who value our insights and efforts. It would be our privilege to discuss how we can serve your best interests.

Value Proposition

We bring an uncommon measure of acumen and attention
to clients whose aspirations and values demand both.
Our mission? To serve the best interests of people
from all walks of life, with strategies as unique as they are.

Preserving Your Wealth

At the Leeder Wealth Management Group, we are inspired by the goals and concerns of our clients. In listening to them, we learn that many seek financial freedom and a feeling of independence. Most are quite busy with careers and families. They explain that wealth brings comfort and the potential to achieve financial and emotional wellness. 

As a team that managed clients’ money and emotion amid 2008 volatility (with the scars to prove it), we are proud that virtually all of those clients remain with us today. We believe that’s due in large part to our enlightened perspective on mitigating investment risk. Often, we introduce clients to the benefits of owning alternative investments including private equity, real estate, hedge funds and private debt – assets not correlated to the volatility of major markets. Instead, these investments typically reflect the innovation of forward-thinking entrepreneurs.

Still, our focus remains on our clients’ lives, not just their bottom lines. We feel good that they’ve “done well” during the Bull Market. Our clients have sent children to college, purchased homes, prospered in their careers, and worked tirelessly to achieve these milestones. Now, they cannot afford to “lose the ground they’ve gained.” As they near retirement age, these accomplished individuals recognize the need to preserve their savings and make smart, tax-efficient decisions across their financial lives.

From frequent and friendly conversations with both spouses (whenever possible), we can help them “see around corners” to prepare for what comes next, financially and emotionally. In discussing their families, we remind clients that part of our job is helping them leave memories, as well as money – that it’s important to find joy along the path to meaningful outcomes. 

The referrals we receive tell us we’re proficient in assisting a wide range of clients – from those with financial needs that are rather straightforward, to others whose complex financial lives demand sophisticated wealth management strategies. As a high caliber team with distinct professional credentials, we are well equipped to address the needs and nuances of ambitious people – allowing them to focus energy on their careers, families, and serving their communities.

*Some or all alternative investment programs may not be in the best interest of certain investors. No assurance can be given that any alternative investment’s investment objectives will be achieved.

Optimizing Your Employer Stock

At The Leeder Wealth Management Group, we assist individuals with what are often “once-in-a-lifetime” liquidity events. Given the serious nature of these situations, we focus on preparing and positioning clients for optimal results, in accordance with their personal objectives.

Experience tells us that wealth – especially in the Bay Area – is created through concentration. Many of our clients have a stake in their companies, typically in stock. Looking for us to be responsible stewards of their wealth, we do not shoot for the moon. Instead, we craft customized wealth accumulation strategies that emphasize prudent growth and asset preservation – tailored to help meet clients’ financial and personal goals (ones we help them explore and prioritize).

Taking a cue from the “belief and value systems” of clients – in the visions of area founders and other thought leaders – we share our deep and nuanced knowledge of alternative investments. When our clients enjoy liquidity events, many find it possible for the first time to access real estate, hedge funds, private debt and private equity (we have access to some of the leading and most recognizable private equity firms). Our strength in this area allows clients to benefit from non-correlated assets that we deem attractive, affordable and likely to offer reduced volatility.

In addition to incorporating what may be a combination real estate, hedge funds and private debt in clients’ portfolios, we have access to some of the leading and most recognizable firms in private equity.

With liquidity events come tax consequences. For this reason, we work closely with clients’ CPAs, attorneys and our own network of seasoned legal and tax advisors. Our tax minimization and estate planning strategies are critical to how we help structure the wealth of clients for short- and long-term results. By doing our jobs well, we help clients cut through the complexity of financial decisions surrounding liquidity events, so that a balanced plan can be interwoven with details of how clients picture their lives

*Some or all alternative investment programs may not be in the best interest of certain investors. No assurance can be given that any alternative investment’s investment objectives will be achieved.

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.

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

      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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      Transcript of Video 

      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.