Tune out the noise: Wealth planning for the year ahead

Hear from a panel of experts as they explore how rising interest rates, high inflation and increased volatility are impacting the economy, how family dynamics are changing estate planning and hear some actionable strategies for investors to consider in 2023.

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Stephen Nathaniel Taft, CFP, CRPC

Senior Vice President
Wealth Management Advisor
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Merrill Lynch
Wealth Management

As a Merrill Lynch Wealth Management Advisor, I offer advice and guidance for potential investment solutions that consider your life goals, risk tolerance, time horizon and liquidity needs.

Profile

I focus on offering a comprehensive approach to managing wealth that begins with getting to know a client and the client’s family, financial situation and what matters most to them. Then I help them create a customized wealth management approach that can be flexible as their needs and market conditions change. I provide access to the investment insights of Merrill and banking convenience of Bank of America to help address the various aspects of clients’ financial lives. I am driven by my passion for delivering excellent service and helping clients pursue their goals.

With over 30 years of experience as a Merrill Financial Advisor, Steve focuses on managing discretionary investment portfolios through the Merrill One™ Platform. Steve is a qualified Portfolio Manager who, in addition to providing traditional advice and guidance, can help clients pursue their objectives by building and managing his own personalized or defined strategies, which may incorporate individual stocks and bonds, Merrill model portfolios, and third-party investment strategies. When servicing clients through the firm’s Investment Advisory Program, a Portfolio Manager may manage his strategies on a discretionary basis.

Steve provides a highly customized service, starting with a Personal Wealth Analysis to determine the needs of each client. Steve works with clients' attorneys and tax advisors to help ensure the best service, and often educates clients' children about investments and wealth management.

Discretionary portfolio management eliminates the need for clients to be involved with day-to-day investment decisions. Instead, Steve reallocates and adjusts portfolio holdings as necessary in response to changes in market conditions. Clients in this program receive monthly statements as well as performance reports detailing performance relative to various benchmarks.

A graduate of Dartmouth College, Steve began his career with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in 1981. He lives in Potomac, Maryland with his wife, Sari. They have two grown children.

  • EDUCATION

    Dartmouth College

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 is to understand you and what matters most to you. To take the time, to ask hard, smart questions and to listen carefully, then to understand, in great detail, exactly where your wealth stands today, and where you’d like it to be tomorrow. I help you design and implement a customized wealth management approach that helps you and your family pursue your personal financial goals while helping manage investment risk. My wealth management approach is about using wealth to help turn goals into reality.

Philosophy

Life is always changing and growing more complex. Your needs and priorities specific to your family, work, health and home are continuously evolving. And since your finances are so deeply connected with the rest of your life, an investment approach that is specific to your unique situations can be helpful. Even if you’re accustomed to managing your wealth on your own, you may find value in having a relationship with someone who understands your priorities and who has the knowledge and resources to help you make more informed decisions, no matter where in your life you are.

Approach

Wealth Management is a dynamic process. As I focus on you today and help you identify your goals for tomorrow, we can strive to work together throughout life’s ups, downs, triumphs, and transitions. Helping you pursue your goals starts with getting to know you and your family. My job is to first understand what matters most to you. We will work together to create a financial approach that reflects your investment personality and is built around your life priorities. I will be here to help you make adjustments to your wealth management approach if and when necessary over time.

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 ability to provide access to the investment insights of Merrill and the banking convenience of Bank of America allows us to help you devise potential solutions designed to help preserve, grow and distribute your wealth. I strive to exceed client expectations through our proactive approach to communication, my attention to personalized service, and commitment to continuing financial education.

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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      Let’s Have a Conversation

      We believe there is no substitute for having a relationship with a team of Merrill Lynch Wealth Management Advisors committed to your needs, who can leverage the investment insights of Merrill and offer access to the banking convenience of Bank of America to help clients navigate the financial and economic landscapes. Let’s work together to help you pursue 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.

      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.