Tune out the noise: Wealth planning for the year ahead

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.

Watch now

Brett A Howell, CPFA, C(k)P, CIMA, CRPC, CFP

Managing Director
Wealth Management Advisor
Contact Me
Learn more about an advisor's background on
FINRA's BrokerCheck

Merrill Lynch
Wealth Management

As deeply experienced and passionate advocates for financial wellness, our team shares your priorities and wants to help you create a benefits experience that can help participants prepare for retirement and feel more prepared for their financial futures.

Recognition

Merrill is proud of our advisors who’ve received recognition from financial industry publications or directly from Bank of America Corporation. We believe they are setting the standard for exemplary client service.

Brett A Howell

Forbes “Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams” 2023
Published on January 12, 2023. Rankings based on data as of March 31, 2022.*

Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Advisors" 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022
Published annually Jan- April. Rankings based on data as of June 30 of prior year.

Financial Times "401 Top Retirement Advisers" 2018, 2019 and 2020
Published annually May - Oct. Rankings based on data as of Dec 31 of prior year.

Click here to learn more about advisor recognitions

Profile

Brett Howell is one of the founding partners of the Howell & Sharp Group, joining Merrill in 2000. Brett's focus is in the area of qualified and non-qualified retirement plans for corporations and non-profit organizations. 

Brett earned his CFP® certification from the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. He graduated from Michigan State University and lives in the Grand Rapids area with his wife and five kids.

Named to Forbes “Best-in-State Wealth Advisors” list in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 (*Source: The Forbes “Best-in-State Wealth Advisors” list, published annually Jan - April. Rankings based on data as of June 30 of prior year)

Named to Financial Times "Top 401 Retirement Advisors" list in 2018, 2019 and 2020 (*Source: Financial Times “401 Top Retirement Advisers” list, published annually May - Oct. Rankings based on data as of Dec 31 of prior year).



*Source: The Forbes “Best-in-State Wealth Advisors” list, published annually Jan - April. Rankings based on data as of June 30 of prior year.

Data provided by SHOOK® Research, LLC. 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; also considered are: 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. 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.


*Source: Financial Times “401 Top Retirement Advisers” list, published annually May - Oct. Rankings based on data as of Dec 31 of prior year.

The Financial Times “401 Top Retirement Advisers” list is an independent listing produced annually by the Financial Times. The FT 401 is based on data gathered from advisers, regulatory disclosures, and the FT’s research. The listing reflects each adviser’s status in six primary areas: DC plan assets under management, DC plan growth rate, specialization in DC plans, years of experience, advanced industry credentials, and compliance record. This honor is not indicative of the adviser’s future performance. Rankings and recognition from the Financial Times 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 adviser. Neither the advisers nor their parent firms pay a fee to the Financial Times in exchange for inclusion in the FT 401. All rights reserved.

  • LANGUAGES

    English

  • EDUCATION

    Michigan State

Professional Staff

Supported by the global resources of Merrill, my team is comprised of talented and experienced individuals committed to building strong client relationships based on trust and personalized service.

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

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.

Capabilities

I have the experience, knowledge and tools to fully understand each client’s current financial situation and to help them create potential solutions designed to pursue their short- and long-term objectives. I offer a range of capabilities, including retirement income planning and potential wealth transfer solutions from Merrill and access to estate planning services and philanthropic solutions through Bank of America.

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.

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.

Philosophy

We live in a world that's constantly changing. Markets can fluctuate frequently. Potential investment opportunities can arise daily. Regulations are amended. That's why I believe that you and your situation are the best starting points from which to help plan your financial future: where you are today, where you want to be tomorrow, and what you want to accomplish along the way. Because by understanding you and your priorities, I can more effectively offer my experience and resources and help you build a financial framework that is rooted in the unique complexities of your life.

Welcome

As a Merrill Lynch Wealth Management Advisor, I offer advice based on your goals and priorities– for yourself, your family, and your business. Our goals-based wealth management approach places the investor at the center of our focus, not the market. I can help you understand the pros and cons of every decision and maintain discipline so you can pursue your goals. As your needs or market conditions change, I will continue to work with you to agree upon adjustments to your investment approach.

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.

    DigitalMerrill2.png 
    Transcript of Video
    #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 I can help you create a financial approach that reflects your personality. Only then can I 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.

      Request Appointment

      Articles

      DISPLAYING:

      Market briefs

      SECURE Act 2.0 offers powerful new ways to save more for retirement

      #WomenInvested Tips

      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.


      MLBrochure.png        

      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.


      Anthem video thumb.jpg 
      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.

      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.