One of the group’s principals, Steve joined Merrill in 2003. In crafting risk-managed financial and retirement strategies for clients, Steve believes that a simple explanation should accompany each recommendation – regardless of its complexity. Steve considers himself results-oriented and welcomes the challenge of meeting clients’ stated goals.

Steve travels across the nation to help train Merrill financial advisors on practice management strategies. He also speaks to new employees across the firm about transitioning into the world of financial services.

Steve holds the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor designation and is a proud graduate of The Ohio State University, earning his degree in Economics. He also holds an Associate’s degree from Salt Lake Community College, where he played baseball.

Originally from Upper Arlington, Steve resides in Dublin, Ohio with his wife, Aubrey, and their four young daughters. Steve relishes family time – grilling and hanging out in the backyard, coaching his daughters in soccer, and watching them play basketball, swim, dance, and take golf lessons (so that one day, they can give him some competition). Steve’s father taught for 30 years at The Ohio State University Fisher College of Business, which solidifies Steve’s support for his alma mater’s sports teams. Steve is also involved in his church and has coached high school baseball.

Cary, a fourth-generation entrepreneur, has 25+ years of experience guiding individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofits in her role as a Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill.  A leader known for providing sophisticated simplification to the wealth management process, she has a reputation for solving problems and connecting resources and people to create "Big Magic".  Stewarding strong client relationships and inspiring clients to make confident financial decisions to achieve their own definitions of success, Cary’s clients fondly call her their “Life Sherpa".

Cary’s passion for finance started early thanks to her grandmother, who encouraged and helped Cary explore and invest.  Her grandmother was not supported in education because she was a woman, so she put herself through Wittenberg University by working three jobs.  She graduated during the Great Depression with a degree in Biology.  Cary’s grandmother made sure that in elementary school, Cary learned to track stocks.  Cary also was exposed to hard work by watching her parents work together in a family business.

Cary is dedicated to helping people simplify the complex financial challenges they face.  Reducing anxiety around the topic of money is at the heart of her highly personalized, planning-based approach. Cary is also driven to help people by giving sound advice especially when confronted by periods of crisis that include divorce, the loss of a family member, or the loss of a job.

Before joining Merrill in 2000, Cary worked on the Huntington Investments Trading Floor and as an Investment Advisor with Huntington’s Private Bank investment team.

Cary’s rigorous industry training reflects her desire to serve clients as their lives evolve. She is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, a designation awarded by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc., and holds the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor designation. Cary also holds the Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy® designation and serves clients who, like Cary, have a passion for helping others.  Most recently Cary earned the Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA) designation which includes planning for liquidity events with business owners.

Cary’s areas of focus include Impact Investing and working with social enterprises.  She believes in implementing financial strategies with an Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) lens is an important risk mitigation strategy.   Additionally, gender-lens investing and water investing are two subjects that hold great interest for Cary.

Cary is known for being generous with her time outside of work.  Cary is a founding member of Women for Economic and Leadership Development (WELD), a strategic alliance partner for Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO), was previously the Chair of the Endowment Board for the YWCA of Columbus, and a member of the Women Presidents’ Organization (WPO).  She co-founded The Merrill Bull Run which has raised over $1,000,000 for Nationwide Children’s Hospital, participates on multiple leadership committees for her church, and provides counseling to families with children with epilepsy.

And for fun, Cary enjoys running (including many Half Marathons and one Marathon), reading, watching documentaries, participating with The Girl Scouts and attending her children’s activities. She is an advocate for People with Disabilities and was an Advisory Board Member for The Runway of Dreams Foundation.  Her passion and personal mission for this cause led to Cary creating an Adaptive Apparel line of clothing in honor of her youngest daughter. Cary grew up in Springfield, Ohio, and one of her most proud achievements is being honored with the Alumni of Distinction Award for the Springfield City Schools.  Cary resides in Upper Arlington with her husband, Joe, and their two daughters.  Cary holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from The University of Virginia.



*Impact investing and/or Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) managers may take into consideration factors beyond traditional financial information to select securities, which could result in relative investment performance deviating from other strategies or broad market benchmarks, depending on whether such sectors or investments are in or out of favor in the market. Further, ESG strategies may rely on certain values-based criteria to eliminate exposures found in similar strategies or broad market benchmarks, which could also result in relative investment performance deviating.