Chuck Duddingston is a Senior Vice President, a Wealth Management Advisor, and a founder of the Duddingston Sylvester Group at Merrill.  With more than three decades of industry experience, Chuck works closely with individuals, families, and businesses to identify their financial needs and goals, and pursue those objectives with efficiency and care. He leads a robust team of wealth management professionals who work in concert to support clients in advancing their priorities, streamlining their financial lives, and enacting a more cohesive approach to their wealth. Chuck believes strongly that a trusted advisor should offer more than traditional money management. To that end, he supports clients in advancing their own “financial success stories,” providing them with the knowledge and insight they need to make informed decisions about their lives and legacies.

Chuck has garnered national recognition for his work. Forbes distinguished him as one of the Best-In-State Wealth Advisors in 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2023* (published annually Jan - April. Rankings based on data as of June 30 of prior year.) His areas of focus include multi-generational wealth strategy; family business transition planning; legacy design; tax-sensitive investing; Corporate 401(k) plan design, administration, and transfer; and financial education and stewardship. He leads conversations across multiple generations that strive to engage, educate, and equip families for long-term financial success. A veteran team leader, Chuck also works closely with a client’s external tax and legal advisors, as appropriate, to facilitate clear communication and direction across multiple facets of a client’s personal and professional finances.

Chuck has worked at Merrill since 2014 and began his financial services career in 1984. He earned his B.A. from the University of Minnesota. Committed to professional excellence, Chuck holds the Certified Investment Management Analyst® (CIMA®) designation sponsored by the Investments & Wealth Institute™ at the Wharton School.  He is also a specially qualified Portfolio Manager at Merrill. As a Portfolio Manager, Chuck can help clients pursue their objectives by managing on a discretionary basis his own personalized or defined strategies, which may incorporate individual stocks and bonds, model portfolios, and third-party investment strategies.

Active in his community, Chuck has a long history of philanthropic involvement. Previously, he chaired the national board for the American Craft Council (ACC).

Chuck and his wife Andrea live in Uptown Minneapolis and have three daughters and two sons. In his free time, Chuck enjoys spending time with his family at their lake home, boating, and reading.

Merrill, its affiliates, and financial advisors do not provide legal, tax, or accounting advice. You should consult your legal and/or tax advisors before making any financial decisions.



*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.

Todd Sylvester is a Senior Vice President, a Wealth Management Advisor, and a founder of the Duddingston Sylvester Group at Merrill. Todd brings more than two decades of experience advising senior executives and their families about significant decision points in the management, preservation, and stewardship of their wealth. He is particularly skilled in discerning the opportunities and challenges posed by executive compensation, including concentrated equity positions, restricted stock, stock options, long-term wealth planning, and multi-generational wealth transfer.

Todd has consulted many senior executives over the course of his career. As a result, he offers technical insight and practical advice about the complexities of each individual’s situation. He understands the rewards and the unintended risks that various forms of compensation can introduce to a family’s financial situation, helping executives mitigate these risks through proactive advice and guidance. His areas of focus include Stock Options, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Awards and ESPP shares; long-term wealth planning; alternative investment analysis; and investment research and evaluation. Todd also believes a personal wealth strategy should include conversations that go beyond investment management to reflect each client’s values and goals. He takes pride in his team’s impact, relating that “working with families to address complex financial challenges is greatly rewarding.”

Todd joined Merrill in 2014, moving with his team from Morgan Stanley, where he had served for five years as Senior Vice President and Wealth Advisor. He began his wealth management career at UBS in 1999, gaining extensive experience in corporate stock management and benefits consulting. Todd earned his degree in Finance from the College of Business at St. John’s University.

Todd has held a number of volunteer leadership roles within the community. From 2016 to 2022, he served on the Board of the Children’s Home Society of Minnesota. He was also a long-term member of the Lutheran Social Services of Minnesota Foundation Board, serving as Chair, Treasurer and member of the  marketing and finance committees.

Todd grew up in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. He and his wife Lisa live in Orono with their two children, Ty and Ava. In their free time, Todd and his family enjoy exploring the mountains of Montana.



*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.

Justin Botham is a First Vice President, a Wealth Management Advisor, and a Retirement Benefits Consultant with the Duddingston Sylvester Group at Merrill.  Justin provides tailored advice and guidance to individuals, families, and businesses, helping them streamline their finances, pursue their goals more efficiently, and take measurable steps toward the future they envision. Justin appreciates the opportunity to have a measurable impact on clients’ lives. He strives to optimize each person’s situation, gratified to support clients in attaining meaningful milestones or achieving long-cherished goals.

Justin is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certificant, a designation awarded by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. As a result, he has extensive experience in wealth planning. He assists clients in laying out detailed financial roadmaps customized to their objectives, risk tolerance, time frames, and lifestyle needs. He is also skilled in integrating multiple variables to assemble a cohesive whole, enabling clients to understand their options and anticipate key decision points. As an accredited Retirement Benefits Consultant, he has significant experience in the design, implementation, and servicing of 401(k) and Corporate Retirement Plans. He works directly with businesses to help realign their retirement plans to motivate employees to increase savings, raise participation, enhance the likelihood of goal attainment, and reduce plan costs. He also connects clients to the technological capabilities and firm resources that enable them to stay apprised of progress toward key objectives.

Justin has worked in wealth management since 2008. Prior to joining Merrill, he served for five years as a Financial Advisor with Morgan Stanley. He earned his undergraduate degree in Finance from Iowa State University. Dedicated to professional excellence, he holds the Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor, CPFA designation.

Justin and his wife Megan have two young children, a son and a daughter. They live in Orono, Minnesota, and are grateful that their children get to enjoy the company of grandparents nearby. In his free time, Justin likes to play squash. Comfortable in the kitchen, he also enjoys preparing meals for family and friends. He and his family spend many summer weekends at their family cabin on Big Island on Lake Minnetonka.