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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Michael D. Schmidt Jr.

Vice President
Resident Director

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Merrill Lynch
Wealth Management

I am committed to making your financial life easier by working hard on your behalf, actively engaging with your priorities and supporting your long-term aspirations.

Profile

Michael Schmidt is a Financial Advisor with Merrill located in Bozeman, Montana.  Michael is responsible for helping high-net-worth individuals, families, businesses and institutions manage their wealth more effectively.

Previously, Michael served as a Vice President and Wealth Advisor with Wells Fargo Private Bank, where he managed relationships for high-net-worth individuals and families. Prior to moving to Montana, he held tenures with Nomura Securities, Banc of America Securities and Lehman Brothers in New York, where he served as a market maker for large institutional clients.  He began his financial services career with Fidelity Investments in 1993.

Michael earned his M.B.A. with a concentration in Finance and Management from the Leonard N. Stern School of Business at New York University.  He earned his B.A. with Honors in Finance and Accounting from Westminster College in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Outside of Merrill, Michael is an avid supporter of Montana State athletics and enjoys golf and fly fishing.  He currently serves on the Board of Trustees for the Museum of the Rockies.   

Michael and his wife Marianne reside in Bozeman with their children. He and his family enjoy a variety of outdoor activities together.

  • EDUCATION

    New York University

    Westminster College

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.

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.

Bill Grey

Structured Credit Executive

Bank of America, N.A.

Joseph Meklin

Associate Investment Advisory Specialist

Merrill

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

We are a Merrill wealth management team located in Bozeman, Montana. Founded by Michael Schmidt, our group works closely with business owners, professionals, retirees, and multiple generations of families, designing customized frameworks to help them grow, preserve, and transfer their wealth more effectively.

We bring significant experience, education, and passion to our work. At the same time, we ground our efforts in timeless values, like diligence, clear communication and integrity. By combining technical insight and practical know-how with a relentless emphasis on service and hard work, we believe we foster a different kind of client experience.

We invite you to reach out to us if you have questions or simply would like to regain free time by delegating your financial affairs. You will find our team is eager to discuss your needs relative to our capabilities.

Our Philosophy

We recognize that each client who comes to us has a unique story; we enjoy catering to the subtleties of your individual circumstances. We begin each relationship by learning about you and what matters to you. We also want to discuss your goals and concerns. The more we know about you, the more we are able to support you in moving forward toward the future you envision. As skilled problem-solvers, we strive to resolve inquiries quickly and capably, keeping you apprised of our efforts. Your time is valuable, so we look to reduce the administrative burden that your wealth can impose, allowing you to focus on the people and pursuits you deem most important.

Your comfort is our priority, so we take the time to discuss your ideas and answer your questions, welcoming the opportunity to collaborate more closely with you. Your family members are important to us, too. We encourage multiple generations to grow in stewardship, fostering the habits and mindsets that can have a decisive impact on their long-term success.

Capabilities

My process is designed to help deliver a customized, consistent experience to assist clients not only in wealth accumulation and preservation, but in areas that go beyond investments. My ability to provide access to the investment insights of Merrill, trust and fiduciary services from Bank of America Private Bank, and the banking convenience and lending solutions of Bank of America offers a way to help clients manage all of the pieces of their financial lives. I view myself as a financial resource, helping clients with potential solutions for transferring wealth to the younger generation.

Trust and fiduciary services are provided by Bank of America Private Bank, a division of Bank of America, N.A., Member FDIC, and a wholly owned subsidiary of Bank of America Corporation (“BofA Corp.”).

Investments

I believe that your investments should be a reflection of you — your life, your priorities, your goals. As your dedicated advisor I will get to know what matters most to you and help you define your goals. I use this understanding to help you build a customized financial strategy and offer consistent, personalized advice. Combined with professional management, you can stay on the right path towards pursuing your long-term objectives.

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.

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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    #DigitalMerrill

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    Your advisor is a click away within our site or mobile apps

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    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.

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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.


      The Power of the Right AdvisorTM
      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.