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Profile

For more than ten years, Michael has worked closely with clients much like him – well educated and forward thinking individuals who recognize that desired financial outcomes demand real-world strategies and realistic expectations. Most clients have been referred to Michael for his reputation as a straightforward, hardworking advisor, with a strong background in investment and retirement planning, as well as elder care financial management.

Today, Michael assists a loyal and growing clientele residing in New Jersey, New York and on both coasts. These successful women and men include active and retired corporate executives, physicians, medical sales representatives, divorced and widowed women, and generations of families including those with elderly parents suffering from Alzheimer’s and other challenges
 
Over the course of his career, Michael has honed a highly personal, planning-based approach that continues over the course of each relationship. To gain a genuine appreciation of what holds meaning to each client, he asks questions such as, “What’s important to you about your money? Who do you care about? Who are you responsible for? And where do you see yourself in five or ten years?”

Michael believes that his rigorous industry training has given him an extra measure of knowledge that can benefit clients and their families. He holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, CFP® certification from the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards

Whether he’s working with sophisticated or novice investors, having frequent and casual conversations in which he can educate is critical to Michael. He wants each client to understand where they stand financially and what’s possible, given their ability to follow a strategy that extends well beyond disciplined investing to manage cash flow, liabilities and other areas.

“I joined Merrill to have a much wider world of investment choices with which I could more closely address a client’s investment needs, “Michael says, “Now, with my access to carefully screened equities, bonds, alternative investments* and vetted third-party investment managers, I can create highly customized portfolios that are truly diversified and more tailored than before.”

Michael reminds clients that investing is a long-term pursuit in which periodic volatility should be expected.  He is especially mindful of tax consequences, without allowing taxes to have undue influence on investment selection  He also coordinates with clients’ CPAs and attorneys, to help align tax-minimization and estate planning strategies. In addition, he offers clients access to Bank of America, N.A. for residential, securities-based lending, and practice management solutions.

A Rutgers University graduate and Northern New Jersey native who attended high school at St. Joseph Regional in Montvale, Michael resides today in Bergen County with his wife, Tabitha, and their three children. In addition to putting a premium on family time, Michael loves the outdoors, is an avid golfer, and is “up for a competitive match of anything.” He also enthusiastically supports Rutgers Athletics and is a self-proclaimed Backyard BBQ Champion.


*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.

  • EDUCATION

    Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ

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, first and foremost, is to understand you and what matters most to you. Armed with that information I can ask thoughtful questions -- listening carefully, then understanding in detail where your wealth stands today and where you’d like it to be tomorrow. I help you design and implement a personalized plan intended to help you and your family pursue financial goals while helping manage investment risk. My approach is to focus on potential solutions that can help turn goals into reality.

Philosophy

I believe the best financial approach is the one that helps you pursue your goals. That's why, from the start, we talk about your aspirations and encourage you to ask questions about issues that matter most to you. Calculating how to manage future health care expenses? College on the horizon? Considering the sale of a business or purchase of a home? Preparing to pass your wealth to future generations? It all starts with a plan intended to help you manage, grow, and preserve your wealth today, while also considering the impact it can have for years to come. With access to the investment insights of Merrill and banking solutions from Bank of America, I will work with you to develop an approach designed to help address your financial needs.

Approach

Every relationship begins 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.

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.

Investments

No matter what your priorities are, I offer advice to help you turn your ambition into action. I draw on many experienced investment professionals at Merrill to deliver insights that help you maintain a long-term focus while taking advantage of short-term opportunities. Through the Merrill Investment Advisory Program I offer custom strategies that deliver an appropriate balance of risk and reward, comprised of investment fund and manager offerings that have undergone a thorough evaluation process before they can be included in your portfolios. And all my actions are grounded in a deep understanding of what matters most to you and complemented with regular review. I believe this approach will give you the power to help you meet your goals.

Capabilities

Merrill’s process is designed to help deliver a customized, comprehensive experience to assist you not only in wealth accumulation and preservation, but in areas that go beyond investments. Providing you with access to the investment insights of Merrill, trust and fiduciary services from Bank of America Private Bank, and the banking and lending solutions of Bank of America offers a way to help you manage all of the pieces of your financial life. Working one-on-one with a Merrill advisor means you have a single point of contact to help you with potential strategies for transferring wealth to the younger generation.

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. Whether you’re planning your retirement, saving to buy a home or funding a child’s education, the process begins by getting to know you and how you feel about the following:

  • 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

Success will be measured by the amount of progress you are making toward reaching your goals, making thoughtfully considered adjustments as events and conditions warrant.

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.

    #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.

      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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      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.


      The Power of the Right Advisor®
      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.