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.

Giovanni Pizoli

Forbes "Best-in-State Next-Generation Wealth Advisors 2022
Published on August 3, 2022. Rankings based on data as of March 31, 2022.

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" 2023
Published on April 4, 2023. Rankings based on data as of June 30, 2022.

Profile

Named #20 to the 2022 Forbes “Best-in-State Next-Generation Wealth Advisors - New Jersey” list (published on August 3, 2022. Rankings based on data as of March 31, 2022.)

Named to the 2023 Forbes “Best-in-State Wealth Advisors - New Jersey ” list (published on April 4, 2023. Rankings based on data as of June 30, 2022.)

Named to the 2023 Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams" list (published on January 12, 2023. Rankings based on data as of March 31, 2022.)

Since joining Merrill in 2010, Giovanni has helped an impressive and loyal circle of clients look forward to goals that hold meaning for themselves and their families.

Whether Giovanni serves engineers, rocket scientists or managers in the aerospace and defense industry, professional athletes, local corporations or business owners, he is inspired to deliver the level of care and consistency that clients may have found missing in a previous advisory relationship. Giovanni finds the combination of his experience and youth make him attractive to clients – especially in the sense that he’ll be working long after they retire.

As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ practitioner, for Giovanni, effectively managing clients’ wealth begins by listening to their questions, offering simple explanations, and building a personalized strategy around their needs. Often he hears, “When can I retire? Do I have enough saved? What does the retirement process look like and how is it executed? How do my benefits and investments contribute to a successful retirement?” If a client wants more or less control over decisions, Giovanni is happy to establish parameters that facilitate a more rewarding experience for all and he helps to ensure every strategy is grounded in understanding what each client wants to achieve.

Beyond investments, Giovanni utilizes his access to the global resources of Merrill, trust and estate services of Bank of America Private Bank and the banking capabilities of Bank of America to provide a full range of wealth management, trust, estate and banking services for individuals and corporations. He also coordinates with clients’ accountants and attorneys to align tax minimization, estate planning and legacy planning strategies.

Giovanni’s candor and knowledge have made him a sought-after speaker on the process of retiring. Among the topics he discusses are retiring with a pension, transitioning a 401k plan into a reliable income stream, and early steps for improving tax efficiencies.

A co-founder of Braatz Pizoli & Associates, he is also highly regarded by the firm for his ability to save clients time and bring order to their financial lives, Giovanni was named a coach for the Merrill Lynch Wealth Management training program. In this role, he coaches and mentors new advisors – demonstrating “best practices” in cultivating comfortable and open relationships with clients.

Giovanni also sits on the University of Delaware's Financial Planning Advisory Board where mentors students who are pursuing their degree in financial planning and wealth management. He also serves as a board member for the Medford Arts Center in Medford, NJ.

In addition to holding the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, CFP® certification, Chartered Financial Consultant®, ChFC®, Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor™, CRPC™ and Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor, CPFA designations, Giovanni is a Portfolio Manager who 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, Merrill model portfolios, and third-party investment strategies.

Giovanni earned two Bachelor of Science degrees at the University of Delaware – in Finance and Economics. Currently, he serves as a Board Member on the University of Delaware's Financial Planning Advisory Board. While enrolled, he also captained the club soccer team and launched a fraternity. A New Jersey native, Giovanni resides in Marlton with his wife, Emily, their daughter, Mia, son Henry and dog, Rocky. In his spare time, Giovanni enjoys spending time with friends, family and his dog. He still enjoys playing soccer and has taken on golf as a newer hobby. Giovanni is an active participating member of the University of Delaware Club Soccer Alumni group, Sigma Pi Alumni group, and the University of Delaware Alumni Club. He is also active at his church, Fellowship Alliance Chapel in Medford, NJ where he teaches financial literacy courses

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Disclosures:
*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 Next-Generation Wealth Advisors” list, published on August 3, 2022. Rankings based on data as of March 31, 2022.
Data provided by SHOOK® Research, LLC. Forbes “Best-in-State Next Generation Wealth Advisors” ranking. SHOOK considered advisors born in 1983 or later with a minimum 4 years as an advisor. Advisors have: built their own practices and lead their teams; joined teams and are viewed as future leadership; or a combination of both. Ranking algorithm is based on qualitative measures: telephone and in-person interviews to measure best practices, 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. Rankings are based on the opinions of Forbes and not representative nor indicative of any one client’s experience, future performance, or investment outcome and should not be construed as an endorsement of the advisor. 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: The Forbes “Best-in-State Wealth Advisors” list, published on April 4, 2023. Rankings based on data as of June 30, 2022.* Data provided by SHOOK® Research, LLC. Data as of 6/30/22. 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, 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. Rankings are based on the opinions of Forbes and not representative nor indicative of any one client’s experience, future performance, or investment outcome and should not be construed as an endorsement of the advisor. 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: The Forbes “Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams" list, published on January 12, 2023. Rankings based on data as of March 31, 2022. Data provided by SHOOK® Research, LLC. Forbes “Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams" ranking was developed by SHOOK Research and is based on in-person, virtual and telephone due diligence meetings and a ranking algorithm that includes: a measure of each team's best practices, client retention, industry experience, review of compliance records, firm nominations; and quantitative criteria, including: 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. Rankings are based on the opinions of Forbes and not representative nor indicative of any one client's experience, future performance, or investment outcome and should not be construed as an endorsement of the advisor. Rankings and recognition from Forbes 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. SHOOK's research and rankings provide opinions intended to help investors choose the right financial advisor and team, 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

Community involvement is an integral part of how we interact with clients and communities. We are enthusiastically involved with volunteering and fundraising for organizations such as Fellowship Alliance Chapel, The Medford Arts Center and The University of Delaware . Let us show you how our professionalism and dedicated client service could benefit you and your family. Contact us at your earliest convenience.

  • EDUCATION

    University of Delaware - Economics

    University of Delaware - Finance

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.

Viet Tran

Trust Specialist

Merrill

Michael K Costo

Retirement Specialist

Bank of America, N.A.

Aileen T. Takio

Employee Benefits Specialist

Bank of America, N.A.

Past Events

Managing Health Care Expenses in Retirement

1200 Howard Boulevard, Suite 300, Mount Laurel, NJ 08054

June 14th, 2023|6:00 PM

At Merrill, we are here to help you make thoughtful decisions. That's why we invite you to join us for this informative presentation, "Managing Health Care Expenses in Retirement - What Baby Boomers Need to Know About Medicare and Long-term Care". During this event we will have a guest speaker, a specialist when it comes to all things healthcare, who will discuss:

  • Medicare & private insurance
  • Medicare enrollment
  • Planning for higher health care costs
  • Long-term care

  • Dinner
  • Beverages
  • Wi-Fi Available

Lunch & Learn: Social Security Information Session... "Social Security & You"

Virtual

May 23rd, 2023

This month Giovanni Pizoli, CFP® is going to talk about key concepts and strategies on optimizing lifetime benefits of Social Security. We will also touch on factors to consider when deciding on when to collect benefits, the many decisions involved in claiming social security and different ways to help maximize your benefit. Finally, we’ll go over how it all ties into your overall financial plan. We will leave time for questions at the end. Please RSVP (reply or call) if you would like to attend. We look forward to seeing you there!

    The Power of Retirement & Transition Planning to Help You Achieve Your Goals

    Virtual

    April 25th, 2023

    This month we are going to discuss the process of financial planning and the importance of it. Specifically, regarding retirement or unexpected life events. Let’s face it… there are many things that make your financial life confusing.  The ever-changing circumstances in the economy, inflation, taxes, market fluctuations, etc. can cloud the real questions we have about our money and resources – can I live the way I want to; can I achieve my goals. We field questions like:

    • When can I retire comfortably?
    • What happens if my employment unexpectedly ends?
    • Can I afford to buy that second home or go on that dream vacation?
    • How much can I give to my kids or to charity?
    • I just received an inheritance, what can I do with it?

    All of these questions can be answered effectively through planning and then put into action. We are going to go over the planning process in general, including running through a sample financial plan so you get an idea of what this all means and how it comes together

      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

      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.”).

      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

      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. Worried about managing 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? With access to the investment insights of Merrill and the banking convenience of Bank of America, I will work with you to develop an approach designed to help address your financial needs.

      Welcome

      My mission is to understand you and what matters most to you. To take the time, to ask hard, smart questions and to listen carefully, then to understand, in great detail, exactly where your wealth stands today, and where you’d like it to be tomorrow. I help you design and implement a customized wealth management approach that helps you and your family pursue your personal financial goals while helping manage investment risk. My wealth management approach is about using wealth to help turn goals into reality.

      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 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.