Profile

Patricia Bell is a Managing Director, Wealth Management Advisor in the Short Hills NJ, Merrill Complex. In March 2023, Pat was  named to the Barrons Top 1200 Financial Advisors in the U.S. in Barron's annual ranking** for the 10th consecutive year (published annually in Feb-March. Rankings based on data as of September 30 of prior year.)  She has also been on the Barron's Top 100 Women Advisors list*** from 2006-2016 (published annually in June. Rankings based on data as of March 31 of current year) and most recently was named to Forbes America's Top Women Advisors 2021**** (published on March 24, 2021. Rankings based on data as of Sept 30, 2020) and Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Advisors 2021*****(published on February 11, 2021. Rankings based on data as of June 30, 2020.) Pat began her career at Merrill in 1980 after graduating from The University of Colorado where she earned her B.A. in Psychology and Economics.

With over 40 years experience Pat is dedicated to providing her clients with customized asset management, credit strategies, and estate planning services. Pat takes into account the following variety of considerations including a clients time horizon, risk threshold, tax situation, portfolio objectives, and income needs. With the client's goals clearly understood, Pat will create, implement, and track a strategy designed to help her clients achieve desired outcomes, while building, managing, and preserving their wealth for current and future generations.

Pat provides her clients with access to a high level of wealth management resources. She leverages the intellectual capital of the Investment Management & Guidance Group at Merrill and utilizes the research produced by investment strategists and analysts at BofA Global Research to provide deeper insights on a wide range of asset categories and economic issues.

Ms. Bell is an avid art collector and was honored by the Montclair Art Museum in 2013 for her contributions to their Contemporary Art Collection. Looking Forward: Gifts of Contemporary Art from the Patricia A. Bell Collection showcased more than 50 works of art that Pat donated to the Museum over the past decade. Pat’s gifts to the museum have shaped and strengthened MAM’s contemporary art collection. Pat resides in South Orange, NJ. Her son, Douglas Andrew Keller, Jr. and his wife Halsey Keller along with Pat's two granddaughters, live nearby in New York City.

Clients are Pat’s most important asset, and her professional team is committed to attentive, high value-added service. Pat’s team is made up of individuals who oversee the administration, client service model, and internal operations for Pat.

Cindy Polito is a Registered Senior Wealth Management Client Associate who graduated from Kean University with a B.S. in Management Science. She has been on Pat's team for over 25 years. Cindy lives with her husband and 2 children in Roseland, NJ.

Pat’s philosophy is built around establishing and maintaining strong relationships with her clients. She makes it a priority to know each generation in order to help establish the trust, stability, and continuity necessary to help families preserve and grow their legacy.

*Any information presented in connection with BofA Global Research is general in nature and is not intended to provide personal investment advice. The information does not take into account the specific investment objectives, financial situation and particular needs of any specific person who may receive it. Investors should understand that statements regarding future prospects may not be realized. BofA Global Research is equity research produced by BofA Securities, Inc. (“BofAS”) and/or one or more of its affiliates. BofA Global Research does and seeks to do business with companies covered in its research reports. As a result, investors should be aware that the firm may have a conflict of interest that could affect the objectivity of this report. Investors should consider this report as only a single factor in making their investment decision. 

 
**Source: The Barron’s “Top 1,200 Financial Advisors: State-by-State” list, published annually in March. Rankings based on data as of September 30 of prior year.  

The Barron’s “Top 1,200 Financial Advisors” ranking considered advisors with a minimum of seven years financial services experience and who have been employed at their current firm for at least one year. This is a list of the top advisors in each state, with the number of ranking spots determined by each state’s population and wealth. Other quantitative and qualitative measures include assets under management, revenues generated by advisors for their firms, and the quality of the advisors’ practices, regulatory records, internal company documents, and 100-plus points of data provided by the advisors themselves. Rankings and recognition from Barron’s 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, and such rankings should not be construed as an endorsement of the advisor. Barron’s is a trademark of Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All rights reserved. Years prior to 2014, this Barron's list consisted of 1,000 advisors.

***Source: The Barron’s “Top 100 Women Financial Advisors” list, published annually in June. Rankings based on data as of March 31 of current year.

The Barron’s “Top 100 Women Financial Advisors” ranking considered advisors with a minimum of seven years financial services experience and who have been employed at their current firm for at least one year. Quantitative and qualitative measures used to determine the advisor rankings include: client assets, return on assets, client satisfaction/retention, compliance records, and community involvement, among others. Rankings are based on the opinions of Barron’s 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. Barron’s does not receive compensation from advisors, participating firms and their affiliates, or the media in exchange for rankings. Rankings and recognition from Barron’s 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, and such rankings should not be construed as an endorsement of the advisor. Barron’s is a trademark of Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All rights reserved.

****Source: The Forbes “America’s Top Women Wealth Advisors” list, published on March 24, 2021. Rankings based on data as of Sept 30, 2020.

Data provided by SHOOK™ Research, LLC. The Forbes “America’s Top Women Wealth Advisors” ranking was developed by SHOOK Research and is based on in-person, virtual and telephone due diligence meetings to evaluate each advisor qualitatively, a major component of a ranking algorithm that includes: client impact, industry experience, review of best practices and 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 SHOOK Research, LLC and not indicative of future performance or representative of any one client’s experience. 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, and such rankings should not be construed as an endorsement of the advisor. Neither Forbes nor SHOOK Research receives compensation in exchange for placement on the ranking. Forbes is a trademark of Forbes Media LLC. All rights reserved.

*****Source: The Forbes “Best-in-State Wealth Advisors” list, published on February 11, 2021. Rankings based on data as of June 30, 2020.

Data provided by SHOOK™ Research, LLC. The Forbes “Best-in-State Wealth Advisors” ranking was developed by SHOOK Research and is based on in-person and telephone due diligence meetings to evaluate each advisor qualitatively, a major component of a ranking algorithm that includes: 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 SHOOK Research, LLC and not indicative of future performance or representative of any one client’s experience. 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, and such rankings should not be construed as an endorsement of the advisor. Neither Forbes nor SHOOK Research receives compensation in exchange for placement on the ranking. Forbes is a trademark of Forbes Media LLC. All rights reserved.