Personalized advice from a dedicated financial advisor.
We get to know you and your family, your financial situation and what matters most to you.
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.
The Downing Group
- phone
212.338.6040
- address
200 Park Avenue
13th Floor
New York, NY 10166
Merrill Lynch
Wealth Management
Our team is comprised of talented and experienced advisors committed to building strong client relationships based on trust and personalized service.
The Downing Group
Welcome
Whether considering home, health, giving, work, leisure, or retirement you have goals that are important to you. The value you place on these life priorities may lend itself to a desire to work with a team of professionals that understand your concerns and aspirations, and are capable of using this understanding to thoughtfully align your portfolio with the objectives that matter most to you.
You may be thinking about a new approach to your finances – one based on your priorities which connects you with the advice, guidance and care you deserve along the way. The Downing Group can assist you and your family along this path, providing the resources and infrastructure necessary to create a disciplined wealth management plan.
Philosophy
Whether working closely with you on your retirement income goals, assisting you with cash flow management or advising on investment management strategy, the purpose of our relationship with you is always the same: to help you and your family achieve your lifestyle and corresponding financial goals.
Over the years you learn a lot about what it means to help clients. One of the most important lessons is providing you and your family with the service you desire and the care you deserve. Our philosophy is to never forget that good financial management is very personal, and that it starts and ends with you and your objectives in mind.
Inevitably there will be questions and worries that come up over the years, whether it’s navigating challenging markets, dealing with unexpected life events, and everything in between. A strong wealth planning process helps provide valuable context around complicated financial decisions and enables you to approach these items in a rational and well informed way.
Approach
Working with us means working with advisors truly dedicated to your success. Our approach is simple, transparent and supported by thoughtful investment guidance.
We believe clients realize the full value of our relationship, including:
- helping you make significant decisions
- recognizing your life priorities and goals
- understanding your investment personality
- helping you prioritize and pursue goals
- being transparent by making possibilities, fees and risks clear
- taking steps to help you preserve income during a life challenge
- educating the younger generation about investments and the markets
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.
Focus On Individuals, Families and Small Businesses
We 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, We 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.
Capabilities
Using the broad investing resources of Merrill, we can also assist with potential solutions for income management, education funding, retirement income planning, and guidance for executives with concentrated stock positions, traditional and alternative investments, wealth transfer and estate planning services. And with your permission we can also work closely with your other professionals, such as attorneys, accountants and specialists, to help you pursue your goals.
DISCLOSURE: Some or all alternative investments may not be appropriate for certain investors. Certain alternative investments carry significant risk and are not subject to the same regulatory oversight as mutual funds and other appropriate investments. For these reasons, access to alternative investments may be limited to investors who are designated as sophisticated, high-net-worth investors.
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.
Jesse Downing
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 Next-Generation Wealth Advisors 2019
Published on September 4, 2019. Rankings based on data as of March 31, 2019.
Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Advisors" 2022
Published on April 7, 2022. Rankings based on data as of June 30, 2021.
Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Advisors" 2021
Published on February 11, 2021. Rankings based on data as of June 30, 2020.
Forbes "Top Next-Generation Wealth Advisors" 2021
Published on September 21, 2021. Rankings based on data as of March 31, 2021.
Meet the Team
Supported by the global resources of Merrill, our 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.
Tracy R Hagues
Wealth Management Banking Specialist
Merrill
Conor O'Keefe
Alternative Investments Regional Specialist
Bank of America, N.A.
John Grassia
Senior Structured Credit Executive
Bank of America, N.A.
Create a plan that is all about you.
Merrill Personal Wealth Analysis™ can help us build and document a personalized plan, centered on your goals and focused on what you want to achieve.
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 we can help you create a financial approach that reflects your personality. Only then can we 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.
Articles
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.
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.
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.
You are now leaving Bank of America Merrill Lynch.
By clicking Continue, you will be taken to a website that is not affiliated with Bank of America Merrill Lynch and may offer a different privacy policy and level of security. Bank of America Merrill Lynch is not responsible for and does not endorse, guarantee or monitor content, availability, viewpoints, products or services that are offered or expressed on other websites.
You can click the Cancel button now to return to the previous page.