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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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.

Brian Sliwinski

Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Advisors" 2021 and 2022
Published annually Jan- April. Rankings based on data as of June 30 of prior year.

Forbes "Best-in-State Next-Generation Wealth Advisors" 2019, 2021 and 2022
Published annually Aug - Sept. Rankings based on data as of March 31 of current year.

Forbes "Top Next-Generation Wealth Advisors" 2018, 2020, 2021 and 2022
Published annually Jul. - Sept. Rankings based on data as of March 31 of current year.

Peter S. Izzo

Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Advisors" 2022
Published on April 7, 2022.  Rankings based on data as of June 30, 2021.

Joanne V Graham

Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Advisors" 2021 and 2022
Published annually Jan- April. Rankings based on data as of June 30 of prior year.

Forbes "America's Top Women Wealth Advisors" 2021
Published on March 24, 2021. Rankings based on data as of September 30, 2020.

Who We Are

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.

Michael Saraceno

Senior Wealth Management Lending Officer

Bank of America, N.A.

NMLS #808005

Cole Gendron

Wealth Management Banking 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

Extensive capabilities serving exceptional clients


Izzo, Arellano, Sliwinski & Associates offers a broad spectrum of financial services and wealth management advice and guidance to a select group of clients. Our mission is to be a steady and insightful resource, helping clients accumulate, preserve, organize and structure their wealth.

Over the years, our wealth management group has become multidimensional. We advise and guide clients in multiple areas of wealth management: asset and liability management, diversified investments, trust and estate planning services, retirement income planning and concentrated stock management, among others. We offer direct access through Bank of America to personal banking, including lending services; and access to commercial banking, including treasury services, cash management and credit and lending.

Client benefits

The Izzo Group:
    • Works to relieve clients of the time burdens associated with structuring their wealth appropriately.
    • Can provide regular, proactive service to address clients' everyday financial needs.
    • Assists in setting and periodically reanalyzing expectations realistically.
    • Debates courses of action with clients and helps them to visualize the alternatives of various financial decisions presented to them.
    • Is candid and helps clients make informed decisions.
    • Is ever-vigilant on behalf of clients to spot investment opportunities and potential risks.
Who we work with — and for
We are proud to serve so many exceptional clients. The core of our base is highly affluent families and individuals, including:
    • Corporate executives from public and privately held companies
    • Financial industry executives
    • Business owners
    • Professional athletes
    • Gaming, Streaming, and eSports professionals
    • Real estate industry entrepreneurs
    • Physicians, attorneys and other professionals
Corporate Advisory Services
Through the resources of Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, we provide businesses with access to corporate advisory services that can help businesses with the following:
    • Qualified retirement plans: 401(k), profit sharing, defined benefit and pension plans
    • Review of investment policy statement strategy 
    • Non-qualified deferred and incentive compensation plans.
    • Company stock plans
We can offer access to these services through Bank of America:
    • Corporate cash management and treasury services
While many clients are concentrated in the New York City area, we work with individuals and companies in many different locations.

How we focus on clients

The Izzo Group is process-oriented, and we believe there is value in analyzing complex financial situations in a disciplined, candid way. We apply the same depth of skill to each client, and we leverage the Merrill Lynch Wealth Management platform of products, services, research, specialists and technology for clients' benefit.

Corporate executives and financial industry executives
The Izzo Group is particularly experienced serving as financial advisors to corporate executives (of both public and private companies) and financial industry executives, including senior executives from hedge funds and private equity funds, and senior officers from mutual fund companies, investment banks and other financial industry companies.

Each client is different, of course, but the senior executives we work with share a few characteristics: they are ambitious, successful, savvy – and time-constrained. Because of the demands and pressures of their professional lives, they are simply too busy to devote sufficient time to their own wealth management strategy. An additional common characteristic is that many clients hold significant ownership interests or investment stakes in the companies or funds they work for.

Over the years, these busy executives have relied on The Izzo Group, we believe, to help organize their financial matters and provide turn-key strategic advice and guidance in these crucial areas:
    • Net worth and balance sheet risk analytics
    • Diversified portfolio investments
    • Concentrated wealth strategies
      • Analyzing equity ownership or investment position risk
      • Monetization strategies
      • Tax minimization strategies
    • Corporate stock option and equity compensation strategies
    • Long-term wealth management strategy development
    • Coordination with other professional advisors, including estate attorneys, CPAs and insurance agents, among others


*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.

Our Process

Our view is that wealth management extends well beyond transactions and beating market benchmarks. It begins with the development of a strategy, supported by a diversified portfolio of investments, to pursue the financial and life goals that are most important to you.    


Our process starts with getting to know as much as we can about you. We want to take an in-depth look at both sides of your personal balance sheet and the dynamics of your life. 

With a conceptual picture of you in mind, we next help you develop an investment strategy and design a diversified investment portfolio that embodies that strategy.

To help you oversee and review your progress toward your goals, we will stay in touch with you on a regular basis to present market updates and stay abreast of any changes in your life and circumstances.

The five-step Goals-Based Wealth Management Process illustrates the endeavors we make with you:

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We leverage the considerable intellectual capital available through BofA Global Research to assist clients in selecting investments for their portfolios. The portfolios are dynamic, and we update asset allocations based on market and sector performance as well as market trends.
*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 research produced by BofA Securities, Inc. (“BofAS”) and/or one or more of its affiliates. BofAS is a registered broker-dealer, Member SIPC, and wholly owned subsidiary of Bank of America Corporation. 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.



 

Creating Your Investment Portfolio

You can delegate to Peter Izzo and Ian Arellano the investment management responsibilities for your portfolios, meaning they have discretion over certain investment decisions surrounding your investment strategy. Once they have confirmed your goals and life priorities, as well as identified your portfolio investment objective, time horizon, risk factor and liquidity needs, they will recommend targeted asset allocations for your portfolios to help meet your specific investment objectives. Granting Peter and Ian authority allows them to respond to market changes, price volatility and global events with the ability to make adjustments, if needed, to help your portfolio stay on track to meet your goals.

When building customized portfolios, we consider investments in a multitude of asset classes, subclasses, sectors, vehicles, and geographies to construct diversified portfolios. In general, we seek to create model portfolios tailored to meet clients' needs by using a disciplined evaluation and selection process. We select the investments for the portfolios and may change the asset allocations from time to time, based on market and sector performance and market trends that are appropriate for the clients we serve.

To help you oversee and assess performance, we will periodically review your portfolio with you. Additionally you will also receive periodic communications including monthly statements, quarterly portfolio summary updates and annual performance reports.

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.

      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.

      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.