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Merrill lynch

The Rutherford Group

Merrill Lynch Wealth Management
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Merrill Lynch
Wealth Management


The Rutherford Group believes that good relationships are built through teamwork and involvement, delivered through our advisors, wealth management client associates and access to the global investment capabilities of Merrill and the banking convenience of Bank of America. We want to be your primary source for financial advice and guidance. And we want you to value the dedication and diligence offered to you at each step of the financial planning process.

Meet the Team

The Rutherford Group formed by two partners, in Shelby and Rutherfordton, over twenty-five years ago has grown it's business year over year thanks to the decades of bespoke advice we have provided to our clients.  We help provide an objective approach to goals-based investing for affluent individuals, families, businesses, and foundations.  Our advice is unbiased and personalized for all of life’s financial decisions.  As a Merrill Advisory Team, we take a comprehensive view to all areas of your financial lives from accumulation to annuitization to legacy planning.  Our client-centric planning looks beyond the surface and focuses on a deep, personal interest in helping to improve the quality of all our clients’ lives. Whether your focus is on wealth accumulation, preservation or distribution; we combine extensive due diligence and portfolio management experience to develop financial strategies and portfolios that address each client’s special and unique circumstances.

Our Approach

Planning for the short term can bring out its challenges, planning for the long-term can be daunting. The Rutherford Group is here to help make the daunting tasks those of reason and comfort. Our planning starts with a simple question, "What's most important to you?" How much do I need to retire, can I afford to buy a second home, how should I best support the causes I am so passionate about, how do I leave a legacy to my heirs? Those BIG questions that can cause sleepless nights are now answered through preparation and planning alongside The Rutherford Group at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management.

We serve as more than just a financial advisor we are here to be your friend, your financial steward, and your support staff, our ball is in your court. The Rutherford Group offers personalized strategies including but not limited to:
-Personalized Goals-based Wealth Planning
-Disciplined Portfolio Development/Stock Option Analysis/Concentrated Stock Management
-Education Planning
-Employer Benefit Guidance integrated into your Wealth Plan
-Trust and Estate Planning Services
-Residential Lending and Debt Consolidation

You should call us at (704) 339-2140 or email malexander11@ml.com if: 
- You are retired or thinking about retirement and are seeking a comprehensive investment and income plan
- You are in times of transition such as career change, parenthood, marriage/divorce, moving or relocating
- You are dissatisfied with your advisor or handling it on your own and would like a second opinion
- You have questions about your employer plans (401k, stock plans, HSA, etc)

We look forward to hearing from you!




*You have choices for what to do with your 401(k) or other type of plan-sponsored accounts. Depending on your financial circumstances, needs and goals, you may choose to rollover to an IRA or convert to a Roth IRA, rollover a 401(k) from a prior employer to a 401(k) at your new employer, take a distribution, or leave the account where it is. Each choice may offer different investment options and services, fees and expenses, withdrawal options, required minimum distributions, tax treatment(particularly with reference to employer stock), and provide different protection from creditors and legal judgments. These are complex choices and should be considered with care.  For more information, speak to your Merrill Financial Advisor.

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, we 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.

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

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. 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.

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.

Angela Terry

Wealth Management Banking Specialist

Merrill

Ryan Thrower

Wealth Strategies Advisor

Bank of America, N.A.

Deborah S Smith

Wealth Management Lending Officer

Bank of America, N.A.

NMLS #505114

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.


      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.