Now’s the time to have the bull at your back, with Merrill.

Now’s the time to have the bull at your back, with Merrill.

Merrill believes the future is bullish, even in the most unpredictable of markets. To see you through uncertainty and help you to find opportunities, we invite you to check out the latest investment insights from our Chief Investment Office.

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S. Keith Klem, CPFA

Senior Vice President
Wealth Management Advisor
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Merrill Lynch
Wealth Management

Whether developing a strong retirement plan for your company or finding investment strategies for your personal wealth management, we provide a personalized approach to helping you meet your goals.

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.

S. Keith Klem

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Profile

VALUE PROPOSITION  

Since 1995, I’ve offered strategic financial advice
grounded in a genuine understanding of clients’ wealth and wishes.
My mission? To simplify their lives and exceed their expectations.

PROFILE

Keith is a seasoned financial advisor and former business owner who continues to attract generations of families that appreciate the knowledge and know-how of a trusted wealth management professional. In addition to earning the respect of clients, he has built a strong reputation in the industry – having been named to Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Advisors" list in 2018 (Published on February 15, 2018. Rankings based on data as of June 30, 2017)*.

A majority of Keith’s clients are active and retired business owners – including many planning exit strategies, or the transfer of wealth to the next generation. In addition to helping enhance their wealth, Keith has developed a strong competency helping with 401k and other defined benefit plans. His objectives include providing cost efficiencies, investment choices, employee education, reliable guidance on government regulations, and upholding clients’ fiduciary responsibilities.

Having managed clients’ money and emotion amid the volatility of 2000, 2008 and 2020 (with the scars to prove it), Keith is proud that virtually all of those clients remain with him today. He believes that’s due in large part to his focus on mitigating investment risk through a top-down approach that emphasizes diversification across asset classes and sectors.

Critical to Keith is getting each client to articulate “the meaning of their money” and what they want their money to do – for family and/or worthy causes. From college planning to retirement planning, to legacy planning, Keith works to engage both spouses whenever possible – to get a sense of their values and visions. In addition to working with clients’ elderly parents, he also makes time to help educate clients’ adult children on being wise beneficiaries of wealth.

When it comes to investing, Keith aims to assume no more portfolio risk than is needed to achieve a client’s financial and personal goals. “I try to keep clients disciplined and between the guard rails. When clients understand what they own and their role in following our agreed-upon strategy, they play a big part in their own success. That’s why I explain my investment selections in simple terms. No fancy jargon. Just stocks, bonds and other basic holdings I believe are appropriate for a client’s place in life,” Keith says.

Keith believes that being a trusted steward of clients’ long-term wealth demands that he focus on both sides of clients’ balance sheets – assets and liabilities. He offers access to Bank of America, N.A. for residential and securities-based lending (NMLS#508370). In addition, he helps align tax-minimization and estate planning strategies with those of clients’ CPAs and attorneys.

Keith holds the designation of Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor, CPFA, awarded by the National Association of Plan Advisors (NAPA). He also holds a place in his heart for quality family time – spent with his wife, Vicki, their son and daughter-in law, and two grandchildren at home in Oklahoma City and at their cabin in Colorado. An avid runner, Keith has participated in five half-marathons and more than a dozen 10k races.

Raised in New Jersey, Keith moved to Odessa, Texas at a young age with his family – working first at his father’s fabric company and opening new stores as the firm grew. Later, he opened his own company, ran it for 14 years and sold it, with the intent of becoming a financial advisor and helping business owners prosper from his experience.

Source: The Forbes “Best-in-State Wealth Advisors” list, published on February 15, 2018. Rankings based on data as of June 30, 2017.

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 representative
nor indicative of any one client’s experience, future performance, or investment outcome. 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. The ranking
or ratings shown here may not be representative of all client experiences because they reflect an average or sampling of the client
experiences. These rankings or ratings are not indicative of any future performance or investment outcome.

  • LANGUAGES

    English

  • EDUCATION

    Permian High School

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.

Daniel Scalley

Wealth Strategist

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

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.

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      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.

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      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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      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.