Women’s superpower: Investing

Watch our experts share ways to tap into your ability to build a more secure financial future.

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Women’s superpower: Investing

Watch our experts share ways to tap into your ability to build a more secure financial future.

Watch now

Merrill Lynch

The Schwartz Group

Wealth Management

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FINRA's BrokerCheck

Merrill Lynch
Wealth Management

Listen with care, advise with passion.
With The Schwartz Group, you can feel secure in knowing that you’ve got a plan designed to help make your wealth work for you, by a team committed to intimately understanding the needs of their clients. We know how your life and what you want out of it can change, which is why we take great pride in our proactive outreach and the attention to detail we provide for our clients.

Welcome

Forty years ago, Fern Schwartz started what is now The Schwartz Group at Merrill with nothing but her own determination to succeed. In the forty years since, she has built a successful practice comprised of over 150 individuals, multi-generational families, and small business clients. Our practice has grown because we continue to adhere to Fern’s philosophy: listen intently and treat everyone with the same level of decency and respect as you would want someone to give to you.

Our organized, comprehensive approach enables us to truly learn about what you want in life and provide you with a personalized wealth management strategy designed to help you turn your dreams into your reality.

Philosophy

It’s important to plan for your financial future, which means getting more than investment advice. You may find value in a one-on-one relationship with someone dedicated to knowing who you are and what you want to accomplish. Someone who knows your children’s names, how hard you worked to get where you are and how you view investing. Our commitment is centered on helping you achieve your goals by making your needs a priority. Our advice and financial planning approach are guided by what’s important to you.

How we help clients

The various stages in life often require adjustments in your financial and life goals, including:

  • The retirement lifestyle you envision
  • Preparing for the cost of the best education possible for your children and grandchildren
  • Strategies for preserving and growing wealth
  • Wealth transfer to the next generation
  • Establishment of your legacy through family foundations and philanthropy
  • Diversifying business interests
  • Tax-minimization strategies
  • Access to the banking and lending solitions of Bank of America

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

Regarding your finances, it is important for you to know exactly where you are, where you want to go, and how much you may need to get there. We work together to develop a personalized financial strategy, providing access to the investment insights of Merrill and the banking convenience of Bank of America, to help you plan for your financial future. We provide transparency on potential risks and opportunities and what you’re paying for and what you’re getting. Understanding that life needs and market conditions can change, we will meet with you to help ensure your strategy stays on track in pursuing your goals and to adjust your approach as needed for the journey ahead.

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.

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.

Fern G Schwartz

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

Forbes "America's Top Women Wealth Advisors" 2020
Published on April 21, 2020. Rankings based on data as of September 30, 2019.

Forbes "America's Top Women Wealth Advisors" 2019
Published on April 30, 2019. Rankings based on data as of September 30, 2018.

Forbes "America's Top Women Wealth Advisors" 2018
Published on February 15, 2018. Rankings based on data as of September 30, 2017.

Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Advisors" 2018-2022
Published annually Jan- April. Rankings based on data as of June 30 of prior year.

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.

Nicholas Passodelis

Wealth Management Banking Specialist

Merrill

Antonio Caruso

Wealth Management Lending Officer

Bank of America, N.A.

NMLS #572969

Kevin Ip

Investment Solutions Group Portfolio Strategist

Bank of America, N.A.

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.