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Merrill lynch

Shearer & Reed Wealth Management Team

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Merrill Lynch
Wealth Management


Understanding your life priorities is an important part of the relationship with you. It’s not just about markets and returns, it’s about what matters most to you.  We can collaborate to help create a personalized plan designed around you, your family, your goals and your aspirations.

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Welcome

We bring shared ideas and resources to clients, offering a goals-based wealth management approach that puts our clients, rather than the market, at the center of the wealth management process.  We help identify and prioritize clients’ goals and then provide access to the global investing resources of Merrill Lynch Wealth Management and the banking convenience of Bank of America to address them.  These goals might include planning for and funding children’s or grandchildren’s educations, helping to ensure that money lasts in retirement, covering potential health care costs, and preserving wealth.  We then develop a financial strategy aligned with those goals.

“Our team approach allows us to work together to address our clients’ most complex needs” - Mike Shearer, CFP

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Why Shearer & Reed Wealth Management Team

We believe that communication is instrumental to success in managing life’s challenges.  Our financial advisors seek to engage families in the financial decision-making process.  Communicating openly with family members on the sometimes difficult subject of wealth can be a challenge.  We help facilitate these discussions and offer opportunities to educate the younger generation about how assets may be invested.

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Our Philosophy

We live in a world that's constantly changing. Markets can fluctuate frequently. Potential investment opportunities can arise daily. Regulations are amended. That's why we believe that you and your situation are the best starting points from which to help plan your financial future: where you are today, where you want to be tomorrow, and what you want to accomplish along the way. Because by understanding you and your priorities, we can more effectively offer our experience and resources and help you build a financial framework that is rooted in the unique complexities of your life.

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Focus On High-Net-Worth Individuals and Families

Great wealth is not an end in itself. It is a way by which you can decide what you want to accomplish and with whom you wish to collaborate to pursue your goals. Our team is highly experienced about the challenges faced by individuals with substantial wealth.

A limited client base helps ensure that substantial time and energy can be devoted to assessing and tailoring individual strategies for you. It also allows the team to be responsive to your personal goals and focus on those services that contribute to simplifying your financial life. We believe the value delivered to you reaches well beyond investment management; it extends to the advice and guidance that may be of assistance in nearly every aspect of your financial life.

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.

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Services & Resources

Using the broad investing resources of Merrill, we assist with income management, education funding, retirement planning, and guidance for executives with concentrated stock positions, traditional and alternative investments, wealth transfer and estate planning services. With your permission, we also work closely with your other specialists, such as attorneys, accountants and specialists to help you pursue your goals.

BofA Global Research provides private investors and families with research*** and financial strategies to help them confidently meet investment goals.  Our program is designed to use your Investment Policy Statement (IPS) that clearly defines the objectives and constraints under which we operate.  We have our clients' best interests in mind when we invest their funds or provide planning recommendations.

Some of the services we offer include but are not limited to:

Goals Based Planning
  Personal Wealth and Retirement Income Plan

Business Solutions
  Cash Management
  Business Succession Planning

Client Focused Services
  Regular Progress Reviews

Estate Planning Services
  Fiduciary Managed Trustee Accounts**
  Fiduciary Managed Trusteed IRA's** 
  Gifting Strategies

Retirement Strategy
  Social Security Filing Strategies

Investment Management
  Tactical and Strategic Investment Plans
  Custom Built Portfolio Strategies
  Socially Responsible Investment Portfolios
  Alternative Investments Platform
  Executive Compensation Analysis 

We are dedicated to going above and beyond your expectations when it comes to financial advisory and wealth management services.  Our goal is to help  you organize and simplify your financial life.



*Some or all alternative investment programs may not be in the best interest of certain investors. No assurance can be given that any alternative investment’s investment objectives will be achieved.
**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.”).
***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.
****Impact investing and/or Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) managers may take into consideration factors beyond traditional financial information to select securities, which could result in relative investment performance deviating from other strategies or broad market benchmarks, depending on whether such sectors or investments are in or out of favor in the market. Further, ESG strategies may rely on certain values based criteria to eliminate exposures found in similar strategies or broad market benchmarks, which could also result in relative investment performance deviating.  
 

Our Videos

Insights, observations, and ideas to help you in your pursuit of your financial goals.

Important Video Disclosures

Take charge of your financial future with a plan that is all about you.

Face your challenges with the resources of one of the world's largest financial institutions at your back.

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.

Mike Shearer

Forbes “Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams” 2023,2024
Published annually in January. Rankings based on data as of March 31 of prior year.*

Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Advisors" 2022, 2023
Published annually Jan- April. Rankings based on data as of June 30 of prior year.

John Scott Reed

Forbes “Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams” 2023, 2024
Published annually in January. Rankings based on data as of March 31 of prior year.*

Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Advisors" 2022,2023
Published annually Jan- April. Rankings based on data as of June 30 of prior year.

Get To Know Us

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.

Austin Bertrand

Wealth Strategies Advisor

Bank of America, N.A.

Demarcus Miller

Wealth Management Banking Specialist

Merrill

Lisa C. Gratz

Wealth Management Lending Officer

Bank of America, N.A.

NMLS #536196

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.