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

Fenz Abalos Group

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Merrill Lynch
Wealth Management

“When we meet with clients we ask, what do you want most from this relationship for your financial goals? Their answers define what they vision with a wealth management team and what we strive to offer at the Fenz Abalos Group.” Darren C. Fenz

“Whatever goals you have for your career, business or family, our objective is to help you organize and coordinate your financial life so it can keep pace and keep you moving forward. We're here to listen to help accomplish what you want most.” Joni Abalos
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A natural resource for your wealth

Some of America's foremost energy and business professionals seek us out to help them design their portfolios and overall financial picture. When you consider what it takes to build and pass on significant, dynamic wealth, it's no surprise these clients need a different perspective, one that can adapt to the demands they place on themselves, their outlook and their resources.

Our wealth management advisors have years of experience helping bring greater structure, clarity and efficiency to key aspects of clients' financial lives. What's more, our advice, guidance and services are backed by the investing insights of Merrill Lynch Wealth Management and the banking convenience of Bank of America.

Exploring the possibilities of tomorrow
We think you'll find one of the strengths our team offers is helping you define and sharpen your vision of what you want your life—and lifestyle—to look like over the next 5, 10, even 20 or more years. Based on your individual goals, we help you create a blueprint for your wealth, one that details how your assets, income, insurance, spending and borrowing can all work together to support your objectives. This approach helps our team to make targeted recommendations on your short- and long-term investments, business interests and retirement and legacy planning strategies.

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Strategies for the most sophisticated needs

If you're like most of the clients that we serve, your resources give you the power and the privilege to choose the kind of lifestyle you want—on your terms, on your timetable. We offer financial and wealth strategies designed to help you actively pursue your goals.
 
Retirement outlook. Together with your outside tax and legal advisors, we can offer guidance on tax-minimization strategies to help structure your wealth in the stages leading up to retirement.

Monetizing equity compensation. For many clients, smart management of their employer stock holdings can be essential to preserving their wealth and fueling their retirement. We will work with you to develop sensible strategies to manage your holdings, based on your risk tolerance, time horizons, objectives, expectations for future growth, liquidity needs and tax considerations.

Wealth transfer services. Working with specialists from Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, and in coordination with your attorneys and accountants, we can help you develop an efficient wealth transfer strategy. We can guide you on trust investments, charitable giving, life insurance and other tactics to help you pass on your wealth the way you want.

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A focused relationship built on understanding and shared information

We know that your assets are far more than just numbers on a balance sheet—they represent a certain lifestyle, a vision of the future and a legacy for the next generation. In helping you manage your wealth, we respect the efforts you've put into building affluence, and we work hard to demonstrate our integrity in everything we do.

Client-focused relationships. We're integrally involved in clients' financial lives, understanding their needs and constantly looking at how to exceed their expectations. Our service philosophy is simple: We build relationships, and we get things done.

Open communication. We want clients to speak freely with us. To work effectively on their behalf, we need to know about their assets, their goals, business issues, or impending family changes, retirement or health concerns. At their request, we also communicate with their legal and tax professionals, so that each one's strategy and service is coordinated.

Informed advice and guidance. Our strategies and recommendations are built on careful research, analysis and our understanding of market trends and tactics. We can show you the rationale for each course of action we propose, so you can make an informed decision.

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Helping energy professionals power their futures

At The Fenz Abalos Group, we focus on an extraordinary group of clients. They are some of the most dynamic and accomplished leaders in the energy industry and other businesses throughout Texas and across the country. By and large, they have spent lifetimes creating value, opportunity and a different level of affluence.

These clients have demanding goals for their wealth and their lives—and they need wealth management that can keep up with their changing outlook and perspectives. They want guidance from a trusted place, offered by people with the insight and know-how to help create the potential for a brighter tomorrow.

Coupled with the investing insights of Merrill Lynch Wealth Management and the banking convenience of Bank of America, our team can offer a degree of advice and guidance, service and experience that we believe few other financial teams can exceed.

While you may know our reputation, once you experience our level of service, we think you'll see why a select group of families and prestigious companies have chosen us—and stay with us.

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.

Darren C Fenz

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" 2018 - 2023
Published annually Jan- April. Rankings based on data as of June 30 of prior year.

Barron's "Top 1,200 Financial Advisors: State-by-State" 2014 - 2024
Published annually in February - March. Rankings based on data as of September 30 of the prior year.

Barron's "America's Top 1,000 Financial Advisors: State-by-State" 2013
Published on February 18, 2013. Rankings based on data as of September 30, 2012.

Joni M Abalos

Barron's "Top 100 Women Financial Advisors" 2023
Published on June 16, 2023. Rankings based on data as of March 31, 2023.*

Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Advisors" 2018 - 2023
Published annually Jan- April. Rankings based on data as of June 30 of prior year.

Barron's "Top 1,200 Financial Advisors: State-by-State" 2016 - 2024
Published annually in February - March. Rankings based on data as of September 30 of the prior year.

Forbes "Top Women Wealth Advisors Best-in-State” 2023
Published on February 2, 2023. Rankings based on data as of September 30, 2022.*

Forbes "America's Top Women Wealth Advisors" 2017 - 2022 and 2024
Published annually Feb- April. Rankings based on data as of June 30 - September 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.

Elizabeth M. Leiva

Wealth Management Banking Specialist

Merrill

Courtney Kelch

Senior Trust Officer

Bank of America, N.A.

Katya Garza

Wealth Management Lending Officer

Bank of America, N.A.

NMLS #966891

Upcoming Events

Adjusting Your Retirement Plan for the Road Ahead- Luncheon Seminar at Lynn's Steakhouse

Lynn’s Steakhouse – Westlake by the Energy Corridor, 955 Dairy Ashford Rd, Houston, TX 77079

April 24th, 2024|11:30 AM - 12:30 PM CDT



Important Lunch Information:

If your schedule is free, we would love for you to join us for a lunch at Lynn’s Steakhouse – Westlake by the Energy Corridor April 24, 2024 at 11:30 am. Please RSVP with Crystal as soon as possible if you are interested. Spouses and colleagues are welcome to join. Lunch will be provided.

Please feel free to share this invitation with family and friends you think may be interested in this topic.

RSVP information:
Call Crystal Stanfield, Business Development Specialist at (713) 840-4800 or email crystal.stanfield@ml.com

This seminar has been sponsored, in whole or in part, by AB Global, Eagle, Nuveen and Neuberger.

    Past Events

    Plan The Retirement You Want

    Please call or email to reserved your spot as soon as possible, Please contact Crystal Stanfield at 713.840.4800, or email at crystal.stanfield@ml.com

    October 18th, 2023|11:30 AM - 12:30 PM CST

    During this event, we will discuss Retirement Planning.

    Click Here to RSVP
    https://goto.webex.com/goto/onstage/g.php?MTID=edfdf6966f50ca7e28e29ae94e46cd337

    To listen to the discussion, you must CALL in using the teleconference details on the WebEx.

    Important Lunch Information:
    PLEASE REGISTER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE USING THE ABOVE LINK.

    Once you are registered, we will send you a $25 UBEREATS food voucher the day before the event. Please note that the voucher will ONLY be valid from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. the day of webinar. We HIGHLY recommend that you start ordering your food as soon the time slot opens, so your meal will be delivered in time to enjoy the event.

    Please feel free to share this invitation with family and friends you think may be interested in this topic.

    This seminar has been sponsored, in whole or in part, by Nuveen and Eagle Asset Management.

      Making the Most of Your Retirement Assets Luncheon Seminar at Lynn's Steakhouse

      Lynn’s Steakhouse, Energy Corridor, 955 Dairy Ashford, Houston, TX 77079

      November 15th, 2023|11:30 AM - 12:30 PM CST

      If your schedule is free, we would love for you to join us for a complementary luncheon at Lynn’s Steakhouse– Houston Energy Corridor, November 15th, 2023 at 11:30 am. Please RSVP to Crystal as soon as possible if you are interested. Spouses and colleagues are welcome to join.

      RSVP information:


      Call Crystal Stanfield, Business Development Specialist at (713) 840-4800 or email crystal.stanfield@ml.com

      This seminar has been sponsored, in whole or in part, by AB Global, PIMCO, Franklin Templeton, Principle and Cohen & Steers.

       Please feel free to share this invitation with family and friends you think may be interested in this topic.

        Making The Most of Your Retirement Assets

        Please call or email to reserve your spot as soon as possible, Please contact Crystal Stanfield at 713. 840.4800, or email at crystal.stanfield@ml.com

        January 24th, 2024|11:30 AM - 12:30 PM CST

        Click Here to RSVP

        https://goto.webex.com/goto/onstage/g.php?MTID=ee5d5f02c77e0475c473abd9abfc64d59

        To listen to the discussion, you must CALL in using the teleconference details on the WebEx.

        Important Lunch Information:

        PLEASE REGISTER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE USING THE ABOVE LINK.

        Once you are registered, we will send you a $25 UBEREATS food voucher before the event. Please note that the voucher will ONLY be valid from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. the day of webinar. Food must be delivered at destination within the time frame. We HIGHLY recommend that you start ordering your food as soon the time slot opens, so your meal will be delivered in time to enjoy the event.

        Please feel free to share this invitation with family and friends you think may be interested in this topic.

        This seminar has been sponsored, in whole or in part, by AB Global and Principle.

          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.