Robert Waldele is a 43 year career-long Merrill advisor, and a Managing Director and founder of the Waldele Group, a Merrill Lynch Wealth Management team headquartered in New York City.  Bob and his team develop lifelong relationships with client families, helping them advance their unique financial goals through the thoughtful integration of strategy, implementation and service. He applies the knowledge and insight he has gained from nearly forty years of direct experience navigating the complexities that substantial wealth can pose. In addition to advising senior executives, entrepreneurs and multi-generational families, Bob leads the team’s strategic vision, oversees its wealth strategies and cultivates a distinctive culture resolutely focused on the well-being of client families. 

Having graduated Lafayette College in 1979 with a degree in history, Bob began his career with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management as an institutional bond liaison. In October of 1981, he began counseling high net worth individuals in the Global Private Client Division. Bob has garnered a number of national accolades as a Financial Advisor. Barron’s has recognized him as one of their Top 100 Financial Advisors since 2011-2017 (*Published annually Mar – April. Rankings based on data as of December 31 of prior year.) Forbes named Bob to its list of the Top 250 Wealth Advisors in America in 2016 and 2017 (*Published annually Aug – Oct. Rankings based on data as of Mar 31 – June 30 of current year.)

*Source: The Barron’s “Top 100 Financial Advisors” list, published annually Mar – April. Rankings based on data as of December 31 of prior year.
The Barron’s “Top 100 Financial Advisors” ranking considered advisors with a minimum of seven years financial services experience and who have been employed at their current firm for at least one year. Quantitative and qualitative measures used to determine the advisor rankings include: client assets, return on assets, client satisfaction/retention, compliance records, and community involvement, among others. Rankings are based on the opinions of Barron’s and not representative nor indicative of any one client’s experience, future performance, or investment outcome and should not be construed as an endorsement of the advisor. Barron’s does not receive compensation from advisors, participating firms and their affiliates, or the media in exchange for rankings. Rankings and recognition from Barron’s are no guarantee of future investment success and do not ensure that a current or prospective client will experience a higher level of performance results, and such rankings should not be construed as an endorsement of the advisor. Barron’s is a trademark of Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All rights reserved.

*Source: The Forbes “America’s Top Wealth Advisors” list, published annually Aug - Oct. Rankings based on data as of Mar 31 - June 30 of current year.
Data provided by SHOOK® Research, LLC. America’s Top Wealth Advisors ranking was developed by SHOOK Research and is based on in person, virtual and telephone due diligence meetings and a ranking algorithm that includes: a measure of best practices, 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 Forbes and not representative nor indicative of any one client’s experience, future performance, or investment outcome and should not be construed as an endorsement of the advisor. Rankings and recognition from Forbes are no guarantee of future investment success and do not ensure that a current or prospective client will experience a higher level of performance results. SHOOK’s research and rankings provide opinions intended to help investors choose the right financial advisor and are not indicative of future performance or representative of any one client’s experience. Past performance is not an indication of future results. Neither Forbes nor SHOOK Research receive compensation in exchange for placement on the ranking. For more information, please see www.SHOOKresearch.com. SHOOK is a registered trademark of SHOOK Research, LLC.

Jason Salgado is a founding partner of the Waldele Group in Merrill Lynch Wealth Management’s Global Wealth and Investment Management Group in New York City. Jason has significant experience advising senior executives of Fortune 500 companies, business owners, entrepreneurs, and ultra-high-net worth families to advance their personal, professional, and philanthropic goals. 

Jason takes a highly personalized approach to his work with his select clients to create customized wealth strategies by distilling their financial goals and streamlining the complexities that significant wealth can entail. With more than two decades of direct experience, he is sensitive to his clients’ lifestyle needs and risk parameters, and is adept in anticipating key decision points in order to help clients deploy their wealth more purposefully and thoughtfully. Jason is particularly skilled in asset allocation, portfolio management selection, wealth transfer strategies, and trust and estate planning services.* 

Jason joined Merrill in 1997, having worked previously as a management consultant. He earned his undergraduate degree from Lafayette College, his M.B.A. from Lehigh University, and holds the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC) designation.

Jason lives in Manhattan with his wife and daughter.

* Asset allocation does not ensure a profit or protect against loss in declining markets.

*Merrill, its affiliates, and financial advisors do not provide legal, tax, or accounting advice. You should consult your legal and/or tax advisors before making any financial decisions.

James Elliott is an International Wealth Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in New York City.  His primary responsibilities include financial strategy and portfolio management for the team’s ultra high net worth clients.  He also leads all credit and structured lending initiatives.  James has received national recognition from such publications as Forbes and Barron’s, including the Top 100 Private Wealth Teams* (Barron’s, 2021 - *Source: The Barron’s “Top 100 Private Wealth Management Teams” list, published on April 16, 2021. Rankings based on data as of December 31, 2020), Best-In-State Wealth Advisors (Forbes, 2021 - *Source: The Forbes “Best-in-State Wealth Advisors” list, published on February 11, 2021. Rankings based on data as of June 30, 2020) and America’s Top Next Generation Advisors (Forbes, 2017-2021 - *Source: The Forbes “Top Next-Generation Wealth Advisors” list, published annually July - Sept. Rankings based on data as of March 31 of current year). 

He earned his undergraduate degree from Georgetown University.



*Banking products are provided by Bank of America, N.A. and affiliated banks, Members FDIC and wholly owned subsidiaries of Bank of America Corporation.

*Source: The Barron’s “Top 100 Private Wealth Management Teams” list, published on April 16, 2021. Rankings based on data as of December 31, 2020.

The Barron’s “Top 100 Private Wealth Management Teams” list is a ranking of wealth management teams that specialize in serving individuals and families. The teams are ranked on a variety of factors, including their size and shape, the regulatory records and credentials of their members and the resources they have at their disposal to serve their client bases. The Barron’s “Top 100 Private Wealth Management Teams” ranking considered advisors with a minimum of seven years financial services experience and who have been employed at their current firm for at least one year. Quantitative and qualitative measures used to determine the advisor rankings include: client assets, return on assets, client satisfaction/retention, compliance records, and community involvement, among others. Barron’s does not receive compensation from advisors, participating firms and their affiliates, or the media in exchange for rankings. Rankings and recognition from Barron’s are no guarantee of future investment success and do not ensure that a current or prospective client will experience a higher level of performance results, and such rankings should not be construed as an endorsement of the advisor. Barron’s is a trademark of Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All rights reserved.


*Source: The Forbes “Best-in-State Wealth Advisors” list, published on February 11, 2021. Rankings based on data as of June 30, 2020.

Data provided by SHOOK™ Research, LLC. The 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 indicative of future performance or representative of any one client’s experience. Rankings and recognition from Forbes are no guarantee of future investment success and do not ensure that a current or prospective client will experience a higher level of performance results, and such rankings should not be construed as an endorsement of the advisor. 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.


*Source: The Forbes “Top Next-Generation Wealth Advisors” list, published annually July - Sept. Rankings based on data as of March 31 of current year.

Data provided by SHOOK® Research, LLC. Forbes “Top Next Generation Wealth Advisors” ranking. SHOOK considered advisors born in 1983 or later with a minimum 4 years as an advisor. Advisors have: built their own practices and lead their teams; joined teams and are
viewed as future leadership; or a combination of both. Ranking algorithm is based on qualitative measures: telephone and in-person interviews to measure best practices, client retention, industry experience, credentials, review of compliance records, firm nominations;
and quantitative criteria, such as: 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 Forbes and not representative nor indicative of any one client’s experience, future performance, or investment outcome and should not be construed as an endorsement of the advisor. SHOOK’s research and rankings provide opinions intended to help investors choose the right financial advisor and are not indicative of future performance or representative of any one client’s experience. Past performance is not an indication of future results. Neither Forbes nor SHOOK Research receive compensation in exchange for placement on the ranking. For more information, please see www.SHOOKresearch.com. SHOOK is a registered trademark of SHOOK Research, LLC.