John has been in the financial services industry since 1993 and in March of 2008, he helped to open the Merrill Lynch Wealth Management office in Lynchburg, Virginia.  His focus is on developing strategies for high-net-worth individuals, their families and their businesses.  The approach taken to wealth management is consultative, objective and committed to excellence.  Before any financial decisions are made, John takes time to fully understand and identify the financial goals that are most important to each client.  Once financial goals are identified, he recommends an asset allocation designed to accurately reflect the client’s income and long-term growth expectations.  He conducts regular reviews to track each client’s progress toward reaching their goals, while adapting strategies, if needed, as their life changes.  John follows up with discussions covering a wide range of opportunities, including investments, retirement and estate planning strategies.

John is a Senior Vice President, Resident Director, Senior Financial Advisor, and is approved as a qualified Portfolio Manager who, in addition to providing traditional advice and guidance, can help clients pursue their objectives by building and managing his own personalized or defined strategies, which may incorporate individual stocks and bonds, Merrill model portfolios, and third-party investment strategies.  When servicing clients through the firm’s Investment Advisory Program, a Portfolio Manager may manage his strategies on a discretionary basis.

John received his Bachelor's degree from West Virginia University in 1993. After obtaining his Series 7, 63 and 65 FINRA registrations and his Life and Health insurance license; he gained his Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor designation from The College for Financial Planning Institutes Corp.

John and his wife Kathy are lifetime residents of the Lynchburg area. They have two sons, Hundley and James. John is a member of the Society of the Cincinnati. In his spare time, he enjoys outdoor activities, collecting and working with antique tools, and working in his apple orchard in Forest, Virginia.

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

As a Merrill Senior Financial Advisor, Byrd guides our clients in all areas of wealth management. His roles on the team include, but are not limited to, retirement income planning, analyzing clients’ social security benefits and directing the implementation of appropriate social security strategies, portfolio construction, identifying insurance needs and liability analysis.  He strives to provide the highest level of service and needs-based advice to clients.

Byrd joined Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in 2008 when he, along with his brother John, helped open the Lynchburg Merrill Lynch Wealth Management office.  He holds the Series 7, 63 and 65 FINRA registrations and his Life and Health insurance licenses. 

Byrd grew up in Lynchburg, Virginia and has lived in Coleman Falls for the past twenty years with his wife Rebekah. They have three children; Kelly, Landis, and Mary Emma. He is a graduate of Lynchburg College. Before joining Merrill, Byrd served as Principal/Portfolio Manager at Portfolios Management Company in Lynchburg, Virginia.  He has been licensed in the financial services industry for 19 years. Byrd enjoys playing mandolin and guitar; he also enjoys hunting and fishing and is an active member of the Society of the Cincinnati.