Thomas Sullivan

Who I Work With

I work with a focused group of clients navigating complex financial decisions and pivotal life and business events. **Founders Investors** I advise startup founders, entrepreneurs, and investment professionals through key stages of growth and liquidity. * Pre\- and post\-exit financial planning * Liquidity event and capital deployment strategies * Coordination with legal, tax, and investment professionals * Wealth planning for Angel investors, Venture Capital, Private Equity, and Hedge Fund principals **Senior Executives** I help corporate leaders manage the complexity of executive compensation and concentrated equity exposure. * Equity compensation planning (RSUs, stock options, performance shares) * Concentrated stock diversification strategies * Compensation structuring and negotiation support * Tax\-efficient wealth planning **Business Owners Exit Planning** I work with business owners preparing for or navigating a transition or sale. * Exit planning and readiness strategy * Pre\-sale financial positioning * Tax\-aware liquidity planning * Post\-sale wealth management and diversification **Ultra\-High\-Net\-Worth Families** I assist families with significant wealth in structuring, preserving, and transferring assets across generations. * Trust and estate planning strategies * Multigenerational wealth transfer * Coordination with attorneys and tax professionals * Family governance and legacy planning **Values\-Based Faith\-Driven Investors** I support individuals and families who want their financial decisions to reflect their beliefs and principles. * Sharia, Catholic\-compliant, and other faith\-based investment approaches * Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) strategies * Aligning portfolios with personal values and long\-term purpose \*Impact investing and/or Environmental Social Governance (ESG) investing has certain risks based on the fact that ESG criteria excludes securities of certain issuers for nonfinancial reasons and therefore, investors may forgo some market opportunities and the universe of investments available will be smaller.

Key Situations I Help Solve

My clients often come to me when facing complex decisions that require careful planning, coordination, and a clear strategy. **Business Sales Liquidity Events** * Preparing for the sale of a business or partial exit * Structuring wealth before a liquidity event * Managing proceeds after a sale * Coordinating with attorneys, CPAs, and deal teams **Compensation Concentrated Stock** * Managing large positions in company stock * Diversifying without unnecessary tax impact * Planning around RSUs, stock options, and performance shares * Reducing risk while maintaining long\-term growth potential **Executive Compensation Career Transitions** * Structuring compensation packages * Navigating career changes or promotions * Evaluating deferred compensation and incentive structures * Aligning compensation decisions with long\-term financial goals **Founder Investor Wealth Planning** * Financial planning before and after startup exits * Managing sudden liquidity and capital deployment decisions * Planning for Angel investors, Venture Capital, Private Equity, and Hedge Fund principals * Building long\-term strategies after significant wealth creation **Business Owner Exit Planning** * Preparing a business for sale or transition * Tax\-aware exit and succession strategies * Converting business value into personal wealth * Post\-sale investment and income planning **Trust, Estate Legacy Planning** * Structuring wealth for multigenerational transfer * Coordinating with estate attorneys and tax professionals * Planning for family governance and legacy goals * Aligning wealth with long\-term family objectives **Values\-Based Faith\-Aligned Investing** * Aligning investments with personal beliefs and principles * Sharia, Catholic\-compliant, and other faith\-based strategies * ESG and impact investing approaches * Balancing values with long\-term financial objectives **Major Life Financial Transitions** * Retirement planning and income structuring * Transitioning from military or corporate careers * Navigating significant changes in income or net worth * Building a long\-term, adaptable financial strategy \*Impact investing and/or Environmental Social Governance (ESG) investing has certain risks based on the fact that ESG criteria excludes securities of certain issuers for nonfinancial reasons and therefore, investors may forgo some market opportunities and the universe of investments available will be smaller.

My Approach

I take a structured, disciplined approach to financial planning designed to bring clarity to complex decisions and adapt as circumstances evolve. **1. Discovery: Defining What Matters Most** We begin by establishing a deep understanding of your financial situation, goals, and priorities. * Personal and family objectives * Career, business, or liquidity milestones * Risk tolerance and time horizon * Values, beliefs, and legacy considerations **2. Strategy Design: Building a Cohesive Plan** Based on what matters most to you, I develop a comprehensive strategy that integrates all aspects of your financial life. * Investment strategy and asset allocation * Equity compensation and concentrated stock planning * Tax\-aware planning and risk management * Business exit, liquidity, and trust planning strategies **3. Implementation: Executing with Precision** Once aligned, we put your strategy into action with careful coordination and attention to detail. * Portfolio implementation and positioning * Coordination with attorneys, CPAs, and other advisors * Structuring solutions tailored to your circumstances * Periodic tracking of key financial decisions **4. Ongoing Guidance: Adapting Over Time** Financial planning is not static. As your life and opportunities evolve, your strategy should evolve with it. * Regular reviews and adjustments * Planning for new opportunities or risks * Navigating career transitions, exits, or major life events * Maintaining alignment with your long\-term goals and values My role is to serve as a long\-term partner—helping you make informed, confident decisions through each stage of your financial life.

Strategies & Areas of Focus

My work centers on helping clients navigate complex financial decisions through a coordinated and strategic approach. **Equity Compensation Concentrated Stock** I help executives and professionals manage the risks and opportunities associated with significant equity exposure. * Planning around RSUs, stock options, and performance\-based awards * Diversification strategies for concentrated positions * Tax\-aware execution of stock sales and transitions * Balancing growth potential with risk management **Business Exit Liquidity Planning** I work with founders and business owners to prepare for and execute successful liquidity events. * Pre\-sale financial positioning and planning * Structuring proceeds for long\-term financial independence * Tax\-efficient transition strategies * Post\-liquidity investment and income planning **Executive Compensation Strategy** I assist senior executives in structuring and evaluating compensation decisions within the context of a broader financial strategy. * Salary, bonus, and equity package evaluation * Deferred compensation planning * Incentive alignment and long\-term wealth strategy * Integration with retirement and tax planning **Founder Investor Wealth Strategy** I advise founders and investment professionals navigating wealth creation, deployment, and preservation. * Pre\- and post\-exit planning strategies * Capital deployment and portfolio construction * Coordination with legal, tax, and investment professionals * Long\-term planning following significant wealth events **Ultra\-High\-Net\-Worth Trust Planning** I support families in structuring and preserving wealth across generations. * Trust and estate planning coordination * Multigenerational wealth transfer strategies * Family governance and legacy planning * Integration of investment and estate structures **Values\-Based Faith\-Driven Investing** I help clients align their financial strategies with their personal beliefs and long\-term purpose. * Sharia, Catholic\-compliant, and other faith\-based investment approaches * Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) strategies * Values\-based portfolio construction * Balancing ethical considerations with financial objectives **Integrated Financial Planning** All strategies are designed to work together within a comprehensive, long\-term plan. * Investment strategy, tax planning, and risk management * Coordination across multiple areas of financial life * Ongoing refinement as circumstances evolve * Alignment with long\-term goals and priorities

Personalized planning

**Helping you create a personalized plan** At Merrill, we go beyond the traditional role of an advisor. * Your goals, concerns and attitude about investing are the foundation of your plan. * We actively listen and provide personalized advice — ensuring we understand what matters most to you and your family. * We're committed to creating a personalized plan that evolves with you to help you live well today while preparing for the future.

Team and resources

**Giving you access to our teams and solutions** Your advisor is one part of an experienced team dedicated to helping you achieve your goals. Acting as your single point of contact, your advisor provides personalized strategies and connects you with: * Bank of America specialists, such as mortgage or trust professionals * Timely insights from BofA Global Research1 to help you stay informed and navigate ever\-changing markets * A [full suite](https://www.ml.com/solutions/all.html) of Merrill investing and Bank of America banking solutions ^1^~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](http://www.sipc.org/), and wholly owned subsidiary of Bank of America Corporation ("BofA Corp.").~

Recognition