THE HARTY CARPENTER GROUP: Harty, Carpenter, Naff, Lomax, Zellner, Ellard

Our 5-Step Proven Process

**Our approach is designed to bring clarity, structure, and confidence to your financial life.** We don't believe meaningful progress comes from isolated investment decisions. Instead, we begin with professionally designed financial planning—taking the time to understand what matters most to you and aligning every aspect of your wealth into a coordinated strategy. Through a simple, transparent, and collaborative process, we help you make informed decisions, prioritize your goals, and navigate life's complexities with confidence. Along the way, we act as your long‑term financial partner—providing proactive guidance, clear communication, and disciplined execution so you always know where you stand and what comes next. **OUR 5‑STEP PROVEN PROCESS** *** ** * ** *** **1. Discovery \& Clarity** We begin by listening. This first conversation is focused on understanding your goals, values, priorities, and concerns—along with the structure of your financial life. **Outcome:** A clear understanding of what matters most and what needs attention first. *** ** * ** *** **2. Goals‑Based Wealth Management™** We design a personalized, tax‑aware financial plan that integrates retirement income, investments, taxes, estate considerations, insurance, and long‑term goals—before making any investment recommendations. **Outcome:** A custom Wealth Blueprint designed around your life. *** ** * ** *** **3. Implementation \& Alignment** Once your plan is clear, we move forward with execution—aligning accounts, investments, and strategies while coordinating with your CPA, attorney, and other professionals. **Outcome:** Every moving piece working together toward your goals. *** ** * ** *** **4. Ongoing Guidance \& Transparency** We provide proactive communication, scheduled reviews, transparent reporting, and thoughtful adjustments as markets shift, and life evolves. **Outcome:** Confidence, clarity, and accountability year‑round. *** ** * ** *** **5. Annual Strategy Refresh** Each year, we revisit your goals, update projections, evaluate risks, and refine your strategy to help ensure your plan stays aligned with your life. **Outcome:** A living plan designed to grow with you.

Capabilities

Our team delivers a personalized wealth management experience designed to help you navigate every stage of your financial life. While investment management is an important part of what we do, our approach extends far beyond portfolios to address the broader opportunities and challenges that come with building, preserving, and transferring wealth. By bringing together the investment capabilities of Merrill, the trust and fiduciary expertise of Bank of America Private Bank, and the banking and lending resources of Bank of America, we help coordinate the many moving pieces of your financial life through a single, integrated strategy. As your trusted advisory team, we serve as a dedicated point of contact, working closely with you and your family to develop thoughtful, tax\-efficient wealth transfer strategies and help create a lasting legacy for future generations. ### Capabilities * Retirement Income Planning * Financial Planning * Investment Management * Wealth Preservation Strategies * Business Transition Planning * Generational Wealth Considerations * Coordination with Professional Advisors * Banking and Lending Resources Through Bank of America ^Banking products are provided by Bank of America, N.A. and affiliated banks, Members FDIC and wholly owned subsidiaries of Bank of America Corporation.^ ~Trust, fiduciary, and investment management services are provided by Bank of America, N.A., Member FDIC, and wholly owned subsidiary of Bank of America Corporation ("BofA Corp."), and its agents. Bank of America Private Bank is a division of Bank of America, N.A.~

Our Clients: Individuals, Families, and Small Businesses

## **Who we serve best:** ## Retirees \& Pre\-Retirees Retirement planning often involves a different set of questions than wealth accumulation. Rather than focusing exclusively on growth, many retirees are evaluating how their assets may support income needs over time, how investment decisions align with spending goals, and how different financial decisions work together. THE HARTY CARPENTER GROUP works with retirees and pre\-retirees throughout Fairhope, Daphne, Mobile, Orange Beach, and the Eastern Shore of Alabama. We also serve clients in Birmingham, Pensacola, Connecticut, and communities across the United States through virtual and in\-person relationships. We help clients organize retirement resources, evaluate income strategies, coordinate investment planning, and maintain a long\-term framework designed around their goals. ### Common Retirement Planning Discussions * Retirement income planning * Portfolio withdrawal strategies * Social Security timing considerations * Retirement lifestyle planning * Required minimum distribution planning * Long\-term wealth preservation * Coordination with tax professionals * Legacy and family planning considerations ## Professionals With Complex Financial Lives We work with physicians, attorneys, executives, engineers, and business professionals whose careers often create unique planning challenges. Stock compensation, changing income levels, retirement plan decisions, and competing financial priorities can make financial planning increasingly complex. Our process is designed to help busy professionals organize financial decisions into a coordinated strategy while providing ongoing guidance as personal and professional circumstances evolve. ### Common Planning Topics * Retirement planning * Executive compensation planning * Concentrated stock positions * Investment management * Tax\-aware planning discussions * Education funding * Wealth accumulation strategies * Multi\-generational planning ## Business Owners \& Entrepreneurs Business owners often spend decades building their companies while simultaneously creating a major part of their personal net worth. Whether an owner is focused on growth, succession planning, retirement preparation, or a future liquidity event, planning generally works best when it begins well before a transaction occurs. S. Wesley Carpenter holds the Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA®) designation and works with business owners preparing for ownership transitions and the financial decisions that often accompany them. ### Common Business Owner Planning Topics * Exit planning * Succession planning * Business transition preparation * Retirement planning after a sale * Liquidity event planning * Investment planning after a business sale * Family succession considerations * Coordination with CPAs and attorneys

Why Clients Choose THE HARTY CARPENTER GROUP

## **Why Clients Choose THE HARTY CARPENTER GROUP** Many financial decisions are interconnected. Investment decisions often affect retirement planning. Retirement planning can influence estate considerations. Business transitions may impact long\-term income needs. Our team focuses on helping clients bring these moving pieces together through a coordinated planning process supported by the resources of Merrill and Bank of America. THE HARTY CARPENTER GROUP serves retirees, professionals, executives, business owners, and families throughout Fairhope, Daphne, Mobile, Orange Beach, and the Eastern Shore of Alabama, as well as clients in Birmingham, Pensacola, Connecticut, and across the United States. Through a combination of personal relationships, tailored financial planning, and ongoing investment guidance, we help clients make informed financial decisions at every stage of life. ### What Clients Value * Team\-based approach with six advisors and 7 support staff with over 150 years of industry experience * Tailored financial planning * Retirement income planning expertise * Business transition planning experience * CFP® Professionals as well as CPWA®, ChFC®, CEPA®, CRPC™, CPFA® designees * Coordinated work alongside CPAs and attorneys * Long\-term client relationships * Resources of Merrill and Bank of America

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