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

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

## **Frequently Asked Questions** **About THE HARTY CARPENTER GROUP** *** ** * ** *** ***What makes THE HARTY CARPENTER GROUP different?*** We believe the most important financial decisions are interconnected. Rather than addressing retirement, investments, taxes, business planning, and wealth transfer separately, we help clients coordinate these areas through a comprehensive planning process built around their goals, values, and long\-term priorities. Our team\-based approach combines personalized advice, ongoing investment guidance, and coordination with clients' CPAs, attorneys, and other professionals to help simplify complex financial decisions. ***What type of clients does THE HARTY CARPENTER GROUP work with?*** We primarily work with retirees, pre\-retirees, business owners, professionals, executives, and families seeking comprehensive wealth management and long\-term financial guidance. Many of our clients are preparing for retirement, navigating a business transition, managing substantial wealth, or seeking a coordinated strategy for preserving and transferring wealth across generations. ***What services does THE HARTY CARPENTER GROUP provide?*** Our team provides tailored financial planning, retirement income planning, investment management, wealth preservation strategies, business transition planning, and guidance related to generational wealth considerations. We also coordinate with clients' CPAs, attorneys, and other professionals when financial decisions involve tax, estate, business, or legal considerations. ***What makes your approach to wealth management different?*** Our approach begins with financial planning rather than isolated investment recommendations. We seek to understand each client's goals, income needs, family circumstances, business interests, and long\-term priorities before developing a coordinated wealth management strategy. As life, markets, and financial needs evolve, we revisit the plan and make adjustments designed to keep each part of the client's financial life aligned. ***How do I know whether I am ready to work with a wealth management team?*** You may benefit from a wealth management team when your financial life has become difficult to coordinate on your own. This may occur as you approach retirement, accumulate multiple investment and retirement accounts, receive executive compensation, own a business, experience a liquidity event, or begin planning for future generations. A wealth management relationship may also be valuable when you want one team to help organize your financial priorities and coordinate with your other professional advisors. ***Why do clients choose a team\-based wealth management approach?*** A team\-based approach provides clients with access to multiple professionals who can contribute different perspectives and areas of experience. It also supports continuity, responsiveness, and coordinated service as financial needs evolve. At THE HARTY CARPENTER GROUP, our team works together to understand each client's priorities, develop a personalized financial strategy, provide ongoing investment guidance, and help clients address important decisions over time. *** ** * ** *** **Retirement Planning** ***What does a financial advisor do for retirees?*** A financial advisor can help retirees organize their resources and develop a coordinated strategy for supporting income throughout retirement. This may include evaluating retirement readiness, estimating spending needs, reviewing Social Security timing, planning portfolio withdrawals, managing investments, considering taxes, and preparing for future health care or legacy goals. The objective is to bring these decisions together within a retirement plan that can be reviewed and adjusted as circumstances change. ***Do you offer retirement planning?*** Yes. Retirement income planning is a core focus of our practice. We help clients evaluate retirement readiness, Social Security timing, portfolio withdrawal strategies, investment allocation, potential tax considerations, and long\-term spending needs. Our goal is to develop a coordinated strategy that connects each client's financial resources with the lifestyle and priorities they want to pursue in retirement. ***How does retirement income planning work?*** Retirement income planning begins by comparing your anticipated expenses and goals with the income and assets available to support them. This may include Social Security, pensions, retirement accounts, taxable investments, business\-sale proceeds, and other resources. We then help evaluate how these resources may work together, how portfolio withdrawals may be structured, and how the strategy may need to adapt as markets, tax laws, spending needs, and family circumstances change. ***How do you approach retirement income planning?*** Retirement planning changes when the focus shifts from accumulating wealth to using that wealth to support your life. We consider the income your portfolio may need to provide, Social Security timing, anticipated expenses, investment allocation, withdrawal sequencing, potential tax implications, and longer\-term family goals. Our process focuses on developing a coordinated retirement income strategy while working with clients' tax and legal professionals when appropriate. ***When should I start planning for retirement?*** Retirement planning should ideally begin well before your intended retirement date. Starting early provides more time to evaluate savings, expenses, Social Security choices, investment risk, potential income gaps, and lifestyle goals. It can also create more flexibility to make adjustments while you are still earning income. Even if retirement is approaching quickly, establishing a clear plan can help organize the decisions that need to be made. ***How much money do I need to retire comfortably?*** The amount needed for retirement varies based on your desired lifestyle, spending, retirement age, expected longevity, health care needs, family responsibilities, income sources, and investment resources. Rather than relying on a general rule, we help clients estimate future expenses, identify dependable and variable income sources, evaluate different retirement scenarios, and determine whether their current resources appear aligned with their goals. ***When should I claim Social Security?*** The appropriate time to claim Social Security depends on your individual circumstances. Important considerations can include your income needs, health, expected longevity, employment status, other retirement resources, and potential benefits available to a spouse. Because Social Security can affect both current cash flow and longer\-term retirement income, the decision should be evaluated as part of your broader financial plan. The Social Security Administration provides tools for estimating benefits and evaluating timing choices. ***How can I create dependable income in retirement?*** Retirement income may come from several sources, including Social Security, pensions, retirement accounts, taxable investments, and other assets. A coordinated strategy considers which resources may provide regular income, which assets remain invested for longer\-term needs, and how withdrawals may be adjusted over time. The objective is not to predict every future expense, but to create a disciplined framework for funding current needs while addressing inflation, market changes, and longevity. ***Should my investment strategy change when I retire?*** Retirement often changes the role an investment portfolio must play. Before retirement, the primary focus may be long\-term accumulation. In retirement, the portfolio may also need to support withdrawals, provide liquidity, manage risk, and keep pace with rising expenses. Any changes should be based on your income needs, time horizon, other financial resources, risk tolerance, and long\-term goals rather than retirement age alone. ***How often should a retirement plan be reviewed?*** A retirement plan should be reviewed regularly and whenever a significant change occurs. Relevant changes may include retirement timing, spending needs, health circumstances, family priorities, tax laws, market conditions, or the sale of a business or property. Ongoing reviews help determine whether assumptions remain reasonable and whether investment, withdrawal, or planning strategies need to be adjusted. *** ** * ** *** **Business Owners and Exit Planning** ***Can you help business owners?*** Yes. We work with business owners on the personal financial decisions connected to business ownership, succession planning, potential liquidity events, retirement planning, investment management, and long\-term wealth strategies. We also help owners evaluate how the value of their business fits within their broader financial plan and coordinate with their CPAs and attorneys when tax, legal, or estate considerations are involved. ***What is exit planning for business owners?*** Exit planning is the process of preparing an owner, the business, and the owner's personal finances for a future transition. That transition may involve a third\-party sale, family succession, management transition, or another ownership structure. Effective exit planning connects business value, personal retirement needs, potential tax and estate considerations, and the owner's goals for life after the business. ***How can business owners prepare for an eventual sale?*** Preparation typically begins by clarifying the owner's personal goals, intended timeline, potential transition paths, and financial needs after the business. Owners may also need to evaluate business value, strengthen the management team, reduce dependence on the owner, organize financial records, and coordinate with legal and tax professionals. On the personal side, we help owners consider how a future transaction may affect retirement income, investment management, family goals, and long\-term wealth planning. ***How far in advance should a business owner begin exit planning?*** Ideally, exit planning begins years before an anticipated sale or transition. Earlier planning gives an owner more time to evaluate alternatives, strengthen the business, address potential risks, coordinate with professional advisors, and determine what the proceeds may need to support personally. Succession\-planning resources also emphasize that planning in advance can provide a foundation for a more thoughtful transition rather than forcing decisions under pressure. ***What is the difference between succession planning and exit planning?*** Succession planning generally focuses on how ownership, leadership, or important responsibilities will transition within a business. Exit planning is broader and considers the owner's personal, financial, and life goals before and after the transition. The two often overlap, particularly when an owner wants to preserve business continuity while converting part of the company's value into personal wealth. ***What is a Certified Exit Planning Advisor, CEPA® Professional?*** A Certified Exit Planning Advisor, CEPA® designee, is a professional who has completed specialized education related to helping business owners prepare for ownership transitions. S. Wesley Carpenter holds the CEPA® designation and works with business owners on the personal financial considerations associated with sale preparation, succession, liquidity events, retirement planning, and wealth management after a transition. ***What should I do with my wealth after selling a business?*** After a business sale, the first step is usually to avoid making disconnected decisions. Sale proceeds may need to support retirement income, near\-term liquidity, future investments, family goals, charitable interests, and generational wealth planning. We help clients develop an investment and financial strategy based on the transaction, their spending needs, risk tolerance, and long\-term priorities while coordinating with their CPA and attorney on tax and legal matters. ***How can I prepare financially for life after my business?*** Preparing for life after a business begins with determining what the owner wants the next stage to look like. We help estimate future spending and income needs, evaluate how much personal wealth exists outside the business, consider how potential sale proceeds may be invested, and identify risks that could affect the plan. The goal is to reduce uncertainty by connecting the owner's business transition with a clear personal financial strategy. ***How can I increase the value of my business before a sale?*** Business value can be influenced by many financial, operational, and market factors. Business owners often work with valuation, legal, accounting, and transaction professionals to evaluate financial reporting, leadership continuity, customer concentration, operational processes, and potential risks. Our role is to help owners connect business\-value decisions with personal retirement, liquidity, investment, and wealth planning goals. ***What happens to my retirement plan after I sell my business?*** Selling a business can significantly change the structure of an owner's retirement plan. The owner may move from relying on business income and future business value to relying on a portfolio, sale proceeds, retirement accounts, Social Security, and other resources. We help evaluate how these assets may work together to support spending, liquidity, investment, family, and legacy goals after the transaction. ***How do you work with a business owner's CPA and attorney?*** We work alongside a client's CPA and attorney to help coordinate financial decisions connected to a business transition. The CPA may provide tax and accounting guidance, while the attorney may advise on legal documents, transaction structure, and estate matters. Our role is to help integrate the resulting decisions into the owner's retirement, investment, liquidity, and long\-term wealth management strategy. *** ** * ** *** **Wealth Management and Financial Planning** ***What is wealth management?*** Wealth management is a coordinated approach to managing multiple areas of a client's financial life. Depending on the client's needs, it may include financial planning, retirement income planning, investment management, risk considerations, business transition planning, banking, and lending resources, and generational wealth planning. The purpose is to connect these decisions within one strategy rather than treating each issue separately. ***What is financial planning?*** Tailored financial planning examines how the different parts of your financial life work together. This may include income, expenses, investments, retirement accounts, taxes, insurance, business interests, estate considerations, and family goals. The process helps identify priorities, evaluate alternatives, and create a coordinated strategy that can be updated as your financial circumstances and objectives evolve. ***What is the difference between financial planning and investment management?*** Financial planning focuses on your broader financial life, including goals, retirement income, cash flow, business interests, family priorities, and long\-term planning needs. Investment management focuses more specifically on how assets are allocated, invested, monitored, and adjusted. Investment decisions are generally more meaningful when they are guided by a financial plan that defines what the assets need to accomplish. ***Do I need a financial plan if I already have investments?*** Owning investments does not necessarily mean those investments are coordinated with your financial goals. A financial plan helps define the purpose of your assets, the income they may need to provide, the risks you can reasonably accept, and how investment decisions relate to retirement, business, tax, family, and legacy considerations. The plan provides context for determining whether your current investment strategy remains aligned with your priorities. ***How often should I update my financial plan?*** A financial plan should be reviewed regularly and after important life or financial events. These may include retirement, marriage, divorce, a career change, the sale of a business, an inheritance, a significant market change, or a shift in family priorities. Regular reviews allow assumptions to be updated and help keep investment and planning decisions aligned with current circumstances. ***How can I coordinate my financial plan with my CPA and attorney?*** Coordination begins by identifying which financial decisions involve tax, legal, estate, or business considerations. With the client's permission, we can work with the client's CPA and attorney to exchange relevant information, clarify responsibilities, and help align recommendations. Each professional maintains a distinct role: CPAs provide tax and accounting guidance, attorneys provide legal advice, and our team incorporates the resulting decisions into the client's broader financial and investment strategy. ***Do you provide tax or legal advice?*** Merrill, its affiliates, and financial advisors do not provide legal, tax, estate\-planning, or accounting advice. We can help clients identify financial issues that may require additional professional guidance and coordinate with their attorneys, CPAs, and other advisors. Clients should consult qualified legal and tax professionals before making decisions involving their individual circumstances. *** ** * ** *** **Professionals, Executives, and Families** ***Do you work with professionals such as physicians and attorneys?*** Yes. We work with physicians, attorneys, engineers, business professionals, and other individuals whose careers may create complex financial decisions. These may involve retirement\-plan choices, variable income, competing savings priorities, education funding, investment management, risk considerations, and planning for future generations. Our goal is to organize these decisions within a coordinated, long\-term financial strategy. ***Do you work with executives?*** Yes. We work with executives who may have multiple retirement accounts, concentrated investments, equity compensation, deferred compensation, variable income, and complex retirement decisions. We help evaluate these resources within the executive's broader financial plan, including liquidity needs, investment diversification, retirement timing, family priorities, and generational wealth considerations. ***Can you help with concentrated stock positions and executive compensation?*** We can help executives evaluate how concentrated stock and compensation\-related assets fit within their overall financial strategy. The planning process may consider liquidity needs, investment risk, retirement timing, diversification, and potential tax implications. Because executive compensation arrangements can involve detailed legal and tax rules, we coordinate with the client's tax and legal professionals when appropriate. ***Do you work with families planning generational wealth transfers?*** Yes. We work with families seeking to preserve, organize, and transfer wealth across generations. Our role may include helping clarify family goals, reviewing how assets are owned and invested, estimating future liquidity needs, and coordinating financial strategies with the family's estate\-planning attorney and tax advisor. We can also help families consider how future generations may be prepared for the responsibilities associated with inherited wealth. ***How can families prepare the next generation to manage inherited wealth?*** Preparation can begin with age\-appropriate communication, financial education, and a clear understanding of the family's values and intentions. Families may also benefit from defining decision\-making responsibilities and introducing future generations to professional advisors before a transfer occurs. We help clients organize the financial side of this process while coordinating with legal and tax professionals on estate structures and related matters. *** ** * ** *** **Locations and Working with the Team** ***What areas does THE HARTY CARPENTER GROUP serve?*** THE HARTY CARPENTER GROUP has offices in Fairhope, Alabama, and Pensacola, Florida. We serve clients throughout the Eastern Shore, Baldwin County, Mobile, Daphne, Orange Beach, Birmingham, Pensacola, the broader Gulf Coast, and communities across the United States through long\-term advisory relationships. ***Where is THE HARTY CARPENTER GROUP located?*** Our offices are located at: **Fairhope Office** 601 N Section Street Fairhope, AL 36532 **Pensacola Office** 815 S Palafox Street Pensacola, FL 32502 To speak with a member of our team, call **251\-990\-2361**. ***Do I need to live in Fairhope, Mobile, Birmingham, or Pensacola to work with your team?*** No. Although our offices are in Fairhope, Alabama, and Pensacola, Florida, we maintain long\-term advisory relationships with clients in communities across the United States. The availability and structure of a relationship may depend on the client's individual circumstances, needs, and location. ***What should I expect from an initial conversation?*** An initial conversation is an opportunity to discuss your goals, concerns, current financial circumstances, and the decisions you are facing. We also explain our planning process, team structure, available services, and how we work with clients over time. The purpose is to determine whether your needs and expectations align with the type of wealth management relationship our team provides.

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