Brian King

Merrill Lynch Wealth Management
2555 East Camelback Road
Suite 900
Phoenix, AZ 85016
(602) 954.5088
Learn more about an advisor's background on
Whatever your personal goals may be, I will work together with you, one-on-one, to develop a personalized financial strategy designed to help you pursue your long-term goals.
Brian King
Profile

Early Influences

Brian King's journey into the financial world began in his childhood, sitting beside his grandfather, eagerly watching the stock ticker scroll across the TV screen. Those moments sparked a lifelong fascination with finance, a passion that has since evolved into a flourishing career. With over 14 years in the industry, Brian feels that his experience and dedication have solidified his reputation as a trusted financial advisor. From a young age, Brian found himself drawn to the intricacies of finance and accounting. Influenced by his father's profession as an accountant, he embraced the technical and big-picture aspects of the field. His early experiences, such as participating in stock-picking competitions and assisting his father during tax season, laid the foundation for his future endeavors.

A Caring and Comprehensive Approach

Brian views his role as a financial advisor as unique and multifaceted. To him, it's more than just managing finances; it's about being a confidante, a planner, and a trusted strategist. He thrives on building meaningful relationships with clients, guiding them through milestones and challenging times. He feels his ability to connect across generations, from grandparents to grandchildren, is a testament to his relational and communicative skills. At the core of Brian's philosophy is genuine care for his clients. He and his team are known for their proactive, ongoing communication, helping to ensure that clients' needs are consistently met. Their referral-based business reflects their commitment to clients' best interests. Brian prides himself on delivering comprehensive, detail-oriented advice while maintaining a relaxed atmosphere. Engaging with new clients involves a thorough understanding of their financial position, family dynamics, and immediate and long-term goals. Brian's approach is comprehensive, presenting detailed strategies and recommendations tailored to each client's unique situation.

Brian's experience is particularly geared towards corporate executives and business owners. He provides tax-efficient, low-cost strategies, focusing on stock concentration, exit planning, estate planning needs, retirement income strategies and, most importantly, their overall financial plan. His goal is to empower clients to live the lifestyle they desire, with or without the need to work.

He believes in giving back to the community and is a regular on Monday nights at the St. Vincent de Paul food pantry at St. Simon & Jude. The King Group also sponsors multiple families through St. Vincent de Paul every holiday season, spreading holiday joy by shopping for and dropping off gifts for the families.

Brian currently resides in Paradise Valley, AZ, with his wife Brittny and their daughter Ellie. When he’s away from the office, he enjoys trail running, watching his favorite sports teams and traveling with his family.

Qualifications and Recognition

Brian feels that his credentials speak for themselves. As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional and Certified Exit Planning Advisor® professional, he has been recognized in 2023 and 2024 as a Forbes Best in State Wealth Advisor (Published annually Jan – April. Rankings based on data as of June 30 of prior year.) and in 2023 as a Forbes Next Gen Best in State Advisor (Published on August 8, 2023. Rankings based on data as of March 31, 2023). He believes that these accolades underscore his knowledge and commitment to his clients.

With a CFP® certification, Brian possesses extensive training and is committed to acting in his client’s best interests, offering personalized strategies for investment, tax minimization, retirement, and more. This knowledge often leads to more robust and tailored financial plans that align with clients’ unique goals and circumstances. Meanwhile, for business owners, he feels that collaborating with a CEPA® professional is invaluable. Brian focuses on preparing businesses for eventual transition, helping to ensure maximum value and smooth succession. He feels that his proficiency in exit strategy, wealth preservation, and market trends can significantly enhance the likelihood of a successful and profitable business transition.

By having both a CFP® certification and CEPA® designation, Brian is able to bring extensive knowledge and dedication that he believes can profoundly impact individual and business financial health.

*2023 Forbes “Top Next-Generation Wealth Advisors Best-in-State” list. Opinions provided by SHOOK® Research, LLC considered advisors born in 1984 or later with a minimum 4 years as an advisor. Advisors have built their practices, lead their own teams, joined teams, are considered future leaders, or combinations thereof. Ranking is based on in-person and telephone due-diligence meetings that measure best practices, client retention, industry experience, compliance records, firm nominations, assets under management and Firm-generated revenue (investment performance is not a criterion). Shook’s rankings do not reflect all client experiences, endorse any advisor, indicate future performance and are available for client evaluation only. Compensation was not received from anyone for the study. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Details available at the SHOOK Research website. SHOOK is a registered trademark of SHOOK Research, LLC.

*Forbes “Best-in-State Wealth Advisors” list. Opinions provided by SHOOK® Research, LLC and is based on in-person, virtual and telephone due-diligence meetings that measure best practices, client retention, industry experience, credentials, compliance records, firm nominations, assets under management and Firm-generated revenue (investment performance is not a criterion). SHOOK’s rankings are available for client evaluation only, are not indicative of future performance and do not represent any one client’s experience and available for investor help in evaluating the right financial advisor. Compensation was not received from anyone for the study. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Details available at the SHOOK Research website. SHOOK is a registered trademark of SHOOK Research, LLC.

Recognition
Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Advisors", 2023-2024
(Published annually Jan – April. Rankings based on data as of June 30 of prior year.)
Forbes "Top Next-Generation Wealth Advisors Best-in-State", 2023
(Published on August 8, 2023. Rankings based on data as of March 31, 2023.)
Click here to learn more about advisor recognitions
About Me
Welcome

My mission, first and foremost, is to understand you and what matters most to you. Armed with that information I can ask thoughtful questions -- listening carefully, then understanding in detail where your wealth stands today and where you'd like it to be tomorrow. I help you design and implement a personalized plan intended to help you and your family pursue financial goals while helping manage investment risk. My approach is to focus on potential solutions that can help turn goals into reality.

Meet Our Professional Staff
Kathryn Price
Wealth Management Client Associate
602.954.5002
Hunter Long,

CRPC™

Registered Wealth Management Client Associate
602.954.5010
About Merrill

Bringing fresh perspectives to your financial life

The financial decisions you make today can help determine the future you build for yourself and your family. Carving a clear path forward starts with connecting your life and finances. A Merrill advisor provides access to the investing insights of Merrill and banking capabilities of Bank of America to help you make informed decisions as you pursue your goals.

Sign Up for Perspectives Monthly E-Newsletter
Get the latest investment insights, tips and strategies to help you live your best financial life
Sign Up
Brian King is registered to do business in AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, IL, KS, MA, MI, MO, NC, NE, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OR, PA, RI, TN, TX, VA, WA, WY.
Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (CFP Board) owns the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER®, and the CFP® (with plaque design) in the United States, which it authorizes use of by individuals who successfully complete CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements.