Jones Zafari Group
Merrill Private Wealth Management
2049 Century Park East
Floor 11
Los Angeles, CA 90067
(310) 407.4925
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Mission Statement
As a team with multigenerational members, we understand what it takes to manage significant wealth for individuals and families across generations. Working with a limited number of high net worth clients, we help bring an insightful perspective, personalized attention and boutique-like services.
Welcome

As a team with multigenerational members, we understand what it takes to manage significant wealth for individuals and families across generations.  Working with a limited number of high net worth clients, we help bring an insightful perspective, personalized attention and boutique-like services.

Recognition
Richard Jones
Managing Director, Private Wealth Advisor
Barron's "Top 100 Financial Advisors", 2007-2024
(Published annually Mar – April. Rankings based on data as of December 31 of prior year.)
Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Advisors", 2018-2024
(Published annually Jan – April. Rankings based on data as of June 30 of prior year.)
Show more recognition
Jones Zafari Group
Barron's "America's Top Private Wealth Advisory Teams", 2020-2024
(Published annually Mar – April. Rankings based on data as of December 31 of prior year.)
Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams", 2023-2024
(Published annually in January. Rankings based on data as of March 31 of prior year.)
Forbes "America's Top Wealth Management Teams Private Wealth", 2022-2024
(Published annually in November. Rankings based on data as of March 31 of current year.)
Our Approach
Jones Zafari Group

From our four locations in Los Angeles, San Diego, Palo Alto, and Dallas, our dedicated team of investment professionals offers tailored financial services and strategies for ultra-affluent individuals, families, corporations, endowments, and foundations.

A of June 30, 2024, our clients have entrusted us with $50.96 billion in assets, a testament to the confidence they place in our financial acumen, Our clients include entrepreneurs, Fortune 500 executives, sports & entertainment professionals, nonprofit organizations.

Our senior partners have received a number of accolades:

Barron's magazine, ranked #1 on "America's Top 50 Private Wealth Management Teams," 2020
Published on April 17. 2020. Rankings based on data as of December 31, 2019.

Forbes' ranked #2 "America's Top Wealth Management Teams Private Wealth," 2024 Published on November 13, 2024. Rankings based on data as of March 31, 2024.

Forbes, ranked #1 on Forbes' "Best-In-State Wealth Management Teams" in California-Los Angeles in 2023
published on January 12, 2023. Rankings based on data as of March 31, 2022

Barron's "Top Private Wealth Management Teams," 2019-2024
Published annually in April. Rankings based on data as of December 31 of prior year.

Barron's Advisor Hall of Fame
Published throughout 2019. Rankings based on data current list.

Forbes' "Best-in-State Wealth Advisors," 2018-2024; In 2021 Richard Jones and Reza Zafari ranked #1 and #2, respectively in Los Angeles (Private Wealth)
Published annually Jan – April. Rankings based on data as of June 30 of prior year.

Meet Our Team
Richard Jones
Managing Director, Private Wealth Advisor
310.407.4925
Reza Zafari
Managing Director, Private Wealth Advisor
310.407.4923
Jerome S Klein
Managing Director, Private Wealth Senior Consultant
310.407.4919
Thomas Tournat
Managing Director, Private Wealth Advisor
310.407.4917
Eleni Mavromati,

AWMA™, SE-AWMA™

Senior Vice President, Private Wealth Manager
310.407.4913
David Niehaus,

CFA

Senior Vice President, Private Wealth Advisor
310.407.4918
Cheryl Catharine Smith,

ADPA™,CEPA®,CFP®,CPFA®,CRPC™

Managing Director, Private Wealth Advisor
925.945.4802
Suzanne W Killea,

CFA

Managing Director, Private Wealth Senior Consultant
650.473.2042
Fraser McAlpine,

CAIA®

First Vice President, Investment Associate
310.407.4909
William Byers,

CFA

Vice President, Private Wealth Senior Relationship Manager
310.407.4908
Jeremy DeCuir
Vice President, Private Wealth Senior Relationship Manager
310.407.3929
Victoria R Santoro,

CFA

Vice President, Private Wealth Senior Relationship Manager
310.407.4910
Steven Adkinson
Managing Director, Private Wealth Manager
858.587.4507
Danielle Prunier,

SE-AWMA™

Managing Director, Private Wealth Manager
310.858.4744
Denisha Baker
Private Wealth Client Associate
310.407.4911
Maritza D Camilo
Officer, Registered Senior Private Wealth Client Associate
650.473.2041
Lharmina Tangco Castro
Lharmina Tangco Castro
Officer, Registered Private Wealth Client Associate
310.407.4926
Marianela Chow,

AWMA™, CAP®, SE-AWMA™

Private Wealth Relationship Manager
310.407.4939
Susan Francis
Registered Senior Private Wealth Client Associate
310.407.4927
Reeve Ghiass
Registered Private Wealth Client Associate
650.473.2058
Michael Ginestro
Vice President, Private Wealth Manager
310.407.4938
Kelly Heath
Private Wealth Client Associate
310.407.4922
Delaney  Johnsen
Delaney Johnsen
Wealth Management Specialist - Non-Registered (FP)
310.407.4905
Jessica Lackmeyer,

AWMA™, SE-AWMA™

Assistant Vice President, Private Wealth Relationship Manager
310.407.4929
Tina Lou
Private Wealth Client Associate
310.407.4916
Brandon M Luckwaldt,

CSRIC®

Assistant Vice President, Private Wealth Relationship Manager
310.407.4907
Henry Ralph Mac,

AAMS™, APMA™

Private Wealth Relationship Manager
310.407.4914
Jenna M Mai
Private Wealth Client Associate
310.407.4915
Marianna Orjanyan
Private Wealth Client Associate (FP)
310.407.4921
Ronald Paulos,

AAMS™

Assistant Vice President, Private Wealth Relationship Manager
310.407.4924
Olivia C Smith
Private Wealth Client Associate (FP)
310.996.2080
Marian Ting,

CPWA®

Assistant Vice President, Private Wealth Senior Relationship Manager
650.473.2049
Shirley Valladares,

AWMA™

Private Wealth Relationship Manager
310.407.4892
Brandie M Wilson,

AWMA™

Private Wealth Relationship Manager
310.407.4930
Leon Yu,

AWMA™

Private Wealth Relationship Manager
310.407.4912
Ji Hye Cho
Private Wealth Associate
310.407.4857
Mohammed Dakhil,

AAMS™

Wealth Management Specialist
310.407.4856
Adriane Javier Joya
Officer, Registered Senior Private Wealth Client Associate
949.721.6580
Jason Kelso,

CEPA®, CPFA®, SE-AWMA™

Senior Vice President, Senior Financial Advisor
310.536.1658
Kyonghwa Koch
Registered Wealth Management Client Associate
310.536.1665
Cecilia Chase Lyon
Wealth Management Specialist
310.858.4771
Laila E Margallo,

CRPC™

Vice President, Private Wealth Senior Relationship Manager
858.587.4526
JOY MILAN,

CEPA®, CFP®, SE-AWMA™

Assistant Vice President, Senior Financial Advisor
310.536.1648
John Naviaux,

CPFA®, CPWA®

Managing Director, Wealth Management Advisor
858.381.8128
Seth Perry
Private Wealth Client Associate
310.407.3945
Matthew Spring,

CPFA®, SE-AWMA™

Senior Vice President, Senior Financial Advisor
310.777.5311
Jason Tong,

CPWA®, CRPC™

Assistant Vice President, Wealth Management Advisor
949.859.2977
Lucian Ursan,

CFP®

Vice President, Wealth Management Advisor
949.721.6583
Alex John Yerkes
Registered Private Wealth Client Associate
949.721.7275
Additional Resources
The following specialists do not make securities recommendations. Please contact your Merrill Private Wealth Management Advisor if you have questions about how a specialist might be able to assist you.
Jean Y. Kim
Private Wealth Strategist
Merrill
Michael Powers
Wealth Strategist
Merrill
About Private Wealth

Looking at your wealth from every angle
Navigating complex wealth requires more than making investing decisions. It takes a trusted confidante who can help you step back and see the big picture. Your Merrill Private Wealth advisor is that steadfast guide — advocating for you, your family, and the people and causes you care about. Working together, we can help with strategies designed to grow, sustain and transfer your wealth to amplify the impact at every step of life's journey with insight, simplicity, perspective and solutions. Find out what it's like to work with us.

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Accredited Wealth Management Advisor™, AWMA™, and the AWMA™ logo certification marks or registered certification marks of The College for Financial Planning Institutes Corp. in the United States.
Sports & Entertainment Accredited Wealth Management Advisor™, SE-AWMA™, and the SE-AWMA™ logo are certification marks or registered certification marks of The College for Financial Planning Institutes Corp. in the United States.
CFA® and Chartered Financial Analyst® are registered trademarks of the CFA Institute.
Accredited Domestic Partnership Advisor™, ADPA™, and the ADPA™ logo are certification marks or registered certification marks of The College for Financial Planning Institutes Corp. in the United States.
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.
Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor™, CRPC™, and the CRPC™ logo are certification marks or registered certification marks of The College for Financial Planning Institutes Corp. in the United States.
CAIA® and Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst® are registered service marks of the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst Association.
CAP® and Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy® are the property of The American College, which reserves the sole rights to its use, and are used by permission.
Chartered SRI Counselor™, CSRIC®, and the CSRIC® logo are certification marks or registered certification marks of The College for Financial Planning Institutes Corp. in the United States.
Accredited Asset Management Specialist™, AAMS™, and the AAMS™ logo are certification marks or registered certification marks of The College for Financial Planning Institutes Corp. in the United States.
Accredited Portfolio Management Advisor™, APMA™, and the APMA™ logo are certification marks or registered certification marks of The College for Financial Planning Institutes Corp. in the United States.
Investments & Wealth Institute™ (The Institute) is the owner of the certification marks CPWA® and Certified Private Wealth Advisor®. Use of CPWA®, and/or Certified Private Wealth Advisor® signifies that the user has successfully completed the Institute’s initial and ongoing credentialing requirements for wealth advisors.
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.