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
Our mission is to provide personalized, boutique-style advice and guidance for individuals and families across generations. Our multigenerational team, offers tailored strategies, insightful guidance, and a deep commitment to preserving and growing financial legacies with discretion and excellence.
Welcome

As a multigenerational team we bring deep knowledge and fresh perspectives to managing significant wealth for individuals and families across generations. We focus on providing bespoke financial strategies that are designed to preserve and grow legacies. Our commitment to personalized attention, insightful guidance, and boutique style service helps ensure that every client receives an elevated, highly tailored experience. With a focus on discretion, trust, and innovation, we help navigate the complexities of wealth with clarity and confidence.

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", 2023-2025
(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.)
Click here to learn more about advisor recognitions
Our Approach
Our Philosophy

At the Jones Zafari Group collaboration is at the heart of everything we do. By combining our team's experience with a client-first approach, we deliver highly tailored financial strategies that align with our clients' unique goals and aspirations.

With partners in Los Angeles, San Diego, Palo Alto, and Dallas, our dedicated team of investment professionals provides sophisticated financial strategies for ultra-affluent individuals, families, corporations, endowments, and foundations.

As of December 31, 2024, our clients have entrusted us with $76.7 billion in assets -- an extraordinary testament to the trust and confidence they place in our financial acumen. We are proud to serve a distinguished clientele, including entrepreneurs, Fortune 500 executives, sports and entertainment professionals, and nonprofit organizations.

Beyond wealth management, we provide exclusive access to Merrill's deep investment insights and Bank of America's seamless banking solutions,

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™

Managing Director, Private Wealth Manager
310.407.4913
David Niehaus,

CFA

Managing Director, Private Wealth Advisor
310.407.4918
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
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
Denisha Baker
Private Wealth Client Associate
310.407.4911
Maritza D Camilo
Assistant Vice President, Private Wealth Associate
650.473.2041
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
First Vice President, Private Wealth Manager
310.407.4938
Kelly Heath
Private Wealth Client Associate
310.407.4922
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™

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

AAMS™

Assistant Vice President, Private Wealth Relationship Manager
310.407.4924
Jakob Roulier
Wealth Management Specialist - Non-Registered (FP)
310.407.4906
Olivia C Smith
Officer, Private Wealth Client Associate (FP)
310.996.2080
Marian Ting,

CPWA®

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

AWMA™

Private Wealth Relationship Manager
310.407.4892
Brandie M Wilson,

AWMA™

Assistant Vice President, Private Wealth Relationship Manager
310.407.4930
Leon Yu,

AWMA™

Assistant Vice President, 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
Officer, 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
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.
CAIA® and Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst® are registered service marks of the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst Association.
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.
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.