Steven Castillo
Vice President, Senior Financial Advisor
NMLS #655324
7825 Fay Avenue
Suite 300
La Jolla CA 92037
(858) 587.4515
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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.
Profile

About Me
Based in La Jolla, California, I’m dedicated to guiding my clients through every aspect of their financial lives, adapting to their evolving needs with thoughtful, ongoing financial guidance. My approach is built on goal-based planning—creating a clear roadmap that helps clients move from their current financial situation toward their unique short, intermediate and long-term goals.

I take a disciplined, methodical approach to wealth accumulation, preservation, and transfer, using defined processes that integrate investment and risk management, tax minimization, and asset preservation. A key focus of my work is helping ensure a lifetime retirement income stream while also providing tailored insurance strategies for estate planning purposes, income replacement and business succession. Above all, I prioritize building strong, long-term multi-generational relationships with my clients and their families.

At the core of my philosophy is a deep commitment to delivering exceptional guidance, service, and a positive client experience.

Before transitioning into financial services in 2003, I served as a Naval Officer for 11 years, flying the F-14 Tomcat. I continued my service in the U.S. Navy Reserves for another 12 years before retiring as a Commander in 2010. My financial career began at MassMutual Life Insurance Company and Smith Barney, before I moved to Merrill in 2009.

Outside of work, I have a passion for landscape photography and an active lifestyle. I’m an avid CrossFitter, runner, skier, and backpacker—and a dedicated weekend backyard grill master. My wife, Tamara, and I love entertaining friends and family at our home, and our greatest joy is our family. We’ve lived in San Diego neighborhood of Carmel Valley since 1991, raising our twin sons, Cole and Sawyer, and cherishing time with our older daughters, Taylor and Lauren.
*Merrill Life Agency's California License Number 0522776

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.

Additional Resources
The following specialists do not make securities recommendations. Please contact your Merrill Lynch Wealth Management Advisor if you have questions about how a specialist might be able to assist you.
David Rubalcava
Wealth Strategies Advisor
Bank of America, N.A.
Lafo Kaapana
Wealth Management Banking Specialist
Merrill
Carmelo Fuentebella
Wealth Management Lending Officer
Bank of America, N.A.
NMLS #355265
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.

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Steven Castillo is registered to do business in AZ, CA, CO, CT, FL, ID, IL, MI, MN, NJ, OR, SC, VA, WA.