The Kelson Group

Merrill Lynch Wealth Management
1111 Broadway
Oakland CA 94607
(510) 208.3819
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Welcome

Our 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. We help you design and implement a personalized plan intended to help you and your family pursue your financial goals, while helping manage investment risk. Our approach is to focus on potential solutions that can help turn goals into reality.

Recognition
John Kelson
Senior Vice President, Wealth Management Advisor
Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Advisors", 2026
(Published on April 7, 2026. Rankings based on data as of June 30, 2025.)
About Us

We are proud to be a team of seasoned advisors, entrusted with the assets of high net worth families and business owners. Our team understands both the complexities and opportunities that significant wealth presents, and we focus on delivering customized wealth planning, structuring potential solutions tailored to our clients' specific needs. Our objective is to provide comprehensive forward-thinking advice and guidance that helps preserve, grow, and transition wealth across generations. Backed by the resources of our world class research team, we are committed to offering a personalized experience that aligns with our clients' financial goals and values.

*Extel announced BofA Global Research as one of the Top Global Research Firms in 2025 based on surveys held throughout the year. Extel creates rankings of the top research analysts in a wide variety of specializations, drawn from the choices of portfolio managers and other investment professionals. The 2025 Global Research Leaders ranking lists sell-side research providers by the combined total number of positions earned across Extel's 2025 research team surveys. Results of each survey are published separately throughout the year, beginning in February 2025 with the Japan Research Team and concluding in December 2025 with the Global Fixed Income Research Team. Rankings for each poll are determined strictly by using numerical scores. Extel takes the number of votes awarded to each firm in a sector and weight it in relation to the size of the institution responding and rating it awarded. Firms are designated runners-up when their scores fall within 35 percent of the third-place scores. 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, and wholly owned subsidiary of Bank of America Corporation. Rankings and recognition from Extel are no guarantee of future investment success and do not ensure that a current or prospective client will experience a higher level of performance results and such rankings should not be construed as an endorsement.

Meet Our Team
John Kelson,

CFP®, CIMA®, CPFA®

Senior Vice President, Wealth Management Advisor
510.208.3819
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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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.
Investments & Wealth Institute® (The Institute) is the owner of the certification marks CIMA® and Certified Investment Management Analyst®. Use of CIMA®, and/or Certified Investment Management Analyst® signifies that the user has successfully completed the Institute’s initial and ongoing credentialing requirements for investment management professionals.