James McIntyre Patt
James Patt believes financial planning should feel personal, not complicated. As a Financial Advisor, he enjoys getting to know his clients, understanding their goals, and helping them create a clear path toward what matters most in their lives.
James brings an approachable and straightforward style to every relationship. Whether clients are building wealth, preparing for retirement, or navigating an important financial decision, his focus is on providing thoughtful guidance and making the process easier to understand.
Above all, James strives to be a trusted resource for his clients and their families through the different stages of their financial lives.
I was born and raised on the Peninsula in the San Francisco Bay Area. My father was a firefighter and my mother was a real estate agent, and I grew up valuing hard work, independence and service to others. I wrestled at Serra High School and later played rugby at Cal Poly, experiences that helped shape the competitive and self-motivated person I am today.
From client service to digital innovation, Merrill consistently earned national and global recognition as a leader in the financial services industry.
1. WealthBriefing WealthTech Americas Awards, February 2025. The judging process is guided and assisted by a panel of independent experts, each of whom has been actively involved in the family office and wealth management industry for many years and have an in-depth knowledge of the WealthTech sector.
2. The Digital Banker Digital CX Awards, April 2025. Nominees are selected on the qualitative and quantitative depth of their nominations. The Digital Banker research team will shortlist four institutions or individuals per category, which will then be put to our impartial panel of expert judges who will undertake a rigorous audit type process to carefully select the winners.
3. Bank of America employs Ipsos, in conjunction with Qualtrics to continuously measure Merrill Lynch Wealth Management client satisfaction via an online survey. Results quoted are from surveys conducted June 1, 2024 – May 31, 2025, with a total sample of 40,742 clients randomly drawn from the Merrill Lynch Wealth Management client base after eligibility (minimum $100,000 in household assets, advised relationships) and privacy exclusions (deceased, in litigation, bad email address, etc., and had they been included percentages may be different). When asked how satisfied the client was with their primary financial advisor, 95% rated them a 9 or 10; 4% a 6–8; and 1% a 1–5.
4. Money Management Institute (MMI) / Barron's Industry Awards, October 17, 2024. Winners were selected by a specially appointed MMI Industry Awards Steering Council. The Steering Council consists of representatives from all segments of the MMI membership. After carefully reviewing the nominations submitted, the Steering Council determined a slate of finalists in each award category. The primary contacts at each of MMI's member firms were eligible to vote to determine the winners.