Alex Braun

Alex Braun, recognized on the Forbes "Top Next-Generation Wealth Advisors Best in State" List 2023, 2024 and 2025 (Published annually Aug – Sept. Rankings based on data as of March 31 of current year), is a Senior Vice President, Wealth Management Advisor, and Merrill Institutional Consultant at Merrill. He focuses on guiding entrepreneurs through the pivotal journey of selling their businesses, focusing on helping them maximize sale proceeds and help achieve tax efficiency.

Growing up with a father who is a leading M&A lawyer in Los Angeles, Alex did not just learn the ropes; he lived in the M&A world which he feels gives him unique insights.

Answering Key Questions for Business Owners:

Alex's experience centers on two critical questions he often gets asked by business owners:

"How do I sell my business?" and "How can I be tax-efficient and maximize the proceeds of the sale?" His comprehensive approach to these questions is client-focused, involving:

1. Strategic Business Exit Planning: Alex helps business owners understand the complexities of the sale process, advising on timing, valuation, market positioning, and other professionals to help ensure a successful exit strategy.

2. Tax-Efficient Wealth Transfer: Alex works with your tax advisor to help offer tailored advice on structuring the sale to minimize tax liabilities.

3. Post-Transaction Wealth Management: Both before and after the sale, Alex and his team provide professional guidance on portfolio design and wealth planning, helping to ensure that the newfound wealth is managed effectively to support the client's long-term goals.

Through a combination of financial acumen and psychological insight, Alex crafts strategies that not only help answer these critical questions but also align with each client's values and aspirations. His psychology background enables him to help ensure clients make financially sound and personally fulfilling decisions.

Alex's bespoke advisory services has made him a trusted resource for business owners navigating the sale of their businesses and managing their wealth. He feels that his ability to anticipate and address the unseen challenges of wealth transition has earned him a strong reputation in the community.

Alex served as a Volunteer Leader for Family House and enjoys exploring diverse cuisines with his wife in his native city of Los Angeles.

Alex is dedicated to helping his clients achieve their personal and financial objectives.

*Forbes “Top Next-Generation Wealth Advisors Best-in-State” list. Opinions provided by SHOOK® Research, LLC considered advisors born in 1984 or later with a minimum 4 years as an advisor. Advisors have built their practices, lead their own teams, joined teams, are considered future leaders, or combinations thereof. Ranking is based on in-person and telephone due-diligence meetings that measure best practices, client retention, industry experience, compliance records, firm nominations, assets under management and Firm-generated revenue (investment performance is not a criterion). Shook’s rankings do not reflect all client experiences, endorse any advisor, indicate future performance and are available for client evaluation only. Compensation was not received from anyone for the study. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Details available at the SHOOK Research website. SHOOK is a registered trademark of SHOOK Research, LLC.