THE VALDES GROUP Valdes, Shimberg, Duncan
Merrill Private Wealth Management
101 E Kennedy Blvd
Tampa, FL 33602
(813) 273.8544
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Mission Statement
You face a range of opportunities as well as complexities. We offer a limited number of individuals and families boutique-like service, broad global resources and customized financial strategies to help simplify your life so you can spend more time pursuing what matters most to you.
Welcome

The Valdes Group’s mission is to understand the core purpose behind each client's wealth. By embracing their values, opinions, and perspectives, we foster an advisory environment that encourages innovative and critical thinking. As a boutique-like financial practice within Merrill Private Wealth Management, we bring together a team of industry professionals who provide the comprehensive resources of a global institution through a single point of contact. We prioritize each client's relationship, valuing it both personally and professionally, and find fulfillment in enriching their lives.

Recognition
Michael Valdes
Managing Director, Private Wealth Advisor
Forbes "America's Top Wealth Advisors", 2024-2016
(Published in April 2023-2024. Rankings based on data as of June of the preious year. Years pre-dating 2023, published annually Aug - Oct. Rankings based on data as of March - June of current year.)
Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Advisors", 2024-2018
(Published annually Jan – April. Rankings based on data as of June 30 of prior year.)
Financial Times "FT400", 2020, 2018
(Published annually Mar – April. Rankings based on data as of June 30 of prior year.)
Show more recognition
THE VALDES GROUP Valdes, Shimberg, Duncan
Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams", 2023-2024
(Published annually in January. Rankings based on data as of March 31 of prior year.)
Forbes "America's Top Wealth Management Teams Private Wealth", 2023
(Published on November 7, 2023. Rankings based on data as of March 31, 2023.)
Our Approach
The Valdes Group

The Valdes Group operates as a boutique financial practice within Merrill Private Wealth Management. We are a group comprised of industry professionals that delivers all the resources of a global institution through one single point of contact. We work with individuals, entrepreneurs, families, and businesses to serve their complete wealth management needs to deliver a family-office experience where each client gains customized support and disciplined financial oversight. Our goal is to always provide the education, resources and transparency that keep clients informed, while having the freedom to pursue unique opportunities across the broad financial landscape.

Collaboration

Our mission is to understand each client's primary purpose for their wealth. By embracing their values, opinions, and perspectives we are able to create an advisory environment that inspires the freedom to think differently. By constantly analyzing the financial markets and researching opportunities specific to each individual, we seek to find the most efficient way to help each client achieve their financial objectives using a goals-based wealth management approach.

Customized Support

Our service model provides the stability clients need to prepare for the future. Each associate has a distinct industry background that complements the full spectrum of capabilities and personalized services we deliver to help simplify our clients' lives. Through active/passive portfolio management, daily financial oversight, multigenerational planning, lending solutions and beyond from Bank of America, clients gain lifelong, collaborative advisors who guide and serve them and their families with what we believe is an industry-leading standard of support.

Core Values

Integrity, trust, discipline, and open communication comprise the essence of The Valdes Group. With everything we do, we offer transparency to help clients make more informed decisions. Our priority is to provide the financial acumen that enables each client to confidently and consistently know they are moving on the right path toward their financial goals. With each client we serve, we value their relationship, both personally and professionally, and share joy in enhancing their lives.

Meet Our Team
Michael Valdes
Managing Director, Private Wealth Advisor
813.273.8544
Michael Shimberg,

CFP®, CKP®, CPFA™

Managing Director, Private Wealth Advisor
813.273.8639
Darby Duncan
Managing Director, Private Wealth Advisor
813.273.8503
Velen Thompson,

CFP®, CPFA™, CRPC™

Senior Vice President, Wealth Management Advisor
813.273.8634
Kyle Melear,

CFA

Senior Vice President, Wealth Management Advisor
813.273.8563
Alexandra Valdes,

CPWA®

Vice President, Wealth Management Advisor
813.273.8535
Stephano Mastro
Financial Advisor
813.463.3954
JACK W. KIRKLAND
Senior Private Wealth Planner
813.273.8554
Candice Cason,

AWMA™

Assistant Vice President, Private Wealth Investment Management Specialist
813.273.8512
Brandon Ramsey
Private Wealth Relationship Manager
Kimberly A Bunting
Assistant Vice President, Private Wealth Associate
813.273.8513
Mary Ann Chivers
Assistant Vice President, Private Wealth Associate
813.273.8518
Tracy Poon Tip
Officer, Registered Private Wealth Client Associate
813.273.8508
Ariel W Giddings,

AWMA™

Private Wealth Business Manager
813.273.8576
Lauren Janel Longo,

AWMA™

Assistant Vice President, Private Wealth Relationship Manager
813.273.8558
DIANNA R VAN CAMP
Assistant Vice President, Wealth Management Associate
813.273.8664
Laura D. Campbell
No Officer Title, Registered Private Wealth Client Associate
813.273.8570
Carla Rossi
Assistant Vice President, Private Wealth Associate
813.273.8644
Katherine Fragen
Officer, Private Wealth Client Associate
813.273.8566
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.
Yvonne Frye
Wealth Management Banking Specialist
Merrill
Jason Albano
Wealth Strategies Advisor
Bank of America, N.A.
Sheau-Lei H Ellison
Structured Credit Executive
Bank of America, N.A.
Expand to see all specialists
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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C(k)P® is a registered trademark of The Retirement Advisor University, Inc.
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.
CFA® and Chartered Financial Analyst® are registered trademarks of the CFA Institute.
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.
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.