Stephen Ensley

Philosophy

As a lifelong reader, I'm one who believes that definitions are important. Every interaction I have with a current or prospective client are guided by these five qualities, and how I define them. * **Knowledge** \- Committed to constantly learning about my clients, the markets and current trends. * **Wisdom** \- Commited to learning from the past and others the best ways to practically apply knowledge learned. * **Transparency** \- Committed to having open and honest dialogue with my clients regarding timelines of finance tasks we are implementing. * **Responsiveness** \- Committed to promptness of response to our clients who entrust us with their money and financial future. * **Excellence** \- Committed to strive for excellence in every area by paying attention to the smallest details. If any of this resonates with you, please give me a call, and let's review your financial plan.

Retirement Income Planning

With over a decade of experience, one constant is everyone wants a secure retirement. You want to know that those decades of work and energy have paid off, and you don't have to worry about your income in retirement. No matter how much income you may have, putting a retirement strategy in place could be the most important thing—the first thing—you can do as you work with the team on your overall financial strategy. The team can help you determine your lifetime cash flow requirements, you can then focus on the other pieces of your financial life, including legacy and family needs, volunteering for charitable work, leisure time activities, acquisition of collectibles, and building a second home. Let's talk about customizing and implementing a strategy to help you achieve a comfortable retirement. **Investing involves risk. There is always the potential of losing money when you invest in securities.** *This material should be regarded as general or educational information on healthcare or Social Security considerations and is not intended to provide specific healthcare or social security advice. If you have questions regarding your particular situation, please contact your legal or tax advisor.*

Business Owner Focus

With over a decade of experience working with business owners, I help business owners answer the looming question: "Should I sell my business?" It's no secret that exiting a business is one of the greatest ways to create a quantum leap in wealth. It can also be an entrepreneur's greatest financial challenge. Using the Merrill Proprietary Financial modeling process, called the "Personal Wealth Analysis®", we are able to run various scenarios and prescribe strategies to help optimize the business owner's exit. We beleive this is a true differentiator among the competition. In addition to exit planning, we are uniquely positioned to assist in other complex financial planning areas like: * Trust Administration through our access to Bank of America Private Bank * Sell Side M\&A via Bank of America Private Sale Referral Network (PSRN) * Lending through Bank of America, N.A. (personal and business) Stock Option Analysis * Concentrated Stock Strategies * Cash Balance Plans * Private Equity * Charitable Planning * Corporate Cash Management Reach out to me if you are a business owner who wants absolute certainty that your wealth will be nurtured before, during, and after a liquidity event. ***\*Trust, fiduciary, and investment management services are provided by Bank of America, N.A., Member FDIC, and wholly owned subsidiary of Bank of America Corporation ("BofA Corp."), and its agents. Bank of America Private Bank is a division of Bank of America, N.A.*** ***\*Some or all alternative investments may not be in the best interests for certain investors. Certain alternative investments carry significant risk and are not subject to the same regulatory oversight as mutual funds and other traditional investments. For these reasons, access to alternative investments may be limited to investors who are designated as sophisticated, high\-net\-worth investors.*** ***\*Banking products are provided by Bank of America, N.A. and affiliated banks, Members FDIC and wholly owned subsidiaries of Bank of America Corporation.***

Corporate Executives Focus

Having worked within a corporate environment for all of my professional career and also worked with dozens of corporate executives structure their wealth, I know the unique challenges you face. From stock option plans to 401k retirement planning options to complex benefits packages there is a lot to consider. Most executives I have worked with feel burdened by the immense amount of information there is to digest on top of their own daily work responsibilities. I help you buy back your time by doing the research and analysis of your compensation plans, and benefits packages to free you up to be more productive at work, spend more time with your family, and reduce your own stress levels. If this sounds appealing to you, pick up the phone and give me a call. Let's review your financial plan today. **Investing involves risk. There is always the potential of losing money when you invest in securities.** *\*Diversification does not ensure a profit or protect against loss in declining markets.* *This material should be regarded as general or educational information on healthcare or Social Security considerations and is not intended to provide specific healthcare or social security advice. If you have questions regarding your particular situation, please contact your legal or tax advisor.*

Personalized planning

**Helping you create a personalized plan** At Merrill, we go beyond the traditional role of an advisor. * Your goals, concerns and attitude about investing are the foundation of your plan. * We actively listen and provide personalized advice — ensuring we understand what matters most to you and your family. * We're committed to creating a personalized plan that evolves with you to help you live well today while preparing for the future.

Team and resources

**Giving you access to our teams and solutions** Your advisor is one part of an experienced team dedicated to helping you achieve your goals. Acting as your single point of contact, your advisor provides personalized strategies and connects you with: * Bank of America specialists, such as mortgage or trust professionals * Timely insights from BofA Global Research1 to help you stay informed and navigate ever\-changing markets * A [full suite](https://www.ml.com/solutions/all.html) of Merrill investing and Bank of America banking solutions ^1^~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](http://www.sipc.org/), and wholly owned subsidiary of Bank of America Corporation ("BofA Corp.").~

Recognition