The Casanueva Group - Casanueva, Dwyer, Hynes, Kowadla -Sarasota

Merrill Lynch Wealth Management
1819 Main Street
Floor 12
Sarasota FL 34236
(941) 413.4504
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Our team is committed to understanding your values and what you want to accomplish with your assets. One-on-one conversations and communication help us get to know who you are and what you and your family want for your individual lifetimes.  We can help you concentrate on pursuing your life goals while also working with you to plan your legacy.
The Casanueva Group - Casanueva, Dwyer, Hynes, Kowadla -Sarasota
Welcome

Our entire team shares a common goal: to help you achieve your personal financial goals, such as planning for and funding your children’s education, helping ensure that income can last in retirement, and planning for potential health care costs. Every step in the process considers your personal perspectives and priorities. Our goal is to help bring simplicity and transparency to the complexities of investing, turning the often-intimidating task of planning for the future into an exciting journey of helping you pursue and reach your goals.

Since 1999, our team has been helping individuals, families and businesses along Florida’s Gulf Coast navigate change.

Our team stands ready to help you in the following convenient locations:

Lakewood Ranch - Visit our website 
Sarasota - Visit our website 
Venice - Visit our website 
Punta Gorda - Visit our website
Naples - Visit our website

Recognition
Dominic Casanueva
Managing Director, Senior Resident Director
Barron's "Top 100 Institutional Consulting Teams", 2022
(Published on April 15, 2022. Rankings based on data as of December 31, 2021.)
Forbes "America’s Top Wealth Management Teams High Net Worth", 2023-2024
(Published annually in November. Rankings based on data as of March 31 of current year.)
Barron's "Top 1,200 Financial Advisors", 2018-2025
(Published annually in March. Rankings based on data as of September 30 of prior year.)
Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Advisors", 2018-2025
(Published annually Jan – April. Rankings based on data as of June 30 of prior year.)
Forbes "Top Next-Generation Wealth Advisors Best-in-State", 2019, 2022-2023
(Published annually Aug - September. Rankings based on data as of March 31 of current year.)
Financial Times "401 Top Retirement Plan Advisers", 2020
(Published on October 22, 2020. Rankings based on data as of Dec 31, 2019.)
Show more recognition
The Casanueva Group - Casanueva, Dwyer, Hynes, Kowadla -Sarasota
Barron’s “Top 250 Private Wealth Management Teams”, 2025
(Published on May 9, 2025. Rankings based on data as of December 31, 2024.)
Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams", 2023-2026
(Published annually in January. Rankings based on data as of March 31 of prior year.)
Forbes "America's Top Wealth Management Teams High Net Worth", 2023
(Published on November 7, 2023. Rankings based on data as of March 31, 2023.)
Click here to learn more about advisor recognitions
About Us
Philosophy

No two people are alike. Consequently, there is no single approach to wealth management that is appropriate for everyone. What matters most to you is what matters most to us. Once we get to know you, your priorities, your goals, risk tolerance, time horizons, liquidity needs and what you want to accomplish over time, only then can the team help you position yourself to identify and address financial challenges and potential opportunities. To that end, we thoughtfully employ our experience and resources to help guide you as you pursue your goals.

Meet Our Team
Dominic Casanueva,

CFA, CKP®, CPFA®, CRPS™

Managing Director, Senior Resident Director
941.413.4504
Robert Dwyer,

CIMA®, CKP®, CPWA®

Managing Director, Wealth Management Advisor
941.637.4331
Richard Hynes,

CKP®, CPFA®, CRPS™

Senior Vice President, Senior Financial Advisor
941.413.4509
Ryan Kowadla,

CKP®, CPFA®, CRPS™

Senior Vice President, Wealth Management Advisor
941.413.4539
Roy Borrego
Managing Director, Senior Relationship Manager
941.637.4328
Christopher Caledonia
Senior Vice President, Senior Financial Advisor
941.364.5657
Richard Smalley,

CRPC™

Senior Vice President, Wealth Management Advisor
941.364.5662
Deborah L North
Officer, Wealth Management Client Associate
941.364.5601
Andrea Alegria-Gonzalez
Officer, Wealth Management Client Associate
941.413.4506
Additional Resources
The following specialists do not make securities recommendations. Please contact your Merrill Lynch Wealth Management Advisor if you have questions about how a specialist might be able to assist you.
Shelley Beauregard
Wealth Management Banking Specialist
Merrill
Alicia E Zappala
Wealth Management Banking Specialist
Merrill
Carlos Sacerio
Wealth Management Lending Officer
NMLS #1285843
Bank of America, N.A.
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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CFA® and Chartered Financial Analyst® are registered trademarks of the CFA Institute.
C(k)P® is a registered trademark of The Retirement Advisor University, Inc.
Chartered Retirement Plans Specialist™, CRPS™, and the CRPS™ logo are certification marks or registered certification marks of The College for Financial Planning Institutes Corp. in the United States.
Investments & Wealth Institute™ (The Institute) is the owner of the certification marks CIMA® and Certified Investment Management Analyst®, CPWA® and Certified Private Wealth Advisor®. Use of CIMA®, and/or Certified Investment Management Analyst®, CPWA® and/or Certified Private Wealth Advisor® signifies that the user has successfully completed the Institute’s initial and ongoing credentialing requirements for certification.
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.