Lance Griffith

Lance’s long financial services career has afforded him relationships and friendships beyond what he ever expected. Since 2001, he has continued to attract a largely referred clientele in Louisiana, Texas and on both coasts.

 

Bringing a cheerleader attitude to his work, Lance offers clients the hands-on approach of a coach on the sidelines (not in the press box). He explains, ”I truly care about clients’ happiness and helping them move from point A to point B. My job is to map out a strategy – so they get to their chosen destination as safely as possible.”

 

Lance’s clients include active and retired business owners (some in real estate and others who own property), teachers, professors, administrators, and generations of clients he’s known for years. Similar to Lance, his clients are not extravagant. In many cases, they ask Lance to make the most of the money they have, without unnecessary risk.

 

In early discussions, Lance focuses clients on what he calls “wealth beyond you” and its purpose – for a fulfilling retirement lifestyle, or creating a family or philanthropic legacy. Meeting with both spouses as often as possible, he asks about their visions and concerns. Active in his local community, Lance is well aware that many clients look to pass along their values, along with their wealth.

 

A highly principled advisor, Lance puts clients’ interests above all else and offers the transparency that makes conversations both comfortable and educational. Critical to Lance is setting a financial foundation for each client and explaining its components – an emergency fund (in cash), short-term money for emergencies and vacations, and long-term investments (for a college fund, retirement, supporting a worthy cause, or all three).

 

“From banking, credit cards and lending, to trust services, I enjoy educating clients about what we offer. In fact, a key reason I joined Merrill is the firm’s internal trust specialists at Bank of America Private Bank and banking professionals at Bank of America. With a single phone call, I can bring the right people to the table and address a client’s entire financial picture,” Lance says.

 

 When it comes to investments, Lance utilizes the firm’s Chief Investment Office models and award-winning Merrill research. Depending on a client’s goals, investment timeline, need for liquidity and tolerance for risk, their portfolio may include a different concentration of asset classes – ETFs mutual funds, stocks and bonds, for example.

 

Lance joined Merrill in 2019 after spending five years at Edward Jones and his early career at New York Life and other financial institutions. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration in Management from Northeast Louisiana University and an MBA from University of Louisiana at Monroe. Lance also holds a place in his heart for serving his local communities and protecting people. He generously assists Crime Stoppers and efforts to fight Sickle Cell Anemia across several parishes.

Born and raised in Alexandria, Louisiana, Lance and his wife, Brigette (a nurse), reside in Monroe. Avid travelers, they take every chance to explore new places, learn and see things differently than they did before. Back home, Lance works out regularly and enjoys podcasts, reading and any endeavor that offers him a new perspective on life.

*The Chief Investment Office (CIO) provides thought leadership on wealth management, investment strategy and global markets; portfolio management solutions; due diligence; and solutions oversight and data analytics. CIO viewpoints are developed for Bank of America Private Bank, a division of Bank of America, N.A., (“Bank of America”) and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (“MLPF&S” or “Merrill”), a registered broker-dealer, registered investment adviser and a wholly owned subsidiary of BofA Corp. This information should not be construed as investment advice and is subject to change. It is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to be either a specific offer by Bank of America, Merrill or any affiliate to sell or provide, or a specific invitation for a consumer to apply for, any particular retail financial product or service that may be available. *Institutional Investor magazine announced BofA Global Research as one of the Top Global Research Firms in 2022 based on surveys held throughout the year. The magazine creates rankings of the top research analysts in a wide variety of specializations, drawn from the choices of portfolio managers and other investment professionals at more than 1,000 firms. 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, and wholly owned subsidiary of Bank of America Corporation. Learn more about the methodology at Institutional Investor. Rankings and recognition from Institutional Investor are no guarantee of future investment success and do not ensure that a current or prospective client will experience a higher level of performance results and such rankings should not be construed as an endorsement. *Any information presented in connection with BofA Global Research is general in nature and is not intended to provide personal investment advice. The information does not take into account the specific investment objectives, financial situation and particular needs of any specific person who may receive it. Investors should understand that statements regarding future prospects may not be realized. 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, and wholly owned subsidiary of Bank of America Corporation. BofA Global Research does and seeks to do business with companies covered in its research reports. As a result, investors should be aware that the firm may have a conflict of interest that could affect the objectivity of this report. Investors should consider this report as only a single factor in making their investment decision.