Danielle Burness began her career in the financial services industry in 1991 at Sun Trust Bank and joined Merrill^® in 1997. As the founder of The Burness Group, she draws on more than three decades of experience to help a broad spectrum of clients including attorneys, business owners, corporate executives, and their families grow, preserve, and transfer their wealth efficiently. Having offices strategically located in Annapolis, Maryland, and Charleston, South Carolina, enables Danielle to enhance her commitment to personalized service with clients nationwide.

As a Merrill Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor, Danielle is one of a small number of advisors at Merrill who are qualified to represent corporate retirement benefit plans. She understands that a well-designed retirement plan can play a critical role in helping companies attract and retain highly talented employees, meet their fiduciary obligations, make the most of their business assets, and assist employees with their retirement savings goals.
 
Everything Danielle does begins and ends with her clients. A hallmark of her approach is the highly personalized level of dedicated service she provides. This approach, she believes, is why her team has become the “first call” for many clients when matters of wealth, health, and family are primary concerns. Danielle is also proud to serve as a bridge between two and sometimes three generations of families to help create wealth management strategies to prepare for both anticipated and unexpected events.

Her process begins by asking questions to help clients articulate what they’re trying to accomplish with their wealth, including their values, worries, and aspirations for themselves and their families. Whether their objectives are capital preservation, securing their lifestyle in retirement, providing for a child or grandchild’s education, or arranging for the tax-efficient transfer of wealth to the people and causes they care about, her personalized approach encompasses every phase of their financial lives.

Danielle earned her bachelor’s degree in behavioral and social science from the University of Maryland and holds the Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor^® (CPFA^®) designation. She and her husband, Phil Blevins Jr., split their time between Annapolis, Maryland, and Charleston, South Carolina. Danielle has enjoyed helping Phil raise his two children, Phil and Brooke, since they were young. With a passion for health and nutrition, she is an avid exerciser and enjoys Pilates, spinning, and running. She is also dedicated to volunteering, supporting, and bringing awareness to the SPCA of Maryland and the Charleston Animal Society. A classic car enthusiast, Danielle enjoys showing her 1958 Chevy Impala and is a member of the Asphalt Angeles Auto Club.