Long before we formulate any specific strategies, we put ourselves in your shoes in order to get to know you and understand what is important to you, your family and your business. This helps us to create—and to help you implement—a thoughtful wealth management strategy designed to address your needs and goals.Throughout our relationship, we will keep you apprised of changing market conditions so that you can make informed decisions about investment risk and take advantage of domestic or global investment opportunities.We believe in collaborating with your other professional advisors, as well as with investment specialists within Merrill, as needed, to provide support for tax- minimization strategies, insurance, and estate planning services, and through access to Bank of America for banking resources.We can also help you with discretionary portfolio management. Geoffrey Bell is a qualified Senior Portfolio Managers, who, in addition to providing traditional advice and guidance, can help clients pursue their objectives by building and managing their own personalized or defined strategies, which may incorporate individual stocks and bonds, Merrill model portfolios, and third-party investment strategies. Senior Portfolio Managers are provided a high degree of flexibility in constructing portfolios and selecting securities. When servicing clients through the firm's Investment Advisory Program, a Senior Portfolio Manager may manage his strategies on a discretionary basis. After meeting certain additional requirements, a Senior Portfolio Manager may use his own strategies to manage the assets of other Merrill Advisors' clients.For clients with a significant portion of their assets invested in their employer's business, diversification strategies can help them manage risk while maintaining appropriate levels of company stock.