Sally McLeod

Sally McLeod is a Bergen County based advisor specializing in business exit strategies, tax-advantaged retirement plan design, and family wealth structures for business owners. Designated as a Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor®, CPFA® and Chartered Retirement Plan Specialist™, CRPS™, she designs and implements strategic business solutions focused on growth and talent acquisition. In addition, she has navigated the entrepreneurial landscape with the development of her own small business. She offers a unique perspective on the delicate balance business owners must maintain between scaling an enterprise and securing personal long-term wealth.

Prior to her current position at Merrill, Ms. McLeod spent five years at Morgan Stanley, where she coached over 150 advisors in the Northern New Jersey complex on optimizing their business strategies. she was instrumental in modernizing their practices through digital and social media integration leading to significant new asset acquisitions. Simultaneously, she built a thriving solo practice, leveraging her rigorous financial background with a commitment to excellence. By delivering sophisticated wealth solutions and a white glove service model, she cultivated a loyal client base rooted in deep trust and consistent performance.

Ms. McLeod's expertise is anchored by an elite academic pedigree, including a Master's in Wealth Management from Columbia University and a finance degree from the UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School. With these solid credentials, her analytical approach allows her to engineer sophisticated wealth frameworks with precision and foresight. You will experience a rare, prized, and potentially life-changing commodity with her skills.

As a dedicated advisor, McLeod offers her expertise with the key services in 401(k), ESOP, cash balance plan, financing, investments, trusts, insurance, wealth transfer, and estate planning. Acting as a central resource across the entire business lifecycle, she orchestrates a network of specialists. Recognizing that a successful exit requires meticulous preparation, McLeod provides comprehensive pre-exit and succession planning to ensure a seamless transition.

Ms. McLeod believes that strategies must be deeply tailored to each client's unique family structure and long-term vision. Through analytical rigor and advanced scenario modeling, she engineers complex wealth frameworks designed to prioritize both generational legacy and personal security. By strategically decoupling personal security from business risk, she ensures that corporate liabilities and market volatility never compromise a client's long-term financial foundation.

On a more personal note, Sally McLeod brings the same level of discipline to her individual pursuits as she does to her professional practice. She is a classically trained soprano, an enthusiastic snowboarder (with her daughter), and she is also fluent in Mandarin Chinese. As an avid sportswoman and a dedicated musician, Sally McLeod is inspired by these worlds to help people experience all that life has to offer. Her skills and services help create family visions that turn into lasting results. In fact, lifestyle coaching is an element of her business as well. Small in stature but large in mind and ability, you will find in Ms. McLeod an ideal partner for your business and family prosperity.

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.