Our Clients - Business Owners

Our work with business owners, who understand that their company is both an opportunity and a risk, centers around the idea that good personal planning can't be separated from the business itself. Many clients are founders and owners building meaningful businesses while balancing growth, reinvestment, risk, and personal financial security. Their wealth is often concentrated, their income uneven, and their time is usually split between operating well today and thinking about what the future holds, whether that next step is two years away or twenty. Rather than planning *around* an exit event, we plan with *an exit lens*. That means aligning business decisions with personal goals early so that changes in the market, unsolicited offers, or other life events don't force reactive choices. The result is a business that supports flexibility, not pressure. This kind of planning isn't about maximizing a headline number at all costs. It's about preserving financial, personal, and emotional goals so when opportunities arise, you are in control of the outcome. **Areas We Commonly Work On Include:** * Cash flow planning and income variability * Owner compensation strategy and tax considerations * Aligning personal wealth strategy with business risk * Investment planning outside the business * Liquidity planning and pre‑exit strategy * Transition and succession planning coordination * Estate and legacy considerations tied to ownership **Our Philosophy** A successful business should support the life you're building, not quietly dictate it. The strongest plans create resilience so that no single decision, client, or cycle defines your outcome. **Our Approach** We work collaboratively, thinking long‑term, and helping owners make deliberate decisions with clarity and confidence, grounded in where the business is today and where you want your life to be tomorrow.

Our Clients - Women Navigating Wealth

We work with women who want to be informed, involved, and confident decision‑makers in their financial lives, whether independently or alongside a partner. Women we work with are wives, mothers, daughters, caregivers, professionals, and leaders navigating growing income, equity compensation, and increasing responsibility. These women make decisions that affect their families and future generations. Some are building wealth in their own right; others are stepping more fully into shared financial planning after years of deferring, delegating, or being sidelined. Across these experiences, a common thread emerges: women don't want to be sold to, talked around, or excluded from the conversation. They want clarity, context, and a seat at the table, because the choices made today shape not only their own outcomes, but also the financial confidence their children and those coming up behind them will inherit. Women are more likely to experience non‑linear careers, income gaps, or periods of accelerated responsibility. They're also more likely to carry invisible financial labor, such as coordinating, planning, and decision‑making, without always being centered in the strategy. We help bring structure, clarity, and ownership to those decisions. This work isn't about fixing a gap or following a prescribed path. It's about making intentional choices that reflect your priorities, protect your optionality, and support long‑term independence. **Areas We Commonly Work On Include:** * Equity compensation and income complexity * Concentrated risk and diversification planning * Tax‑aware investment and long‑term portfolio strategy * Family decision‑making and financial roles * Building confidence through understanding **Our Philosophy** Financial planning works best when women are fully engaged in the process. Clarity creates confidence, and confidence creates continuity across families and generations. **Our Approach** We offer thoughtful guidance, clear explanations, and direct perspective creating space for women to make confident financial decisions without pressure, assumptions, or noise.

Personalized planning

**Helping you create a personalized plan** At Merrill, we go beyond the traditional role of an advisor. * Your goals, concerns and attitude about investing are the foundation of your plan. * We actively listen and provide personalized advice — ensuring we understand what matters most to you and your family. * We're committed to creating a personalized plan that evolves with you to help you live well today while preparing for the future.

Team and resources

**Giving you access to our teams and solutions** Your advisor is one part of an experienced team dedicated to helping you achieve your goals. Acting as your single point of contact, your advisor provides personalized strategies and connects you with: * Bank of America specialists, such as mortgage or trust professionals * Timely insights from BofA Global Research1 to help you stay informed and navigate ever\-changing markets * A [full suite](https://www.ml.com/solutions/all.html) of Merrill investing and Bank of America banking solutions ^1^~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](http://www.sipc.org/), and wholly owned subsidiary of Bank of America Corporation ("BofA Corp.").~

Recognition