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712 Investment Group
Merrill Lynch Wealth Management
114 West 47th Street
New York, NY 10036
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Experience, service, and a commitment to clients. Our mission is to provide the highest level of professionalism, responsiveness, and service at all times. By combining the culture of a boutique family office with the backing and resources of a global financial institution, we have the ability to handle or delegate any issues or questions affecting your life.
712 Investment Group
Merrill Lynch Wealth Management
Welcome
The 712 Investment Group is a 21 person wealth management group operating under the umbrella of Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, a division of Bank of America Corporation. While our founding partners’ roots at Merrill date back to the mid 1980’s, the 712 Investment Group was formally organized in 1992 at 712 Fifth Avenue in New York City. With six partners and fifteen supporting associates and specialists, our bi-coastal team has offices strategically located in Midtown Manhattan, the San Francisco Bay area, and Charleston, SC. We accept new clients via personal recommendations from existing clients. Our team is named to Forbes "America's Top Wealth Management Teams High Net Worth" list for 2 consecutive years (2022-2023)*
Additionally, our partners, Managing Directors, Richard Wald, Travis O'Brien, Brian Noone, John O'Neill Jr., and Senior Vice President, Michael O'Neill, were all named to Forbes 2024 "Best-in-State Wealth Advisors".**
*\*Published annually in November. Rankings based on data as of March 31 of the same year.* *\*\*Published annually in Jan-April. Rankings based on data as of June 30 of the prior year.* *Forbes is a trademark of Forbes Media LLC. All rights reserved. Rankings and recognition from Forbes 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 of the advisor.*
Recognition
John O'Neill
Forbes "America's Top Next-Generation Wealth Advisors", 2018-2019
(Published annually July – Sept. Rankings based on data as of March 31 of current year.)
Forbes "Best-in-State Next Generation Wealth Advisors", 2019
(Published on September 4, 2019. Rankings based on data as of March 31, 2019.)
Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Advisors", 2021-2024
(Published annually Jan – April. Rankings based on data as of June 30 of prior year.)
Show More Recognitions
Forbes "America's Top Next-Generation Wealth Advisors", 2018-2019
(Published annually July – Sept. Rankings based on data as of March 31 of current year.)
Forbes "Best-in-State Next Generation Wealth Advisors", 2019
(Published on September 4, 2019. Rankings based on data as of March 31, 2019.)
Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Advisors", 2021-2024
(Published annually Jan – April. Rankings based on data as of June 30 of prior year.)
Show More Recognitions
Richard Wald
Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Advisors", 2018-2024
(Published annually Jan – April. Rankings based on data as of June 30 of prior year.)
Barron's "Top 1200 Financial Advisors", 2014
(Published on February 24, 2014. Rankings based on data as of September 30, 2013.)
Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Advisors", 2018-2024
(Published annually Jan – April. Rankings based on data as of June 30 of prior year.)
Barron's "Top 1200 Financial Advisors", 2014
(Published on February 24, 2014. Rankings based on data as of September 30, 2013.)
Travis O'Brien
Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Advisors", 2018-2024
(Published annually Jan – April. Rankings based on data as of June 30 of prior year.)
Forbes "America’s Top Wealth Management Teams High Net Worth", 2022
(Published on November 8, 2022. Rankings based on data as of March 31, 2022.)
Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Advisors", 2018-2024
(Published annually Jan – April. Rankings based on data as of June 30 of prior year.)
Forbes "America’s Top Wealth Management Teams High Net Worth", 2022
(Published on November 8, 2022. Rankings based on data as of March 31, 2022.)
Brian Noone
Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Advisors", 2019-2024
(Published annually Jan – April. Rankings based on data as of June 30 of prior year.)
Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Advisors", 2019-2024
(Published annually Jan – April. Rankings based on data as of June 30 of prior year.)
About Us
Our Process
We start by listening to you to gain a deep understanding of the moving parts of your financial life. Recognizing the concerns that can affect your family and finances — today and in the future — can put us in a better position to help you develop a wealth management strategy uniquely tailored to your circumstances.
With this understanding, together with an overview of your financial life (income, assets, titling, taxes) we will develop a plan tailored to your goals, liquidity needs, values, time horizon, and risk tolerance.
The customizable strategies we build address a wide range of needs:
- Investment and retirement income planning
- Estate planning services and wealth transfer strategies
- Philanthropic and charitable giving strategies
- Education funding
- Lending (Mortgage - NMLS #247463, Securities Based Loans, Custom Financing)
- Insurance and annuities
Meet Our Team
John-Paul (JP) Pawlowski, CFP®,CPFA™
Senior Vice President, Wealth Management Advisor
212.284.5518
212.284.5518
Daniel Jeffers, CFP®,CIMA®,CPFA™
First Vice President, Wealth Management Advisor
212.303.4082
212.303.4082
Michael Smyth, CKP®,CPFA™,CRPC™
First Vice President, Senior Financial Advisor
212.303.4071
212.303.4071
Additional Resources
The following specialists do not make securities recommendations. Please contact your Merrill Lynch Wealth Management Advisor if you have questions about how a specialist might be able to assist you.
David Schlansky
Senior Wealth Management Lending Officer
NMLS #247463
Megan Pfeffer
Wealth Management Banking Specialist
Conor O'Keefe
Alternative Investments Regional Specialist
Let's Have A Conversation
We take the time to listen and learn about you and your family before creating strategies that aim to meet your needs, goals and best interests now and in the future
About Merrill
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.
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Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (CFP Board) owns the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, and the CFP® (with plaque design) in the United States, which it authorizes use of by individuals who successfully complete CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements.
Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor™, CRPC™, and the CRPC™ logo are certification marks or registered certification marks of The College for Financial Planning Institutes Corp. in the United States.
Investments & Wealth Institute™ (The Institute) is the owner of the certification marks CPWA® and Certified Private Wealth Advisor®. Use of CPWA®, and/or Certified Private Wealth Advisor® signifies that the user has successfully completed the Institute’s initial and ongoing credentialing requirements for wealth advisors.
C(k)P® is a registered trademark of The Retirement Advisor University, Inc.
Investments & Wealth Institute™ (The Institute) is the owner of the certification marks CIMA® and Certified Investment Management Analyst®. Use of CIMA®, and/or Certified Investment Management Analyst® signifies that the user has successfully completed the Institute’s initial and ongoing credentialing requirements for investment management professionals.