J. Brian DeGroft, CIMA^®, CPFA^™, Senior Vice President & Wealth Management Advisor, has 33 years of experience with Merrill.  Brian and his team, The Renie DeGroft Arthur Hall Group, provide high net worth individuals and institutional clients customized wealth management advice and fiduciary services.  Brian is a 1991 graduate of the University of Dayton.  Brian has completed executive education at The University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Business for Financial Leadership and for High Net Worth Investing. Brian has also completed executive education at Harvard University.  Brian achieved the Certified Investment Management Analyst^® (CIMA^®) certification, studying at The University of Chicago Booth School of Business.  Brian also holds the Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor^™ (CPFA^™) designation, providing Plan Fiduciary and Education Services for corporate sponsored retirement plans.

Brian and his wife Kristin live in Mason, Ohio.  Brian and Kristin have four adult children.  Three of their children are pursuing careers in the Chicago area and their youngest is studying finance at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.  Brian volunteers his time coaching special needs hockey with the Cincinnati Cyclones Special Hockey Program and supporting The St. Xavier High School Hockey Program.

Brian and his team of Wealth Structuring, Estate Planning Services and Credit & Lending Specialists help clients pursue their long term goals by incorporating the vast resources available at the combined Merrill, Bank of America & Bank of America Private Bank organization. Brian creates customized investment portfolios, tailored to each client’s specific risk and return objectives determined in the wealth planning process. His areas of focus and professional knowledge are: Investment Management, Fiduciary Services, Retirement Income Planning, Wealth Structuring, Philanthropic Solutions, College Education Planning, Corporate Retirement Plans, Credit & Lending and Tax Minimization Strategies. 

Brian's team of Commercial and Individual Lending Specialists at the combined companies: Merrill, Bank of America and Bank of America Private Bank provide clients with specialized and significant lending opportunities.

*Merrill, its affiliates, and financial advisors do not provide legal, tax, or accounting advice. You should consult your legal and/or tax advisors before making any financial decisions.
I follow the deep-seated Merrill tradition of participating in the communities we serve. This drives my interest in spending time volunteering with organizations in our community.