Jontue brings clients a background that’s rare among financial advisors. Having founded his own firm and served an impressive clientele there and now at Merrill, he offers knowledge and know-how that has attracted a growing circle of referred clients residing in more than 15 states.
Many of Jontue’s clients are professional athletes – active and retired – for whom his familiarity with their situations is unique. Growing up with a close family member who had a long NBA career allowed Jontue to witness first hand, the financial challenges resulting from short careers of high incomes and “lifetimes” spent retired.
Jontue explains, “Athletes have especially long retirements, with capital but often, without the structure and support to successfully transition their lives beyond sports. I’ve been able to change the narrative of ‘athletes going broke’ by educating and creating clear, strategic plans for responsibly managing their income and assets for the long-term.”
Having run a business for ten years, Jontue also speaks the language of entrepreneurs – providing productive, relationship-driven support and enlightened insights on preparing for liquidity events. Jontue recognizes that these ambitious individuals “bet on themselves” and deserve his full devotion and clear understanding of how they invest, what they own and why.
Jontue's work helping senior-level executives navigate through the complexities of their executive compensation packages is also a strength. “With their time at a premium, I recognize my role in being proactive – allowing them to focus on their careers and families without losing sight of their wealth goals,” Jontue adds.
Since launching his career in 2001, Jontue has built a robust community of athletes, business owners and corporate executives. On their behalf, he is devoted to connecting the dots – from their distinct circumstances to the wide range of financial techniques he employs. At the heart of his approach is a disciplined, planning-based process in which frequent discussions allow clients to explore and explain their financial situations and motivations. Being highly engaged and professional is second nature to him.
Jontue joined Merrill for many of the same reasons his clients followed him there. “The firm helps me serve the whole client. From wealth management to banking, to generational wealth services, to paying bills for clients, our resources are coordinated and best in class. That’s why I’m here,” he says.
When it comes to investing, Jontue uses Merrill research, input from the firm’s Chief Investment Office, and relies on the firm’s prudent selection of outside money managers. In addition, he gives clients access to Bank of America, N.A. for residential and securities-based lending. “I encourage clients to consider me their ‘go-to person’ for any financial question or decision.”
A lifetime learner, Jontue holds an MBA from the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University and a Bachelor’s degree from Bucknell University. He is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional, a designation awarded by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. He is also a Senior Portfolio Advisor who can help clients pursue their objectives by managing on a discretionary basis custom investment strategies, selecting from a wide range of Merrill model portfolios and third-party investment strategies. A resident of Narberth, Pennsylvania Jontue is married with a young son and daughter.
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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.
My mission, first and foremost, is to understand you and what matters most to you. Armed with that information I can ask thoughtful questions -- listening carefully, then understanding in detail where your wealth stands today and where you'd like it to be tomorrow. I help you design and implement a personalized plan intended to help you and your family pursue financial goals while helping manage investment risk. My approach is to focus on potential solutions that can help turn goals into reality.
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