Div Telwala

Div has built an industry-wide reputation and a growing circle of clients by providing thoughtful strategies and straightforward advice. Coupled with his financial acumen and experience, Div’s approach has attracted a diverse clientele – individuals and families that appreciate his personal care and candor.
He was named to the 2022 Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Advisors" list.

Who does Div serve?
A largely referred group of ambitious business owners, physicians, corporate executives and single, divorced and widowed people and their families residing in the Metro New York area, Pennsylvania, Florida and more than 15 other states. Div also advises on the fiduciary issues confronting private entities – assisting owners and plan administrators with building and implementing group retirement plans.

Given the distinct mindsets and motivations of his clients, Div devotes significant time to developing an intimate understanding of how each client views their wealth and the opportunities that come with it. 

 By asking questions and listening (more than talking), he helps clients articulate what they may have never shared in a previous advisory relationship. He may ask, “What would your life look like if money meant nothing? What’s the purpose of your wealth? Who are you responsible for? Do you feel prepared for the unexpected? What’s the one thing you want to do, that you don’t think you can?”

 In many cases, Div collaborates with actuaries, third-party administrators, the firm’s trust professionals, and clients’ CPAs and attorneys – to assist with complex exit planning strategies, tax-minimization and estate planning strategies. Div also offers access to Bank of America for residential and securities-based lending, and practice management solutions.

 “My relationships with clients are based on trust and honesty,” Div explains. “I may say ‘no’ to unwise extravagancies and ‘yes’ to sensible savings, for example. I also remind clients to call me with any circumstance that has financial implications. Working closely with both spouses and entire families, I look to educate, so they can develop and sustain wise financial habits.”

When it comes to investments, Div takes direction from the firm’s Chief Investment Office and favors its model portfolios. Keeping investments simple and diversified, he is tax-sensitive. fee-sensitive and actively manages clients’ portfolios. Based on a client’s risk tolerance, investment timeline, liquidity needs and personal goals, each portfolio he formulates may include a blend of equities, bonds and ETFs.

Div is a qualified Portfolio Manager who can help clients by building and personalizing investment strategies that incorporate individual stocks and bonds along with Merrill model portfolios.  By providing customized sophisticated investment strategies a portfolio manager may manage his strategies on a discretionary basis and integrate his client’s values and beliefs in investment selection.

In 2011, Div joined Merrill after spending eleven years with Smith Barney. A native New Yorker, he resides today in Upper Makefield, Pennsylvania with his wife, Ami Shah, their son (a varsity swimmer) and daughter (a ballet and Bollywood dancer). Active in their daughter’s school activities, Div and Ami also support Roxy Ballet. In his free time, Div enjoys a good game of basketball, hiking and entertaining (as “master” of the grill). He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Stony Brook University.


*Source: The Forbes “Best-in-State Wealth Advisors” list, published on April 7, 2022. Rankings based on data as of June 30, 2021.

Data provided by SHOOK^® Research, LLC. Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Advisors ranking was developed by SHOOK Research and is based on in-person, virtual, and telephone due diligence meetings to measure best practices; also considered are: client retention, industry experience, credentials, review of compliance records, firm nominations; and quantitative criteria, such as: assets under management and revenue generated for their firms. Investment performance is not a criterion because client objectives and risk tolerances vary, and advisors rarely have audited performance reports. SHOOK’s research and rankings provide opinions intended to help investors choose the right financial advisor and are not indicative of future performance or representative of any one client’s experience. Past performance is not an indication of future results. Neither Forbes nor SHOOK Research receive compensation in exchange for placement on the ranking. For more information, please see www.SHOOKresearch.com. SHOOK is a registered trademark of SHOOK Research, LLC.
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.