Ellison Kibler

E. Robertson "Bud" Kibler was a pioneering force in the wealth management industry and a founding advisor of the Ellison Kibler practice at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. With a career spanning over four decades at Merrill, Bud earned widespread respect for his innovative thinking, deep client commitment, and visionary leadership. His influence continues to shape our team and inspire everything we do.

J. Hagood Ellison was a larger-than-life figure, guided by a deep belief in service over self. His visionary leadership, selfless dedication, and unwavering passion for both family and clients set a standard few could match. Driven by the conviction that things could always be improved, Hagood helped lay the foundation for a team built on integrity, excellence, and a commitment to serving others. While Hagood is deeply missed by family, friends, and clients, his vision and values remain at the heart of our practice.

In 1983, Bud and Hagood partnered to establish one of the first dedicated wealth management teams within Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. This bold and forward-thinking move helped redefine how financial advice was delivered to affluent families, corporations, institutions, and foundations. United by a shared vision and complementary leadership styles, they built a practice rooted in integrity, service, and excellence. Under their guidance, Ellison Kibler grew into one of the most respected private wealth teams in the Southeast, earning national recognition including Barron's "Top 250 Private Wealth Management Teams" List in 2024 and 2025¹, Forbes "America's Top Private Wealth Teams: High Net Worth" List in 2023-2025² , and Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams" List in 2023-2025³.

Today, the team that Hagood and Bud helped build oversees more than $12 billion in client assets (as of 9/30/25) and continues to grow, guided by the leadership they instilled and the values they championed. Their legacy lives on in the enduring success of the practice and the lives of the clients and colleagues they inspired.

¹_{(Published annually in May. Years pre-dating 2024, published as Barron's "Top 100 Private Wealth Management Teams" list annually March - April. Rankings based on data as of December 31 of prior year.)}

²_{(Published annually in November. Rankings based on data as of March 31 of current year.)}

³ _{(Published annually in January. Rankings based on data as of March 31 of prior year.)}

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