Brett Mcdaniel

Advisor at Merrill

Updated today

Location

Bloomington, IL 61704

Credentials

Series 66

Industry experience

11 years

About

Brett Mcdaniel is a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. Since joining Merrill in 2015, he leverages his background in banking and branch management to provide clients with comprehensive wealth management strategies. Brett focuses on helping clients pursue short- and long-term financial goals by offering access to Merrill’s investment resources alongside the banking services of Bank of America. His areas of expertise include portfolio management, retirement income planning, tax minimization, and socially responsible investing, with a particular focus on services for endowments, foundations, and non-profits.

Brett holds a Bachelor's Degree from Greenville College and an MBA from Illinois State University. He has earned several professional designations, including CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). He is also involved with Eastview Christian Church, where he participates in community activities.

Outside of his professional life, Brett enjoys spending time with his wife and four children. His personal interests include camping, chess, fishing, running, soccer, and family activities such as walks and games.

Client services

Based on Merrill

Portfolio management Pension consulting Selection of other advisers Educational seminars or workshops
Performance measurement reports, allocation modeling, ips, research reports and services, see schedule d

Expertise

Retirement income strategy Tax-loss harvesting Wealth management ESG / Sustainable investing General tax planning

Occupation focus

Based on Merrill

Executive Founder/Business Owner

Demographic focus

Parents Values-based investing SRI/ESG (Socially Responsible Investing/Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance)

Not sure if this advisor is right for you?

Answer a few questions to see advisors matched to you.

Fee options

Percentage

$0 - $2,000,000: 1.10% (for Managed Strategy with MFSA under $2 million) $2,000,000+: 1.00% (for Managed Strategy with MFSA at and above $2 million)

Other

Account minimum: $2,000,000 minimum to qualify for Premium Access Strategy per SEC data and Merrill brochure context; no other firm-wide minimum clearly stated

Location

2205 E Empire St

Bloomington, IL 61704

Most active in

Illinois · Texas

Work history

Bank Of America, N.a.

2015 - Present (11 years)

Merrill

2015 - Present (11 years)

Disclosures

Exclamation point means they have disclosures of this type. Check mark means no disclosures of this type were found.

Business activities & affiliations

user avatar

Karyn S

CFP®, Series 63, Series 65

Normal, IL

Smith CFP, Karyn

Karyn Smith is a CFP® professional with six years of experience, currently serving as the sole advisor at Smith CFP, Karyn. She has been a vice president and treasurer of Rk Consulting, a computer consulting and tax services firm, since 1998. In addition to her financial advisory work, she teaches an online class at Olivet College and serves as a trustee on the Normal Town Council. Smith CFP, Karyn provides portfolio management and financial planning services to individual clients, focusing on asset allocation supported by various analytical methods. The firm operates with investment discretion under limited power of attorney while clients retain ownership of their securities, and it integrates accounting and insurance services through its affiliations.

General retirement planning Long-term care insurance Cash flow / budgeting General tax planning
user avatar

Roger E

CFA®

Bloomington, IL

Elliott Capital Management, Inc.

Roger Elliott is a CFA® charterholder with 22 years of industry experience. He has been the principal of Elliott Capital Management, Inc. since 2000. The firm provides discretionary investment management and financial planning services to individual and family clients, focusing on broadly diversified passive asset allocation using primarily exchange-traded funds. Portfolios are tailored to client objectives, risk tolerance, liquidity needs, and tax considerations, and the firm emphasizes tax and reporting matters informed by Elliott's CPA and CFA credentials and prior experience in public accounting.

Passive / index investing
user avatar

Bryce D

Series 65

Le Roy, IL

Blue Jean Wealth Management

Bryce Dooley is the sole advisor at BD MGMT LLC, operating as Blue Jean Wealth Management, with six years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has worked in various roles including management of a vending machine business, Dool's Delights. BD Capital provides discretionary investment advisory and portfolio construction services primarily to individual clients and select business entities. The firm employs a fundamental, bottom-up investment approach focused on concentrated portfolios and employs borrowing and derivatives in separate accounts, with the adviser personally investing alongside clients.

Active portfolio management Concentrated stock management
user avatar

Kathryn K

CFP®, Series 66

Bloomington, IL

Kraft Financial, LLC

Kathryn Kraft is a CFP® and Series 66 licensed financial advisor with 21 years of industry experience. She has worked at Investment Advisors Corp. and Broker Dealer Financial Services Corp. before founding Kraft Financial, LLC in 2018. In addition to her advisory role, she is an independent insurance agent specializing in life insurance and annuities. Kraft Financial, LLC provides discretionary asset management and comprehensive financial planning to individuals, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations. The firm manages approximately $36 million for a select group of clients, focusing on diversified portfolios constructed from passive and active ETFs, mutual funds, equities, fixed income, and structured products, with an emphasis on cost control and a long-term perspective.

General retirement planning College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.)
user avatar

Patrick V

Series 66

Bloomington, IL

ARK Advisors LLC

Patrick Vance is a financial advisor with ARK Advisors LLC, holding a Series 66 designation and 18 years of industry experience. He has been with ARK Advisors since 2013 and previously worked at Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments from 2013 to 2017. Outside of his advisory role, he owns Two Farm Boys, a business that sells crafts through Etsy. ARK Advisors LLC serves individual investors, pension and profit-sharing plans, and charitable organizations by providing portfolio management, financial planning, fiduciary consulting for retirement plans, and 529-plan advisory services. The firm emphasizes personalized investment strategies through Investment Policy Statements and employs a combination of fundamental analysis and diversified investment approaches.

College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.) Retirement income strategy General tax planning Wealth management
user avatar

Brad M

ChFC®, Series 63, Series 66

Bloomington, IL

ARK Advisors LLC

Brad Metz is a financial advisor with ARK Advisors LLC in Bloomington, IL, holding the ChFC® designation and Series 63 and 66 licenses. He has 23 years of industry experience, including four years at Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments prior to joining ARK Advisors in 2013. Outside of his advisory role, he is a licensed insurance agent specializing in fixed insurance sales. ARK Advisors LLC serves individual investors, pension and profit-sharing plans, and charitable organizations by providing portfolio management, financial planning, fiduciary consulting for retirement plans, and 529-plan advisory services. The firm uses a personalized Investment Policy Statement for each client and employs a combination of fundamental analysis and various investment strategies, managing approximately $195.6 million for about 325 clients.

College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.) Retirement income strategy General tax planning Wealth management
Warmer team member

Not sure where to start?

We'll help you think it through — whether you ultimately need an advisor or not.

Warmer helps you compare advisors clearly — so you can choose with confidence.

Find your advisor

Warmer provides personalized recommendations and introductions to independent fiduciary advisors. We do not supervise advisors, manage or hold assets, guarantee performance, or provide advice about specific investments.

Each advisor listed on our site is an independent fiduciary responsible for their own advice. Warmer may receive fees from advisors for participation or referrals; these fees are paid by advisors and do not affect the fees clients pay for advisory services.

For advisor listings, we rely on sources including public filings and data provided by advisors, and we cannot guarantee that all information is current or accurate. Please review an advisor's Form ADV and do your own diligence before entering into an advisory relationship.

By using our service, you agree to Warmer's Terms of Service and Advisory Agreement and Privacy Policy. Logos provided by Logo.dev

© 2026 Warmer Holdings Inc. ("Warmer")