Brian Zorda

Advisor at Merrill

Updated today

Location

North Beach Haven, NJ

Credentials

Series 63, Series 66

Industry experience

23 years

About

Brian Zorda is a Wealth Management Advisor and Senior Vice President with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He co-founded Branch-Zorda Wealth Management and holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® (CFP®) certification, awarded by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. Brian began his career in financial services in 2001 with the banking arm of a large European financial firm and shifted his focus to wealth management in 2003 before joining Merrill Lynch in 2008.

Brian specializes in balancing individual investment details with disciplined, strategic investment management. He oversees portfolio analysis and investment manager selection to develop customized asset allocation strategies tailored to clients' risk tolerances, resources, and financial goals. His expertise also includes assisting business owners in understanding employer retirement plan options for the self-employed and small businesses, as well as reviewing potential estate planning and wealth transfer issues.

He graduated with honors from Siena College. Brian lives in New Jersey with his wife and two children, and enjoys traveling, spending time at the beach, and creating new experiences with his family. He has been named to the Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Advisors" list from 2022 through 2026, and to the Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams" list as a member of Branch-Zorda Wealth Management Group from 2023 through 2026.

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

Wealth management Passive / index investing Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Business ownership considerations General estate planning guidance

Occupation focus

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

North Beach Haven, NJ

Most active in

Connecticut · New Jersey · New York · Texas

Work history

Bank of America, N.A.

2011 - Present (15 years)

Merrill

2008 - Present (18 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

Mary C

Series 63

Brant Beach, NJ

Barnegat Bay Capital Management LLC

Mary Coughlin is the sole advisor at Barnegat Bay Capital Management LLC and holds a Series 63 designation with 21 years of industry experience. She has been with Barnegat Bay Capital Management since 1998. Barnegat Bay Capital Management provides investment supervisory services, occasional financial planning, and one-time portfolio reviews to a range of clients including individuals, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm combines a single-manager structure with an institutional investment background and uses fundamental, charting, and cyclical analysis to tailor portfolios according to client goals and risk tolerance.

Wealth management Passive / index investing Private / alternative investments
user avatar

Donald B

Series 63

Harvey Cedars, NJ

MPI Wealth Management LLC

Donald Burnaford is a financial advisor at MPI Wealth Management LLC with 52 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 63 designation and has worked previously at Copper Beech Financial Group, American Portfolios Financial Services, and Osaic Wealth. Outside of his advisory work, he is an independent insurance agent specializing in fixed annuities and life, accident, and health insurance. MPI Wealth Management provides discretionary investment management and sub-advisory services to a range of institutional and individual clients, including pension plans, banks, corporations, charitable organizations, and high-net-worth families. The firm employs a combination of quantitative techniques, technical and fundamental analysis, and macroeconomic research to tailor portfolios aligned with client objectives.

Active portfolio management Options & derivatives strategies Tax-loss harvesting
user avatar

Kurt L

PFS™, Series 63

Absecon, NJ

IP Financial Advisory Services LLC

Kurt Lawn is a financial advisor with IP Financial Advisory Services LLC, holding the PFS™ designation and Series 63 license, with 27 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Avantax Investment Services, Inc. for eight years and Royal Alliance Associates for ten years. In addition to his advisory role, he provides individual and business income tax preparation and accounting services. IP Financial Advisory Services primarily serves individual retail clients, offering portfolio management, financial planning, managed account programs, and retirement-plan consulting. The firm emphasizes customized portfolio construction and a range of analytic approaches, with a focus on non-high-net-worth individuals.

Business succession planning Charitable giving & philanthropy Income planning Long-term care insurance Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Founder/Business Owner Executive
user avatar

Kenneth D

CFP®, Series 63

Long Beach Twp, NJ

Summit Financial, LLC

Kenneth Durfee is a CFP® with 34 years of industry experience, currently serving at Summit Financial, LLC since 2018. He previously worked with Summit Equities, Inc. and Summit Financial Resources, Inc. for 27 years. In addition to his advisory role, he manages KDD15 LLC, providing investment advisory and financial planning services. Summit Financial, LLC offers investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, corporations, pension and profit-sharing plans, and charitable organizations. The firm combines discretionary managed portfolios with advisor-directed programs and reported approximately $15 billion in client assets as of December 2024.

Tax-loss harvesting Private / alternative investments Wealth management Business exit / sale strategy Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Founder/Business Owner Retired
user avatar

Rj A

Series 63, Series 66

Galloway Township, NJ

VOYA Financial Advisors, Inc.

Rj Amato III is a financial advisor with Voya Financial Advisors, Inc. and holds the Series 63 and Series 66 licenses. He has been in his current roles since 2025 and also has prior experience with Amato Strategic Advising, LLC. Outside of finance, he has been involved with Spirit Halloween since 2014. Voya Financial Advisors serves a diverse client base, including individual investors, retirement plans, municipalities, charities, and institutions. The firm offers portfolio management, financial planning, retirement plan advisory, and brokerage services, combining model portfolios, third-party managers, and proprietary tools through its network of Investment Adviser Representatives.

General retirement planning Retirement income strategy Cash flow / budgeting Social Security optimization Retired Founder/Business Owner Executive Approaching retirement Retired
user avatar

Kristine W

Series 66

Manahawkin, NJ

Primerica Advisors

Kristine Wiley is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with 16 years of industry experience. She is currently affiliated with Primerica Advisors and has previously worked with Guardian Life Insurance Company and Park Avenue Securities LLC. Outside of her advisory role, she is a registered New Jersey notary public. Park Avenue Securities LLC serves a diverse retail client base, offering both brokerage and advisory services along with financial and business consulting. The firm employs a range of investment strategies through proprietary models, third-party managers, and digital advice platforms, supporting various account types and lending solutions.

Business exit / sale strategy Tax-loss harvesting Self-Employed Founder/Business Owner
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")