Cathy Bender
Advisor at Merrill
Data sourced from SEC public records (and other sources when available). Some details may be added by the advisor after claiming their profile. Refreshed daily • Updated today.
Advisor at Merrill
Data sourced from SEC public records (and other sources when available). Some details may be added by the advisor after claiming their profile. Refreshed daily • Updated today.
Location
Nashville, TN 37201
Credentials
Series 63
Industry experience
38 years
Cathy Bender is a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management with over 35 years of experience in the financial services industry. Since beginning her career in 1988, she has specialized in developing and implementing wealth management, preservation, and retirement strategies tailored to the unique goals of families, retirees, business owners, and corporate executives. Cathy’s planning-based approach integrates clients’ values and visions, focusing on delivering strategies aligned with their financial objectives, investment timelines, and risk tolerance. She holds the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC) and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designations and has been a licensed Securities Representative of the SEC and Insurance Agent in Tennessee since 1988.
A graduate of Vanderbilt University, Cathy was the first female in the institution’s women's basketball program to receive a full four-year athletic scholarship. She was inducted into the Vanderbilt Athletics Hall of Fame in 2015 and the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame in 2021. Cathy has held numerous leadership roles related to Vanderbilt, including serving on the Alumni Board and as president of the Association of Vanderbilt Black Alumni. Her civic involvement includes multiple appointments by Nashville mayors to the Metropolitan Sports Authority Board, where she currently serves as chair, an appointment by Governor Phil Bredesen to the Tennessee Ethics Committee, and membership in organizations such as Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and the International Women's Forum.
Cathy’s community engagement reflects her commitment to service and education. She volunteers extensively in the Nashville area and supports various boards and foundations. She resides in Hermitage, Tennessee, where she enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, listening to music, and basketball. Cathy’s professional philosophy centers around delivering care, consideration, and education to help clients achieve meaningful financial and personal goals.
Based on Merrill
$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)
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
222 2 Nd Ave S
Nashville, TN 37201
Tennessee · Texas
Bank of America, N.A.
2011 - Present (15 years)
Merrill
1987 - Present (39 years)
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