Crystal Bilderback

Advisor at Merrill

Updated today

Location

Merrillville, IN 46410

Credentials

Series 66

Industry experience

< 1 year

About

Crystal Bilderback is a Team Financial Advisor – Business Development I at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. She specializes in a range of client focus areas including education planning, family wealth management strategies, services for endowments, foundations, and non-profits, legacy planning, managing new wealth, philanthropic planning, small business strategies, special needs planning strategies, women and wealth, and tax minimization.

With over 18 years of experience in healthcare leadership, Crystal brings a unique perspective to financial advising, emphasizing advocacy, trust, and clear communication. Prior to joining Merrill, she worked in clinical and operational management, skills she applies to helping families and businesses achieve their financial objectives and plan confidently for future generations. She holds a Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation and a Bachelor of Science degree from Purdue University.

Outside of her professional role, Crystal enjoys boating, camping, cooking, hiking, music, reading, and traveling with her husband and two daughters. She also spends time caring for their pets and backyard flock.

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

College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.) General estate planning guidance Charitable giving & philanthropy Family Business Tax strategies for small businesses

Occupation focus

Based on Merrill

Executive Founder/Business Owner

Demographic focus

Women Professionals

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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

707 E 80 Th Pl

Merrillville, IN 46410

Most active in

Indiana · Texas

Work history

Bank of America, N.A.

2025 - Present (1 year)

Merrill

2025 - Present (1 year)

Curo Health Services

2023 - 2025 (2 years)

VNA of NWI

2017 - 2023 (6 years)

Purdue University

2016 - 2017 (1 year)

American Senior Communities

2015 - 2017 (2 years)

Dunes Hospice LLC

2014 - 2017 (3 years)

Disclosures

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

Business activities & affiliations

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Scott P

Series 63, Series 66

Crown Point, IN

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Scott Pederson is a financial advisor with Harmony Wealth Management LLC in Crown Point, Indiana. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has 29 years of industry experience, including 22 years at Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. and Charles Schwab Bank before founding his current firm in 2019. Harmony Wealth Management is an independent asset management and financial planning firm serving individuals, trusts, corporations, retirement plans, tax-exempt entities, and government clients. The firm emphasizes quantitative portfolio optimization and efficient-frontier analysis in its investment process and offers a distinctive service mix that includes predominantly non-discretionary asset management and educational client workshops.

Active portfolio management Options & derivatives strategies Concentrated stock management
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CFP®, Series 63, Series 65

St. John, IN

Smart Choice Financial Planning, Inc.

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Annuities General tax planning Cash flow / budgeting
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Justin M

CFP®, Series 66

Valparaiso, IN

Bridge Financial Planning, LLC

Justin Mccurdy is a CFP® professional with seven years of industry experience, currently serving at Bridge Financial Planning, LLC since 2022. Prior to this, he worked at HighTower Securities, LLC and HighTower Advisors LLC from 2018 to 2022. His background also includes roles at the ND Deloitte Center for Ethical Leadership and Riverbend Cancer Services. Bridge Financial Planning serves individuals, charitable organizations, corporations, and business owners, providing investment management alongside comprehensive and project-based financial planning. The firm offers retirement-plan advisory and business-focused planning services, with investment management delivered through tailored discretionary portfolios that incorporate tax and liquidity considerations and utilize third-party sub-advisers and model strategies.

College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.) Cash flow / budgeting Business exit / sale strategy Founder/Business Owner Executive
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Michael M

Series 66

Valparaiso, IN

Pinnacle Financial Group LLC

Michael Mullen is a financial advisor at Pinnacle Financial Group LLC with eight years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at firms including Merrill and Mass Mutual Investors Services. In addition to his advisory role, he operates an independent insurance practice. Pinnacle Financial Group provides investment advice primarily to individual clients, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary asset management along with financial planning services. The firm employs a combination of fundamental analysis and Monte Carlo planning techniques and conducts quarterly account reviews.

General retirement planning Cash flow / budgeting Wealth management Tax strategies for small businesses
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Douglas S

Series 66

Schererville, IN

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Douglas Santefort is the owner and president of Santefort Investment Group, LLC, with 21 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at Madison Avenue Securities, Inc. from 2007 to 2018. Outside of his advisory work, he serves on the board of the Elim Christian Services Foundation. Santefort Investment Group advises individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, business entities, and employer-sponsored retirement plans. The firm offers discretionary asset management, retirement-plan consulting as a 3(21) fiduciary, public educational seminars, and sells fixed insurance products, employing a blend of fundamental, technical, charting, and cyclical analysis with support from third-party managers and platforms.

Active portfolio management Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Options & derivatives strategies
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Kally T

Series 65

Merrillville, IN

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Kally Tsangaris is a financial advisor at RCS Financial Advisors, Ltd with 27 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 65 designation and has led RCS Financial Advisors since 1993. Prior to founding the firm, she has a background in banking and private banking. RCS Financial Advisors, Ltd provides discretionary asset management services to individuals, custodial accounts, corporations, IRAs, and trusts. The firm uses a fundamental analysis-based investment process and employs both long- and short-term strategies across various asset classes, maintaining a hands-on operational approach with centralized oversight of related-person trading.

Wealth management
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