James M Orders II

Advisor at Merrill — Baltimore, MD International Dr

Updated today

Credentials

Series 63, Series 65

Experience

31 years

Location

Baltimore, MD 21202

Merrill logo

Merrill

Institution

Total advisors

25,448

Across 3,107 offices

Clients per advisor

70 Very Low

Avg AUM per client

$860,085 Very High

HNW client ratio

29% High

About

James Orders II is a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, joining the firm in 1994. He is a member of the Roche Hans Orders Group, where he focuses on corporate retirement plans, including 401(k) and defined-contribution plans, servicing high-net-worth clients as well as managing the team's fixed-income investments. His client base includes successful business owners, physicians, retirees, wealthy families, and endowments in Baltimore, Maryland, and nationwide.

James holds a Bachelor's degree in Sociology and Education from Roanoke College. He has earned multiple professional designations, including CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (CFP), Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA), Certified 401(k) Professional (CKP), CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), and Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC). He works closely with clients, their accountants, and attorneys to keep tax minimization and estate planning strategies aligned with investments and liabilities.

James resides in Arnold, Maryland, with his wife and their three children. His personal interests include boating, fishing, reading, and spending time with his family.

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 Retirement income strategy General retirement planning General estate planning guidance Tax-loss harvesting

Demographic focus

Married/Couples/Partners Parents Established Professionals Baby Boomers (Born 1946-1964)

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Fee options

Commissions

SEC-reported: Commissions on certain transactions, including foreign securities and fixed income; mark-ups, markdowns and dealer spreads may apply to some trades.

Location

See office

Baltimore, MD International Dr

100 International Dr

Baltimore MD 21202

Advisors at this office

46

Most active in

Maryland · Texas

Work history

31 years of industry experience

Bank of America, N.A.

2011 - Present • 15 years

Baltimore, MD

Merrill

1994 - Present • 32 years

Baltimore, MD

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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Michael R

Series 65

Towson, MD

Legacy Financial Advisors

Michael Riley is a financial advisor at Legacy Financial Advisors with two years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 credential and has prior experience at Eisneramper Wealth Management Corporate Benefits LLC, Prosperity - An EisnerAmper Company, and Future Plan By Ascensus. Outside of finance, he owns and operates a comic book business, writing, drawing, producing self-published comics, and managing online sales and show appearances. Legacy Financial Advisors serves individuals, families, trusts, retirement plan sponsors, and business entities with financial planning, investment management, retirement plan advisory, and business consulting. The firm employs a disciplined, goals-based investment process using strategic asset allocation, diversification, and regular portfolio evaluations, with a focus on retirement plan fiduciary services and business consulting.

General retirement planning College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.) Life insurance needs analysis Long-term care insurance Business ownership considerations Founder/Business Owner Executive

Michael H

CFP®, Series 63, Series 66

Ellicott City, MD

Forty W Advisors

Michael Hoffman is a CFP® with 18 years of industry experience, currently serving as Co-Managing Director of Forty W Advisors. He previously worked at Verdence Capital Advisors and held roles at Hightower Securities and Hightower Advisors. Forty W Advisors delivers comprehensive wealth management across three critical areas: financial administration, proactive tax-aware planning, and investment management with institutional access. Together, these services help align your personal wealth, family priorities, and business strategy into one coordinated plan, with the goal of reducing complexity and maximizing post-tax wealth.

Wealth management Equity compensation tax strategy Business sale tax planning Trust structures (GRAT, IDGT, revocable) Charitable giving tax strategies Self-Employed Executive Retired Mid-Career Professionals Established Professionals Retired

Scott L

Series 63, Series 65

Baltimore, MD

Equitable Advisors

Scott Latshaw is a financial advisor with Equitable Advisors, LLC in Baltimore, MD, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 33 years of industry experience. He has worked at Stifel Independent Advisors since 2011. Equitable Advisors serves a diverse client base including individuals, corporations, trusts, and municipal entities, offering brokerage and investment advisory services. The firm uses a collaborative planning process with proprietary market models to develop tailored asset allocation recommendations and provides a range of services under both brokerage and fiduciary agreements. Latshaw Wealth Management's low fee framework utilizes a flat 0.50% fee based on assets under management. A simple low fee designed to maximize long-term return potential.

General retirement planning Income planning Wealth management Active portfolio management Options & derivatives strategies Founder/Business Owner Retired Executive Approaching retirement Baby Boomers (Born 1946-1964)
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Stanley L

Series 65

Baltimore, MD

DocEmpowered, LLC

Stanley Liu is the principal of DocEmpowered, LLC, a fee-only financial advisory firm based in Baltimore, MD. He holds a Series 65 designation and has one year of industry experience. Prior to founding DocEmpowered in 2023, he worked for eight years at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. In addition to his advisory role, Mr. Liu practices part-time as a non-invasive cardiologist. DocEmpowered, LLC provides comprehensive financial planning and consulting primarily for physicians and their adult household family members. The firm emphasizes long-term, passive investment strategies based on Modern Portfolio Theory and behavioral finance, offering project-based and ongoing services without discretionary management or custody of assets.

Cash flow / budgeting College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.) Doctor or Medical Professional
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James F

Series 63, Series 66

Towson, MD

Baltimore Avenue Investments, LLC

James Funck is the sole advisor at Baltimore Avenue Investments, LLC in Towson, MD, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses with 23 years of industry experience. He has worked at Investors Security Co Inc since 2002 and founded Baltimore Avenue Investments in 2012. Baltimore Avenue Investments provides discretionary portfolio management and financial planning services to individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm employs a combination of charting, fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis with both long- and short-term strategies, including short sales, margin transactions, and options writing.

Active portfolio management Options & derivatives strategies General tax planning
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Diepriye B

Series 66

Owings Mills, MD

Gramel Capital Management LLC

Diepriye Briggs is a financial advisor at Gramel Capital Management LLC with 18 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has worked at Gramel Capital Management since 2008, with prior experience at Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. and OGR Investment & Trust Co Ltd. Briggs also serves as a director of a Nigerian investment adviser. Gramel Capital Management serves individual investors, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations by providing financial planning and discretionary portfolio management. The firm’s approach focuses on fundamental security analysis and a generally conservative strategy tailored to each client’s financial situation, risk tolerance, and time horizon.

General tax planning Wealth management Passive / index investing
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