Karen Renee Shaw

Advisor at Merrill — Lufkin, TX S Medford Dr

Updated today

Credentials

Series 66

Experience

25 years

Location

Lufkin, TX 75901

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

Karen Shaw is a financial advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. She returned to Merrill Lynch in 2025 to partner with Brian Zbylot, focusing on assisting clients in achieving their financial goals.

With more than 25 years of experience in the financial services industry, Karen specializes in retirement planning, estate strategies, and education funding. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from Stephen F. Austin State University, earned in 1998. Additionally, she has obtained the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (CFP) designation, the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC) designation, and possesses an insurance license.

Outside of her professional work, Karen is a member of the Tyler County Aggie Moms. She enjoys antiquing, gardening, spending time with her family, and traveling.

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

General retirement planning General estate planning guidance College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.)

Demographic focus

Married/Couples/Partners Parents Sandwich Generation

Not sure if this advisor is right for you?

Answer a few questions to see advisors matched to you.

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

Lufkin, TX S Medford Dr

4100 S Medford Dr

Lufkin TX 75901

Advisors at this office

8

Most active in

Texas

Work history

25 years of industry experience

Bank of America, N.A.

2025 - Present • 1 year

Lufkin, TX

Merrill

2025 - Present • 1 year

Lufkin, TX

RBC Capital Markets, LLC

2016 - 2025 • 9 years

Lufkin, TX

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

Deborah C

CFA®

Lufkin, TX

Akros Investments, Inc.

Deborah Castellani is a CFA® charterholder with 23 years of industry experience, currently serving at Akros Investments, Inc. She has worked in consulting since 2000 and is president of OTB Strategic Consulting, Inc., a financial and non-financial consulting firm. Akros Investments, Inc. primarily serves institutional clients and plan sponsors, offering retirement-plan oversight, fiduciary governance, and asset-allocation-based portfolio management. The firm provides consulting and educational programs, including women-focused financial education, alongside asset management and co-fiduciary services.

Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Business exit / sale strategy Cash flow / budgeting Founder/Business Owner Executive Self-Employed Attorney Financial Professional Women Professionals
user avatar

Claudia V

Series 65

Lufkin, TX

11 Financial

Claudia Valladares is a financial advisor at 11 Financial in Lufkin, TX, holding a Series 65 designation with seven years of industry experience. She has worked at 11 Financial since 2018 and was previously with Envoy Advisory Inc. and Commercial Bank of Texas. 11 Financial provides portfolio management, financial planning, and education services primarily to individual and high-net-worth clients, as well as corporate clients. The firm uses a combination of fundamental and technical analysis alongside modern portfolio theory to tailor strategies to client goals and risk tolerance.

Options & derivatives strategies Annuities Doctor or Medical Professional Founder/Business Owner
user avatar

Taylor K

CFP®, Series 66

Lufkin, TX

11 Financial

Taylor Kovar is a CFP® with 12 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at 11 Financial since 2015. He previously worked at Envoy Advisory Inc. from 2022 to 2024. Outside of advising, Kovar is involved in several business ventures including real estate development, digital marketing, outdoors apparel, frozen treats, and coffee shops. He also serves as an adjunct professor at Stephen F. Austin State University during select spring semesters. 11 Financial provides portfolio management, financial planning, and education services primarily to individual and high-net-worth clients, as well as corporate clients. The firm combines fundamental and technical analysis with modern portfolio theory, offering tailored investment strategies that include both long-term allocations and more active trading approaches.

Options & derivatives strategies Annuities Doctor or Medical Professional Founder/Business Owner
user avatar

Joseph C

Series 63, Series 65

Lufkin, TX

11 Financial

Joseph Ceasar is a financial advisor with 15 years of industry experience, currently serving at 11 Financial as part of a six-advisor team. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has previously worked at Kovar Wealth Management, Semita Asset Management, and Investors of the Kingdom LLC. Ceasar is also the president of the board of directors for the Legacy Institute for Financial Education, a nonprofit organization. 11 Financial provides portfolio management, financial planning, and education services primarily to individual and high-net-worth clients, as well as corporate clients. The firm employs a combination of fundamental and technical analysis alongside modern portfolio theory, offering tailored investment strategies that include both long-term allocations and active trading approaches.

Options & derivatives strategies Annuities Doctor or Medical Professional Founder/Business Owner
user avatar

Ashlyn R

Series 65, Series 63

Lufkin, TX

Commonwealth Financial Network

Ashlyn Reece is a financial advisor with Commonwealth Financial Network, holding Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and seven years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Raymond James & Associates, Woodlands Securities Corporation, and The Advanced Financial Group. She is also involved in fixed insurance sales alongside her advisory work. Commonwealth Financial Network is a dual-registered broker/dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser that supports a national network of approximately 2,900 advisors and manages over $212 billion in client assets. The firm offers a broad platform of managed-account programs, access to third-party asset managers, and a variety of investment options.

Passive / index investing Active portfolio management Tax-loss harvesting Wealth management Retirement income strategy Founder/Business Owner Executive Retired
user avatar

Alexis P

Series 66

Diboll, TX

Sanctuary Advisors, LLC

Alexis Pigg is a financial advisor at Sanctuary Advisors, LLC with 13 years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and previously worked at Bank of America and Merrill. Outside of her advisory role, she serves as President of the Junior League of Lufkin, overseeing the board and community service projects focused on women and children in the Lufkin/Angelina County area. Sanctuary Advisors, LLC provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, corporations, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations. The firm supports more than 400 independent investment adviser representatives who manage accounts through various programs, employing multiple analytical approaches and offering both discretionary and non-discretionary management options.

Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Cash flow / budgeting General retirement planning
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

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. Advisors are independent and may not have reviewed or updated this information. Please review an advisor's Form ADV and do your own diligence before deciding whether to work with them.

Advisor matching and referrals are provided by FinanceHQ LLC ("FHQ"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Warmer and an SEC-registered investment adviser. We may be compensated by participating advisors. You pay no fee to use our matching service, and advisor fees are not increased because of a referral. We do not supervise advisors, manage or hold assets, guarantee performance, or provide advice about specific investments.

By using our service, you agree to the Warmer Terms of Service and FHQ Advisory Agreement, and acknowledge Warmer's Privacy Policy. Please review FHQ's ADV Part 2A and Form CRS. Logos provided by Logo.dev

© 2026 Warmer Holdings Inc. ("Warmer")