Michael Christopher Payne

Advisor at Merrill — Manasquan, NJ Highway 35

Updated today

Credentials

Series 63, Series 65

Experience

43 years

Location

Manasquan, NJ 08736

Merrill logo

Merrill

Institution

Total advisors

25,610

Across 3,239 offices

Clients per advisor

70 Very Low

Avg AUM per client

$860,085 Very High

HNW client ratio

29% High

About

Michael Payne is a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, bringing over four decades of experience since joining the firm in 1983. Based in Monmouth County, where he has lived since 1984, Michael specializes in creating long-term financial plans and strategies for a diverse and loyal client base. His areas of focus include college education planning, divorce transition planning, family wealth management strategies, legacy planning, liquidity management, personal retirement planning, philanthropic planning, portfolio management services, tax minimization, and retirement income.

Michael holds a Bachelor's Degree from Seton Hall University and maintains an ongoing connection with his alma mater. He is a Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) and contributes to the development of future financial advisors as a faculty member for Merrill Optimal Practice Management (OPM). His commitment to community service is reflected in his roles on nonprofit boards, including serving as Vice Chair of the American Red Cross of Central New Jersey and Committee Chair for Board Development. Michael has also been recognized multiple times on the Forbes “Best-in-State Wealth Advisors” list from 2018 through 2025.

Outside of his professional career, Michael enjoys biking, golfing, and traveling. He values educating clients and their families to promote financial literacy and long-term success.

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 Tax-loss harvesting Charitable giving & philanthropy

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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

Manasquan, NJ Highway 35

2504 Highway 35

Manasquan NJ 08736

Advisors at this office

29

Most active in

New Jersey · Texas

Work history

43 years of industry experience

Bank Of America, Na

2009 - Present • 17 years

Manasquan, NJ

Merrill

1983 - Present • 43 years

Freehold, NJ

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

Thomas M

Series 63, Series 65

Toms River, NJ

Asset Management Services Group, Inc.

Thomas Mcneill is a financial advisor with Asset Management Services Group, Inc. in Toms River, NJ, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 38 years of industry experience. He has worked at Asset Management Services Group, Inc. since 1996 and has been self-employed since 1978. Asset Management Services Group, Inc. advises individual and business clients and manages risk-focused mutual fund and variable annuity portfolios used in various retirement and tax-advantaged accounts. The firm combines Modern Portfolio Theory with an active Price Trend Management process, providing daily oversight and market timing to manage downside risk, and serves employer-sponsored and pension-type plans alongside individual investors.

Active portfolio management
user avatar

Dennis O

Series 66

Farmingdale, NJ

Coastal Financial Advisors, Inc.

Dennis O'Brien is a financial advisor at Coastal Financial Advisors, Inc. with 22 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has been involved in business consulting through Coastal Business Services, LLC, where he serves as president. Coastal Financial Advisors, Inc. is an independent, fee-only registered investment adviser serving individuals, corporations, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations. The firm offers comprehensive financial planning and portfolio management with a goal-based, individualized investment approach, and also provides fiduciary services for ERISA retirement plans and nonprofit endowments.

General retirement planning College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.) Cash flow / budgeting
user avatar

James M

Series 65, Series 66

Wall Township, NJ

Miller Wealth Management

James Miller Jr. is a financial advisor at Miller Wealth Management with Series 65 and Series 66 designations and one year of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Sikich, LLP, Propeller Industries, LLC, Escalon Services, and ADP, Inc. Miller Wealth Management provides investment management and financial planning services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and businesses. The firm employs a fee-only fiduciary approach, using a combination of passive and active strategies tailored to each client, and offers both discretionary and non-discretionary arrangements.

Cash flow / budgeting College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.) Retirement income strategy Founder/Business Owner
user avatar

Howard S

CFP®, Series 63

Wall, NJ

Integrated Asset Management, Inc.

Howard Shemitz is a CFP®-designated financial advisor with 22 years of industry experience. He has been with Integrated Asset Management, Inc. since 1991. Integrated Asset Management, Inc. offers discretionary and non-discretionary investment advisory services and financial planning to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and pension plan sponsors. The firm provides portfolio management, retirement plan consulting, and participant education, using a range of investment strategies including equities, fixed income, mutual funds, ETFs, and specialized asset allocation models for plan participants.

Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.) Retirement income strategy
user avatar

Mark S

CFP®

Lakewood, NJ

Choice Asset Management LLC

Mark Samel is a CFP® professional with 19 years of industry experience. He is the sole advisor at Choice Asset Management LLC, an independent registered investment adviser based in Lakewood, NJ. In addition to his advisory role, he has taught at Yeshivat Keter Torah since 2012. Choice Asset Management provides ongoing portfolio management and advisory services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, foundations, trusts, and corporate pension and profit-sharing plans. The firm emphasizes a systematic asset-allocation approach using primarily mutual funds and ETFs, tailoring portfolios to client objectives and risk parameters.

Private / alternative investments Real estate investing
user avatar

Chaim G

Series 65

Lakewood, NJ

Lakewealth Capital, LLC.

Chaim Gewirtz is a financial advisor at Lakewealth Capital, LLC with eight years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has worked at Lakewealth Capital since 2018, as well as B & H Investing, LLC since 2010. Lakewealth Capital provides discretionary investment management and advisory services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and business entities. The firm employs a model-driven, quantitative investment approach emphasizing factor-driven and special-situation stock selection combined with tactical asset allocation and adaptive hedging.

Factor investing / smart beta Active portfolio management
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