Shawn D Sladek

Advisor at Merrill — Walnut Creek, CA N California Blvd

Updated today

Credentials

Series 66

Experience

28 years

Location

Walnut Creek, CA 94596

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

Shawn Sladek is a Wealth Management Advisor and the founder and leader of The Sladek Thompson Group, a wealth management team based in The San Francisco Bay Area. He has been with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management since 1997 and has received national recognition, including being named on Forbes’ “America’s Top Wealth Advisors State by State” list for five consecutive years from 2018 to 2022.

Shawn specializes in providing personalized, strategic financial advice to high-net-worth individuals. His expertise includes discretionary portfolio management, stock option analysis, retirement planning, hedging and monetization of concentrated equity positions, life insurance analysis and funding, as well as wealth preservation and transfer services. He also regularly speaks at Merrill’s advanced training programs on topics such as wealth planning, asset allocation, and estate planning.

He holds a Bachelor's degree in Economics and Business from The University of Arizona and has earned the Certified Investment Management Analyst® (CIMA®) designation, administered by the Investments & Wealth Institute™ in conjunction with The Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. Shawn and his family are active in philanthropy, dedicating significant time to organizations including The Food Bank of Contra Costa County where they reside. He also participates in community organizations such as the San Ramon Valley Little League and the University of Arizona Rugby Club.

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 Active portfolio management Stock option exercise strategy Retirement income strategy General estate planning guidance

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

Walnut Creek, CA N California Blvd

1331 N California Blvd

Walnut Creek CA 94596

Advisors at this office

100

Most active in

California · Texas

Work history

28 years of industry experience

Bank of America, N.A.

2011 - Present • 15 years

Walnut Creek, CA

Merrill

1997 - Present • 29 years

Walnut Creek, CA

Disclosures

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

Business activities & affiliations

Andrew R

CFP®, Series 65

Clayton, CA

Investment Growth Management, Inc.

Andrew Redlick is a CFP® with 12 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Investment Growth Management, Inc. He has been with the firm since 2014, including its predecessor entity, and holds a Series 65 license. Investment Growth Management, Inc. is a long-established registered investment adviser dedicated to helping a select group of clients build, preserve, and achieve their most meaningful financial goals. The firm manages client portfolios through long-term, diversified asset allocation tailored to each client’s goals and risk tolerance, and is notable for its regular client communications and ongoing educational presentations.

Cash flow / budgeting Retirement income strategy General retirement planning Wealth management Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Founder/Business Owner Retired Approaching retirement Retired Christian Faith Based HENRY (High Earners, Not Rich Yet)
user avatar

Richard P

Series 66

El Cerrito, CA

Sowell Management

Richard Patrick is a financial advisor at Sowell Management with 22 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has worked at Sowell Management since 2020, following a prior role at Naples Asset Management Company, LLC. Sowell Management is a fee-based registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plans, corporations, registered investment advisers, and institutions. The firm offers investment management, financial planning, retirement-plan advisory, and related consulting services through a multi-branch independent-contractor model with over 100 advisors.

Wealth management Income planning Factor investing / smart beta Retirement income strategy Self-Employed Approaching retirement
user avatar

Louis R

Series 66

San Ramon, CA

OSAIC

Louis Romero III is a financial advisor with OSAIC in San Ramon, CA, holding a Series 66 designation and 19 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Lincoln Financial Advisors Corporation for nine years and MetLife Securities Inc. for one year. Outside of advisory work, he owns and operates Sentinel Wealth Strategies, providing financial planning and annuity sales. OSAIC Wealth, Inc. is an SEC-registered investment adviser and FINRA member broker-dealer serving a diverse client base, including individual investors, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a technology-driven investment process and offers a wide range of advisory programs and investment options through a large network of financial advisers.

Annuities Founder/Business Owner Executive Retired
user avatar

Lydia I

Series 65

Oakland, CA

FM Capital Group

Lydia Idem is a financial advisor with FM Capital Group in Oakland, CA, holding a Series 65 designation and 11 years of industry experience. FM Capital Group provides investment advisory and consulting services to individuals, groups, corporations, and other business entities, offering portfolio management and handling due diligence and negotiation of private investment term sheets. The firm follows a strategic allocation approach across public securities and alternative investments and distinguishes itself by charging performance-based fees on private placements and producing educational content such as workshops and radio broadcasts.

Private / alternative investments Founder/Business Owner

Dave B

CFP®, CFA®

Orinda, CA

Private Financial Management LLC

Dave's experience in investment management and financial planning uniquely position him to serve as his client's independent trusted advisor - a personal chief financial officer that can discreetly navigate the tides affecting your financial life. ​ Professional highlights include portfolio management on Union Bank municipal investment team which earned recognition as the best in the industry by Barron's in 2008 and 2009; lead investment management responsibility at a $300M financial planning firm; and working with amazing entrepreneurs, executives, and families. ​ David's education includes a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation, a Certified Financial Planning (CFP) designation, and a U.C. Berkeley bachelor's degree where he conducted a study on evidenced based investment management with Haas Professor of Investments David Distad. ​ David launched PFM to continue building upon his vision of complete personal financial management: discreet and unwavering focus on how expert financial management can help a client achieve her goals. From setting and achieving goals, to preparing you for all of life's contingencies and investing for your future - David helps his client's understand what they should be doing, and then helps them get it done.

Business ownership considerations Technology Professional Founder/Business Owner Intergenerational Families
user avatar

Cassandra C

Series 63, Series 65

Oakland, CA

RC Wealth Management

Cassandra Cummings is a financial advisor with RC Wealth Management in Oakland, CA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 19 years of industry experience. She has led RC Wealth Management since 2015. In addition to her advisory role, she provides financial literacy services through online courses and in-person events. RC Wealth Management serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, small businesses, and certain nonprofit organizations with financial planning, investment consulting, and portfolio management. The firm emphasizes fundamental analysis, downside risk mitigation, and capital preservation, offering primarily nondiscretionary portfolio management alongside educational seminars and business consultation services.

Cash flow / budgeting Debt management College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.) General retirement planning General estate planning guidance
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")