Stephanie Ayala
Advisor at Merrill
Data sourced from SEC public records (and other sources when available). Some details may be added by the advisor after claiming their profile. Refreshed daily • Updated today.
Advisor at Merrill
Data sourced from SEC public records (and other sources when available). Some details may be added by the advisor after claiming their profile. Refreshed daily • Updated today.
Location
New York, NY 10036
Credentials
Series 63, Series 65
Industry experience
6 years
Stephanie Ayala is a Financial Advisor based in Midtown Manhattan's Bank of America Tower, where she operates her own practice within Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. As an active partner of the Chau Gardner Group, Stephanie and her team have been recognized by Forbes magazine on the "Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams" list for 2024-2025. Her practice focuses on delivering customized portfolio construction and financial planning tailored to each client’s unique needs, emphasizing long-lasting relationships and personalized solutions.
With over a decade of experience in the financial services industry, Stephanie specializes in asset and wealth management, particularly serving corporate executives. She works closely with clients to grow their wealth, construct tax-efficient strategies for equity awards and compensation plans, and maximize their financial potential. Her areas of expertise include corporate benefits, divorce transition planning, education planning, family wealth management strategies, personal retirement planning, portfolio management, small business strategies, and tax minimization.
Stephanie holds a Bachelor's Degree in Economics from Syracuse University and has earned the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation. Outside of her professional work, she enjoys biking, cooking, hiking, interior decorating, music, running, spending time with her family, and practicing yoga.
Based on Merrill
$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)
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
One Bryant Park
New York, NY 10036
New York · Texas
Bank of AMerica, N.A.
2022 - Present (4 years)
Merrill
2022 - Present (4 years)
Wells Fargo Clearing Services, Llc.
2019 - 2022 (3 years)
Unemployed
2018 - 2019 (1 year)
Jpmorgan Securities, Llc.
2018 - 2018 (1 year)
Jpmorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
2018 - 2018 (1 year)
Pure Barre
2018 - 2018 (1 year)
North Western Mutual
2017 - 2017 (1 year)
Syracuse University
2013 - 2017 (4 years)
Exclamation point means they have disclosures of this type. Check mark means no disclosures of this type were found.
Is active or affiliated with:
Insurance agent
They sell insurance products and may earn commissions on those sales.
Broker-dealer / trader
They provide brokerage services and may earn transaction-based compensation in addition to advisory fees.
Bank
They're affiliated with a bank that may offer its own financial products and services.
Trust company
They provide trust and estate administration services, typically for separate fees.
Real estate agent
They facilitate real estate transactions and may earn commissions.
Other specialized services
They may provide services such as pension consulting or municipal advisory work, typically for separate fees.
Is not active or affiliated with:
Fund sponsor
They manage or sponsor investment funds and may earn management or performance-based fees if clients invest in them.
Accountant / CPA / tax prep
They offer tax and accounting services, typically for separate fees.
Lawyer
They provide legal services, typically billed separately.
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.
Warmer provides personalized recommendations and introductions to independent fiduciary advisors. We do not supervise advisors, manage or hold assets, guarantee performance, or provide advice about specific investments.
Each advisor listed on our site is an independent fiduciary responsible for their own advice. Warmer may receive fees from advisors for participation or referrals; these fees are paid by advisors and do not affect the fees clients pay for advisory services.
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. Please review an advisor's Form ADV and do your own diligence before entering into an advisory relationship.
By using our service, you agree to Warmer's Terms of Service and Advisory Agreement and Privacy Policy. Logos provided by Logo.dev
© 2026 Warmer Holdings Inc. ("Warmer")