Maziar Shams is a Managing Director and Wealth Management Advisor based in the Denver office of Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He joined Merrill Lynch in 1991 and holds the Certified Investment Management Analyst® (CIMA®) and Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor® (CPFA) designations. Shams serves as a Merrill Institutional Consultant, focusing on endowments, foundations, and nonprofit clients. He specializes in custom wealth planning and allocation strategies tailored for ultra-high net worth individuals, generational wealth, and family offices. Shams has substantial experience in using derivatives to achieve liquidity and diversification for holders of low-cost basis, concentrated, and restricted stock. Additionally, he and his team provide services to draft, execute, and review investment policy statements, implementing customized wealth management plans. Shams earned a Bachelor's Degree in Economics and International Affairs from the University of Colorado at Boulder and completed his graduate studies in Finance at the American Graduate School of International Management (Thunderbird) in Phoenix, Arizona. He speaks English, Persian, and French. His personal interests include biking, fishing, golfing, skiing, swimming, tennis, and traveling.