William Smith is a financial advisor at Merrill with Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 29 years of industry experience. He has worked at Merrill since 2006 and previously spent nine years at Morgan Stanley DW Inc. Smith is a limited partner in ABS Investments 803 LLC, a for-profit business focused on property management. Merrill, together with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program. The firm offers model-based and discretionary strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Huy Nguyen is a financial advisor with Merrill in Houston, TX, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and four years of industry experience. Prior to joining Merrill, he worked at Texas Bay Credit Union and CUSO Financial Services, LP. He has also been involved in entrepreneurial ventures, including ownership roles in fitness-related businesses such as Crossfit Zeke LLC and Suite Time Fitness, LLC. Merrill, along with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, delivers managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program, offering model-based and discretionary investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Logan Cheak is a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management and a key member of The Cheak Group. Since joining the team in 2018 alongside his father, he has focused on assisting clients with personal retirement and college education planning, as well as developing wealth management strategies tailored to families and individuals. Logan supports The Cheak Group’s goals-based approach to financial planning, emphasizing customized strategies that address tax minimization, retirement income, estate considerations, and long-term care. A native Texan, Logan earned his Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Marketing from Texas Tech University in 2017. He holds the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation and is affiliated with the professional organization Lambda Chi Alpha. In addition to his professional work, Logan participates in community activities including involvement with the South Plains Food Bank. Outside of work, he enjoys playing golf and softball, drawing and painting, and following Houston and Texas Tech sports.

Cristobal Moreno is a Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He focuses on providing personalized financial strategies tailored to each client's unique goals and circumstances. Moreno's expertise includes college education planning, legacy planning, liquidity management, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, socially responsible and values-based investing, sports and entertainment, tax minimization, and retirement income. He holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designations. He earned his Bachelor's Degree from Baylor University. Outside of his professional role, Moreno enjoys various sports such as baseball, basketball, chess, football, pickleball, running, soccer, tennis, as well as spending time with his family and watching movies.

Douglas Sobotik is a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He specializes in developing personalized financial strategies that align with clients' individual goals and the dynamic conditions of today’s market. Leveraging the investment insights of Merrill and the banking services of Bank of America, he focuses on comprehensive wealth management tailored to each client's unique financial picture. Douglas holds the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation. His educational background includes an Associate's Degree from San Jacinto College, coursework completed at the University of Houston System, and a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Phoenix. Committed to community involvement, he participates in volunteer activities within the local area, reflecting Merrill’s tradition of serving the communities where clients live and work.

Duane Bolpa is a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in Houston. In this role, he assists clients in developing long-term wealth plans and focuses on areas including college education planning, corporate executive services, executive compensation, equity compensation services, family wealth management strategies, women and wealth, tax minimization, and retirement income. He aims to collaborate with clients to create personalized plans based on their life priorities, family, goals, and aspirations. Duane holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Accounting and Finance from the University of Houston. He has been in the financial services industry for 22 years and has been with Merrill Lynch since 2007. He also holds the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation. Outside of his professional work, Duane serves as Chairman of the Board at Magnolia Creek Golf Club. His personal interests include golfing, cooking, music, dining out, and spending time with his family.

Sally Praker is a financial advisor at Merrill with 42 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been with Merrill since 2011. Outside of her advisory role, she owns Stray Cat Fishing Charters, a for-profit fishing charter business based in Dickinson, Texas. Merrill, together with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program. The firm offers model-based and discretionary investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

David Cheak is a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, where he has served since 1990. His work focuses on helping clients, including retirees, widows, business owners, and those approaching retirement, to determine long-term financial goals and develop customized financial strategies. David emphasizes areas such as college education planning, personal retirement planning, tax minimization, and retirement income. After serving as Branch Manager and Senior Resident Director of the Houston-Clear Lake branch for 17 years, he returned to focusing solely on his financial advisory role in December 2021. David holds a Bachelor’s degree in business from The University of Texas at Austin, earned in 1980, and an MBA from The University of Houston-Clear Lake, completed in 1988. He is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® certificant, a designation awarded by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc., and also holds the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation. He began his financial services career in 1988 with a regional brokerage firm in the Clear Lake area before joining Merrill Lynch. In addition to his professional commitments, David has lived in the Clear Lake area since 1968 and is a member of the Bay Oaks Country Club. His personal interests include golfing, tennis, and traveling. He expresses a philosophy of working one-on-one with clients to develop personalized financial strategies tailored to their long-term goals.

Kyle Ruszkowski is a Senior Financial Advisor and a member of the Katcher/Ruszkowski/Fisher Group at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in Clear Lake, Houston. He joined the team in 2020, shortly after earning his bachelor's degree in Business Management from the University of Arkansas. The group focuses on providing wealth management services with extensive expertise in retirement and investment planning. His client focus areas include college education planning, family wealth management strategies, legacy planning, liquidity management, managing new wealth, and retirement income. Kyle holds professional designations including CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). The Katcher/Ruszkowski/Fisher Group was ranked on the Forbes Best in State Wealth Management Teams in 2023 and 2024. Outside of his professional work, Kyle's personal interests include adventure sports, fishing, music, scuba diving, and traveling.

Jason Demers is a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. In this role, he collaborates with Merrill's firm-wide resources to design and deliver wealth management services tailored to a select group of high net worth families. Jason's approach involves understanding clients' full financial picture and developing personalized strategies aimed at helping them pursue their long-term financial goals. Jason began his career with Merrill Lynch in 1995 and brings over 20 years of experience in the financial industry. He holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® certification from the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. and has earned the Wealth Management Advisor designation. He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance and Economics from Stephen F. Austin State University. Outside of his professional work, Jason is involved with community organizations including the American Heart Association and BNI. He resides in Seabrook with his wife, Allie, and their three children. His personal interests include golfing, tennis, and traveling.

Steven Katcher is a financial advisor at Merrill with 39 years of industry experience. He has been with Merrill since 1986 and has also worked at Bank of America, N.A. since 2011. Katcher holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials. Merrill, together with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program. The firm offers model-based and discretionary investment strategies developed by internal teams and third-party managers, serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Micheal Fisher is a Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill Lynch specializing in wealth management and retirement benefits consulting. He joined the Clear Lake Merrill Lynch Wealth Management office in 2005 and focuses his practice on corporate cash, 401(k) and profit-sharing plans, as well as individual accounts. Micheal holds multiple professional designations, including CFP®, ChFC®, C(k)P®, CRPS™, CPFA®, and CRPC™, and is a qualified Portfolio Manager capable of managing personalized investment strategies on a discretionary basis through the firm's Investment Advisory Program. Micheal earned a Bachelor's degree from Kansas State University and has been recognized on the Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Advisors" list for three consecutive years: 2024, 2025, and 2026. His client focus areas include college education planning, divorce transition planning, family wealth management strategies, personal retirement planning, small business strategies, tax minimization, and retirement income strategies. Outside of his professional work, Micheal is actively involved in aviation and skydiving communities, holding memberships in the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association and the United States Parachute Association, where he serves as a PRO Demo Jumper, Tandem Instructor, Coach, and Safety & Training Advisor. His community involvement includes performing skydiving demonstrations for charity. Micheal's personal interests include hiking, music, and skydiving.

Kevin Ruszkowski is a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He has been in the financial services industry since 1987 and joined Merrill Lynch in 1990. Kevin focuses on developing strategies for high-net-worth individuals, their families, and their businesses to pursue both short- and long-term financial goals. His approach is consultative, emphasizing personalized financial strategies based on a thorough understanding of each client's financial situation, preferences, and objectives. Kevin’s expertise includes portfolio management, retirement planning, corporate benefits, executive compensation, and investment consulting for defined benefit and contribution plans. As a qualified Portfolio Manager, he provides traditional advice as well as manages personalized or defined strategies that may incorporate individual stocks, bonds, Merrill Lynch Wealth Management model portfolios, and third-party investment strategies. He holds professional designations including CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Benefits Consultant (RBC). Kevin earned a Bachelor's Degree in Business Management from the University of Arkansas, where he was a four-year letterman on the swim team. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his wife Stacey and their sons Kyle and Cole, engaging in activities such as fishing and scuba diving. Kevin also participates in community volunteering, following the Merrill tradition of community involvement.

Maxwell Stover is a Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management and a member of the Ruszkowski Fisher Group. Based in Houston, he provides personalized wealth management strategies tailored to each client's financial goals. Maxwell focuses on areas including college education planning, family wealth management, legacy planning, retirement income, and socially responsible investing, among others. Maxwell grew up in Corpus Christi, Texas, and earned a bachelor's degree in economics from Texas A&M University Corpus Christi. Following his graduation in 2011, he relocated to Houston to pursue a career as a financial advisor, joining Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in 2015. He holds professional designations including CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). In addition to his professional work, Maxwell participates in community activities such as volunteering with Houston Cares Animal Rescue. Outside of work, he enjoys camping, cooking, fishing, hiking, music, reading, skiing, and spending time with his family.

Stephanie Tamburello is a financial advisor with Merrill in Houston, TX, holding Series 63 and Series 66 designations and 15 years of industry experience. She has been with Bank of America and Merrill since 2014. Merrill, together with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program, offering model-based and discretionary investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional investors.

Kristin Haynes is a Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. She specializes in helping clients align their financial lives with what matters most to them through thoughtful planning and real dialogue, creating financial plans tailored to their unique needs. Kristin's expertise spans college education planning, family wealth management, legacy planning, personal retirement planning, and socially responsible investing, among other areas. She works closely with clients to navigate financial changes with empathy and professional guidance. Kristin holds a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Houston and professional designations including CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® (CFP), Chartered Special Needs Consultant (ChSNC), and CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA). Her approach emphasizes fiduciary responsibility, risk-managed investments, and support for families through major life events and special needs planning. In addition to her professional work, Kristin participates in community organizations such as the American Heart Association, Bay Area Turning Point, and Houston Food Bank. Her personal interests include baseball, cooking, dancing, golfing, hiking, music, reading, spending time with family, traveling, and writing.

Cynthia Kelley is a financial advisor with Merrill in Houston, TX, holding a Series 66 designation and 24 years of industry experience. She has worked at Merrill since 2005 and has been affiliated with Bank of America, N.A. since 2015. Merrill serves a diverse client base, including individuals, retirement plans, corporations, and institutional clients, providing managed account programs, discretionary portfolio management, brokerage execution, and custody services. The firm emphasizes manager selection and tax-efficient investment strategies and leverages its integration with Bank of America affiliates to support a broad range of financial services.

Daryl Fontenot is a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He oversees and coordinates the financial affairs for a select group of individuals, families, and businesses in the Houston area and across the country. His client focus includes services for defined benefit plans, investment consulting for defined contribution plans, personal retirement planning, portfolio management services, and retirement income. Daryl assists affluent families, retirees, successful business owners, and corporate executives who value a strategic approach and the resources his team provides. Daryl holds a Master’s Degree from the University of Houston and a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Texas. He holds several professional designations, including CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (CFP), CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). His professional affiliations include membership in the Rotary Club of Baytown, the Lee College Board of Regents, the Lee College Foundation, and Bay Area Homeless Services. He is actively engaged in his community, volunteering and fundraising for organizations such as United Way of Greater Baytown and Chambers County, Bay Area Homeless Services, Rotary Club of Baytown, and serving on the Lee College Board of Regents. Outside of work, Daryl’s interests include baseball, genealogy, and traveling. He works closely with clients to develop personalized financial strategies aimed at helping them pursue their long-term goals.

Michael Landolt is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with Merrill in Houston, TX, with 23 years of industry experience. He has worked at Merrill since 2006 and Bank of America, N.A. since 2011. Landolt serves as a director or board member for several nonprofit organizations, including the Friends of the Evelyn Meador Library and the Clear Lake Lunar Rendezvous Festival. Merrill, together with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program, offering model-based and discretionary investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Justin Neal is a Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He specializes in creating personalized wealth management strategies designed around his clients' life priorities, collaborating to align financial plans with what matters most to individuals and their families. Justin leverages the investment insights of Merrill and the banking and lending solutions of Bank of America to provide comprehensive portfolio management and financial planning services. His client focus areas include retirement income, legacy planning, socially responsible and ESG investing, tax minimization, college education planning, and individual and corporate investment strategies. With a Bachelor’s Degree from Colorado School of Mines and professional designations as a Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC) and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), Justin has developed a breadth of knowledge in personal, business, and advanced financial planning strategies. He aims to build lasting relationships by supporting generational wealth creation and transfer while managing portfolios designed to perform across various economic conditions. Justin serves diverse clients including high-net-worth professionals, helping them to retire successfully and maintain long-term financial stability. Beyond his professional role, Justin is actively involved in community organizations such as Baytown Broncos Youth Football, the CIS Board, East Harris County Empowerment Council, Faith and Family Church, GCCISD, Holy Family Catholic Church, and Knights of Peter Claver. He enjoys personal interests including basketball, billiards, fishing, football, golfing, painting, reading, running, traveling, and writing.

Kirk Lippert is a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, based in Clear Lake, Texas, where he has served clients for 18 years. He brings a comprehensive approach to wealth management, focusing on personalized strategies that align with clients’ long-term financial goals. His areas of expertise include education planning, retirement income, philanthropic planning, investment consulting for defined contribution plans, tax minimization, and portfolio management services. Kirk emphasizes collaboration with clients to develop flexible strategies responsive to evolving market conditions, leveraging the resources of Merrill and Bank of America. Kirk’s professional background spans over two decades as a Certified Public Accountant, a credential he earned in 1983 following his graduation from the University of Kansas with a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting and Business Administration. His accounting career and global experiences—in Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, and The Netherlands—inform his advisory approach. He holds several financial designations including CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). Active in professional and community initiatives, Kirk is a member of the Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants and has contributed leadership through roles such as Chairman of the Houston Chapter of CPAs Bay Area Satellite Group and participation on the City of Friendswood Texas Community & Economic Development Committee. Outside his professional life, Kirk enjoys baseball, golfing, and spending time with his family.