Robert Ward is the Senior Resident Director at Merrill, leading the Riverhead Merrill Lynch Wealth Management office since 2018. He has over 30 years of experience in the financial services industry, including 17 years in banking and 12 years as a branch manager. Since joining Merrill in 2015, he has focused on serving the wealth management needs of business owners, entrepreneurs, and affluent individuals by developing tailored strategies to address both short- and long-term financial goals. Bob holds multiple professional designations including Chartered Financial Consultant®, Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor®, and Retirement Benefits Consultant, enabling him to provide fiduciary services and oversee corporate retirement plans as well as nonprofit endowment and foundation assets. His expertise encompasses areas such as divorce transition planning, family wealth management, legacy planning, and philanthropic planning. In addition to his professional work, Bob serves on the boards of East End Arts and Riverhead Rotary, and supports organizations such as Big Brothers Big Sisters of Long Island and Junior Achievement. He has received the Presidential Volunteer Award three times and was recognized as Man of the Year by Big Brothers Big Sisters in 2011. Bob resides in Manorville with his wife Laura and their two children and enjoys boating, golf, skiing, mountain biking, and photography.