Joseph Balsamo is a Senior Resident Director and Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in Portsmouth, NH. With over 37 years of experience in financial services, he specializes in providing financial advice and guidance to individuals and families. Joseph focuses on understanding clients' priorities to design and implement customized wealth management strategies that help pursue personal financial goals while managing investment risk. He serves as Senior Vice President of the Merrill Lynch office and employs a high touch client service model to review performance and progress frequently. Before joining Merrill in 2005, Joseph spent 20 years in corporate banking, underwriting and managing highly leveraged complex transactions. His background reflects a passion for entrepreneurship, capital markets, risk management, and financial planning. His areas of expertise include college education planning, family wealth management strategies, legacy planning, retirement income, socially responsible investing, and tax minimization. Joseph holds several professional designations including CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). He earned a Bachelor's degree from the University of Massachusetts System. Joseph is involved in his community through service on the Seabrook Beach Village Planning Board. He and his wife, JoeAnn, have been married for 33 years and live on the New Hampshire Seacoast with their two sons and dogs. His personal interests include biking, golfing, skiing, and traveling.