Independent advisors focused on family business in the US

Edward Blatz is a Senior Resident Director and Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He specializes in working with high net-worth families and closely-held businesses, focusing on estate and wealth management strategies. Edward partners closely with clients’ tax advisors and estate planning attorneys to provide a comprehensive approach to managing both financial and personal aspects of their lives. His services include performance assessment, personalized guidance, and periodic reviews to help clients progress toward their individual financial goals. Edward joined Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in 1985 and has over 40 years of experience developing tailored financial solutions that consider clients’ risk tolerance, time horizon, liquidity needs, and investment objectives. His areas of expertise encompass college education planning, divorce transition planning, employee benefits, executive compensation, family wealth management, managing new wealth, investment strategies, and retirement income. Edward holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Adelphi University and has earned several professional designations, including CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). Edward is also a member of The Blatz-Rooney Group, which was named to the 2024 Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams" list. Outside of his professional work, he has personal interests in golfing, reading, and tennis.

Eric Scovill is a financial advisor at Storehouse Wealth Management, LLC with seven years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at Bedrock Digital Asset Management, MML Investors Services, and Mass Mutual Life Insurance. Outside of advising, Scovill is co-owner of Bedrock Digital Asset Management and YouAre Launched LLC, a business consulting and syndication company. Storehouse Wealth Management provides multi-family office services, investment management, and fee-based financial planning primarily to high-net-worth individuals, trusts, and small business owners. The firm uses computer models, economic research, and ongoing monitoring to manage diversified portfolios and offers family-office services including estate and tax planning, philanthropic guidance, and business consulting.

Robert Mainello is a CFP® professional with over 10 years of experience in the financial industry. He has worked at Waldron Private Wealth since 2022 and previously held roles at Wells Fargo Bank and SEI Investments. Outside of his advisory work, he owns a sports marketing business that arranges paid public appearances for professional athletes around the Philadelphia area. Waldron Private Wealth is a multi-team registered investment adviser serving individual and high-net-worth clients, as well as trusts, estates, retirement plans, and charitable organizations. The firm uses a strategic asset allocation approach with a diverse mix of investment vehicles, including alternative allocations and less-liquid strategies, supported by ongoing portfolio monitoring and rebalancing.

Christian Nelson is a financial advisor at IEQ Capital, LLC with 20 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 63, Series 65, and Series 66 designations. Prior to joining IEQ Capital in 2019, he worked at First Republic Securities Company and First Republic Investment Management from 2015 to 2019. IEQ Capital provides discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management and advisory services primarily to high-net-worth individuals, families, trusts, foundations, and private funds. The firm’s investment approach includes centralized macro and manager research, use of independent managers, and allocation to liquid and private alternative investments.

Robert Neuman is a financial advisor with FIDERE Advisors in Minnetonka, MN, holding a Series 65 designation and five years of industry experience. Before joining FIDERE, he worked at Boulevard Wealth Management and spent over two decades at Koch Petroleum Group and Marathon Petroleum Co. FIDERE Advisors provides advisory services to individuals, trusts, estates, pension and profit-sharing plans, and small businesses. The firm emphasizes long-term strategic portfolio allocation, primarily recommending mutual funds and ETFs, and offers financial planning, discretionary portfolio management, family-office and business advisory, insurance advisory, and research and valuation projects.

Jared Fruth is a financial advisor at Northwest Asset Management with four years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and previously worked at Securities America, Inc., KMS Financial Services, Inc., Oppenheimer Funds, and John Paul Mitchell Systems. Northwest Asset Management is a registered investment adviser managing approximately $3.6 billion for nearly 3,000 clients, including individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charities, and corporations. The firm employs a customized, fiduciary approach using Modern Portfolio Theory and strategic asset allocation, combining fundamental and technical analysis to build diversified portfolios with periodic rebalancing.

Edwina Martin is a financial advisor at Waverly Advisors, LLC with two years of industry experience. She holds a Series 65 designation and previously worked at 9258 Wealth Management for five years and Teradata Corp for eleven years. In addition to her advisory role, she serves as assistant director of tax planning at 9258 Tax and Planning. Waverly Advisors, LLC is an SEC-registered enterprise adviser serving individuals, corporations, retirement plans, and pooled investment vehicles. The firm offers discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and fiduciary services, employing a combination of centralized and customized investment strategies across traditional and alternative asset classes.

Craig Mcdaniel Jr. is a financial advisor with Capital Investment Advisory Services, LLC in Columbia, SC. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 13 years of industry experience. He has been with Capital Investment Group, Inc. and The McDaniel Corporation since 2012. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved in life insurance sales and serves as an independent agent for annuities and related products. Capital Investment Advisory Services, LLC provides investment advisory and supervisory services to individuals, retirement plans, corporations, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations. The firm offers customized investment management through discretionary mandates, third-party managers, and private-label model portfolios, using a blend of analytical methods with ongoing portfolio monitoring.

David Hart is a financial advisor with Safeguard Investment Advisory Group, LLC, holding a Series 65 credential and 15 years of industry experience. He has worked with Safeguard since 2020 and previously held roles at LifePro Asset Management, LLC, Martin and Associates Insurance Services, Inc., and Martin Wealth Management, LLC. Hart is also a Certified Financial Fiduciary and volunteers as an instructor with the Foundation for Fiduciary Education (NACFF), providing unbiased fiduciary financial education. Safeguard Investment Advisory Group, LLC serves individual, high-net-worth, institutional, and business clients, offering discretionary portfolio management, access to third-party sub-advisers, and fee-based financial planning. The firm employs a fundamental-analysis investment process with a preferred horizon of two to ten years and manages over $600 million across approximately 1,800 client relationships.

Sarah Currier Barrella is a CFP®-certified financial advisor with 26 years of industry experience. She is currently with Santander Securities LLC and Santander Bank, NA, having previously worked at TD Bank and Citizens Securities, Inc. Barrella holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. Santander Securities LLC provides investment advisory and related services to a diverse client base, including individuals, corporations, charitable organizations, retirement plans, and institutional clients. The firm offers wrap-fee advisory programs and financial planning services, delivering investment advice through the FMAX managed-account platform with discretionary portfolio management and ongoing suitability reviews.