Akron, OH Embassy Pkwy Office

Patricia Orantek is a financial advisor at Merrill with 20 years of industry experience. She has held her current role at Merrill since 2009 and holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations. 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 a range of model-based and discretionary strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Clarisse Tur is a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. She joined Merrill in 2012 and holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP) designation along with the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) credential. Clarisse offers a disciplined, four-step wealth management process tailored to individual client needs, combining time-tested investment principles with flexibility to respond to changing economic conditions. She works with a team of specialists to help families, individuals, and business owners develop long-term financial strategies that address risk management, liquidity creation, education and retirement funding, and wealth transfer. Clarisse's expertise encompasses education planning, family wealth management, legacy planning, liquidity management, and socially responsible investing, among other areas. She applies a holistic approach rooted in scientific rigor, drawn from her academic background which includes a Ph.D. in Nuclear Physics from the University of South Carolina, an Executive MBA from Cleveland State University, and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Paris. Before entering wealth management, she held roles in technical marketing and research science, producing numerous scientific publications. Fluent in English, French, Turkish, and German, Clarisse embraces Merrill’s tradition of community involvement. Her personal interests include biking, drawing and sketching, golfing, hiking, painting, reading, swimming, and traveling. She works closely with clients to develop personalized financial strategies that align with their long-term goals.

James Carpas is a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, specializing in personalized wealth management strategies. He focuses on family wealth management, legacy planning, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, portfolio management, and retirement income. James collaborates closely with clients to develop financial strategies tailored to their long-term goals. He holds a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Akron and has earned professional designations as a Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC) and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). In addition to his advisory role, James is actively involved in community service, volunteering with local organizations. Outside of work, he enjoys biking, running, skiing, and spending time with his family.

Pebble Willoughby is a financial advisor at Merrill with 24 years of industry experience. He has been with Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith since 1998 and holds a Series 66 designation. Merrill, along 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 plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Harrison Orendorf is a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He specializes in family wealth management strategies, services for endowments, foundations, and non-profits, liquidity management, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, portfolio management services, tax minimization, and retirement income. He works closely with clients to simplify and organize their financial lives by identifying and prioritizing their goals and developing personalized plans to help achieve them. Harrison is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional and holds additional designations including CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). He earned both his Bachelor's degree and Master's degree in Business Administration with a focus on accounting from the University of Dayton. Outside of his professional work, Harrison values spending time with his family and engages in personal interests such as golfing and skiing. He also maintains a commitment to community involvement, volunteering with local organizations.

Charles Freeman is a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He began his financial services career in 1981 and is a qualified Portfolio Manager. Charles provides personalized financial strategies, managing discretionary portfolios that may include individual stocks, bonds, model portfolios, and third-party investment strategies. He holds the designations of CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER®, CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR, Personal Investment Advisor, and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor. Charles earned a Bachelor's Degree in Finance from The University of Akron. His client focus areas include Family Wealth Management Strategies, Legacy Planning, and Personal Retirement Planning. Outside of his professional role, Charles is actively involved in his community. He has volunteered with organizations such as the Medina School Board of Education, Medina Breakfast Kiwanis Club, Akron Junior Achievement, and Goodwill Industries of Akron. Currently, he volunteers with Akron Children's Hospital. His personal interests include boating, reading, running (including marathons), and spending time with his family.

Elizabeth Goldthwaite is a financial advisor at Merrill with Series 63 and Series 65 designations and 43 years of industry experience. Her career includes prior roles at Morgan Stanley Private Bank, Morgan Stanley, Bank of America, and an earlier tenure at Merrill. She is based in Akron, OH. 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 a range of model-based and discretionary investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Mark Pylypiak is a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He specializes in creating personalized wealth management strategies tailored to each client’s unique financial goals and priorities. His expertise encompasses legacy planning, retirement income, philanthropic planning, socially responsible and ESG investing, tax minimization, and portfolio management services. Mark is committed to providing unbiased, professional advice while maintaining open and honest communication with his clients. With a focus on understanding the full financial picture, Mark works closely with clients to assess liquidity, evaluate risks, and develop long-term investment strategies. He emphasizes the importance of disciplined investing and the timely adjustment of portfolio holdings based on market conditions and individual circumstances. Mark holds professional designations including CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). He earned a Bachelor's Degree from Cleveland State University. Outside of his professional work, Mark participates in youth sports in his community. He enjoys baseball, fishing, and spending time with his family. His approach is guided by the principle that understanding a client’s life priorities is essential to delivering financial strategies designed around their goals and aspirations.

Patricia Papes is a financial advisor with Merrill in Akron, OH, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 39 years of industry experience. She has been with Merrill since 1987 and also has experience with Bank of America since 2009. Outside of her advisory role, she is a general partner of 1820 LLC. 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.

Kenneth Cunningham is a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management with over 37 years of experience in the financial services industry. Since joining Merrill in 2009, he has focused on developing tailored financial strategies and investment portfolios to help individuals, families, and businesses achieve their short- and long-term financial goals. Ken and his team serve high net worth clients with an emphasis on living a worry-free retirement through a holistic and personalized approach. Ken holds a bachelor's degree in Finance from Kent State University and has earned several professional designations, including Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Benefits Consultant (RBC). His expertise encompasses areas such as college education planning, divorce transition planning, family wealth management, socially responsible investing, tax minimization, and retirement income planning. He is involved in his community through support of the Brecksville-Broadview Heights High School Boys Basketball program. Outside of work, Ken enjoys basketball, fishing, football, golfing, music, soccer, spending time with his family, traveling, and watching movies.

Ziggy McPeters is a Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, where he works closely with individuals, families, and professionals to help them make informed financial decisions. He focuses on creating personalized strategies by understanding what matters most to each client. His areas of expertise include college education planning, family wealth management strategies, personal retirement planning, individual and corporate investment strategy, tax minimization, and retirement income. Ziggy takes the time to get to know his clients and collaborates with them to develop plans that align with their goals. He holds the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation and has a Bachelor's Degree from The University of Akron. Beyond his professional role, Ziggy is involved in the Magic City Kiwanis community organization. In his personal time, he enjoys activities such as football, golfing, hiking, pickleball, reading, running, skiing, spending time with his family, and writing.

William Kiick is a Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, where he works with individuals and families to develop and implement financial strategies tailored to their specific objectives and risk tolerance. His expertise includes wealth management, investment strategy, asset and liability management, wealth transfer, legacy planning, and retirement benefits consulting. He holds several professional designations, including CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® (CFP), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor™ (CRPC), and CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA). He earned a bachelor's degree in Economics and Finance from York College of Pennsylvania. Kiick is actively involved in his community and professional organizations, including Christ the Redeemer Lutheran Church, the Humane Society of Summit County, and the Rotary Club of Lakewood/Rocky River Sunrise. He also participates in community service through the American Red Cross and the Rotary Club of Lakewood/Rocky River Sunrise.

Michelle Vance is a financial advisor at Merrill with 26 years of industry experience. She has been with Merrill Lynch since 1996. In addition to her advisory role, she serves as the executor of the Estate of Teddy R Vance. 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 serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations using model-based and discretionary investment strategies.

Tiffany Safran is a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. In her role, she provides financial advisory services to clients, leveraging her expertise in wealth management. She holds the professional designation of Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), which supports her advisory capabilities. Tiffany earned her Bachelor's Degree from The University of Akron. Further details regarding her experience, personal interests, or community involvement have not been provided.

Sarah Courtad is a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management and a member of The Courtad Group, a team specializing in Goals Based Wealth Management. She collaborates closely with high net worth families to develop customized wealth management strategies addressing college education planning, retirement income, legacy planning, tax minimization, and other areas central to clients' financial goals. Sarah holds a Bachelor's Degree from The Ohio State University and carries professional designations including Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC) and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). Her approach focuses on creating tailored financial plans that align with clients' lifetime goals, emphasizing long-term planning and personalized portfolio management. Active in her community, Sarah participates in organizations such as the Junior League of Cleveland, Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank, and Blessings in a Backpack. Outside of work, she enjoys soccer, attending Ohio State football games, traveling, cooking, and spending time with her family.