Avalon, NJ Office

James Wallace is a Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, based in the Wayne, Pennsylvania office. He has worked in the financial services industry since 1987, bringing several decades of experience to his role. Prior to joining Merrill Lynch in January 2011, he served as a Wealth Management Advisor with Morgan Stanley and UBS Financial Services. Early in his career, he gained experience at Bloom Egan, a trading firm on the Philadelphia Stock Exchange, and later worked on the Option Strategies Desk at Butcher & Singer. Additionally, he formed a partnership with his wife, Nancy, known as the Wallace Rainer Group. Mr. Wallace holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Wheeling Jesuit University. He also holds the designation of Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). Beyond his professional commitments, James Wallace is involved in community activities, serving on the Gentleman's Committee for the Devon Horse Show and volunteering at the Radnor Hunt Club.

Andrew Lavelle is a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, based in the Greater Philadelphia area. He serves clients nationwide, including successful executives, business owners, and real estate investors, providing comprehensive wealth management services. His approach integrates portfolio management, lending strategies, tax mitigation, and estate planning into personalized plans designed to improve financial outcomes and reduce complexity. Andrew and his team specialize in areas such as college education planning, family wealth management strategies, liquidity management, philanthropic planning, small business strategies, individual and corporate investment strategies, and tax minimization. As a Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA®) professional and a Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), he supports business owners in preparing and executing transitions through sales, recapitalizations, or succession plans. His team includes professionals with CFA® and CFP® designations and senior advisors with over 40 years of experience. He holds a Bachelor's Degree and a Master of Business Administration (MBA), both from the University of Scranton. Andrew is involved in community support through the Military Support & Assistance Group (MSAG) at Bank of America. His team has been recognized as a Top Wealth Management Team in Pennsylvania by Forbes in 2023, 2024, and 2025.

Mary Thompson is a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, where she has been providing services since 2006. She assists clients in aligning their financial strategies with their personal goals and priorities, including home purchases, education planning, divorce transitions, retirement security, and legacy planning. Mary incorporates clients' liquidity needs, risk tolerance, and time horizons into her approach and, for some clients, integrates sustainable or impact investments to support positive change and potentially enhance risk-adjusted returns. Mary collaborates closely with business owners and plan sponsors in establishing, implementing, and reviewing employee benefit plans. She holds the Retirement Benefits Consultant (RBC) designation, contributing to one of the highest levels of expertise within the firm for retirement plans. Her professional credentials include the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor™, Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor®, and Chartered SRI Counselor™ designations. A graduate of The Pennsylvania State University, Mary resides in Wayne, Pennsylvania with her husband and three children. She is actively involved in her children's schools and participates in her community as a member of Saint Katharine of Siena Church and School.