Bonita Springs, FL Office

Kristi Austin is a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, based in Madison, Wisconsin. She has more than 27 years of professional experience in the financial services industry, specializing in disciplines such as divorce transition planning, education planning, executive compensation, family wealth management strategies, personal retirement planning, portfolio management services, women and wealth, sports and entertainment, individual and corporate investment strategy, and retirement income. Kristi holds a bachelor's degree in Finance and Marketing from the University of Wisconsin at Madison. She approaches financial advising through a disciplined, plan-based process that involves understanding each client's financial situation, goals, objectives, and risk tolerance. She collaborates with clients to develop personalized strategies tailored to their individual needs and objectives, with the goal of helping them achieve financial success. Kristi also holds the professional designation of Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). Beyond her professional career, Kristi's commitment to respect, integrity, trust, and service is influenced by her parents, both military personnel. She has remained active in her community through involvement with organizations such as the Friends of University Hospital and Clinics, the National W Club, and the American Family Insurance Championship. Kristi played four years of collegiate basketball at the University of Wisconsin, served as president of the National W Club in 2012, and continues to participate competitively in golf. She and her husband Steve live in Middleton and are parents to their son Derek, a police officer at the University of Wisconsin.

Alexander Dall is a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management who specializes in retirement plan consulting for corporate and nonprofit retirement plans, including 401(k) and 403(b) plans. He works with plan trustees to help them meet their fiduciary responsibilities by leveraging his experience in investment consulting, plan design, and participant engagement. Alexander provides goals-based wealth management services to affluent families, executives, and business owners through the Cate Brunton Luc Group. His areas of focus include family wealth management strategies, portfolio management, socially responsible and ESG investing, special needs planning, corporate investment strategy, tax minimization, and retirement income. He holds a bachelor's degree from Indiana University Bloomington's Kelley School of Business and earned the Chartered Retirement Plan Counselor (CRPC) professional designation. Alexander is an active member of the Penrod Society and the Riley Advisors Council. He is involved with community organizations such as Our Lady of Grace Monastery and Third Phase, Inc. Outside of his professional work, he enjoys basketball, biking, boating, cooking, fishing, golfing, hiking, traveling, and spending time with family.

Andrew Gusho is a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He joined Merrill in 1986 and has accumulated over 37 years of experience in the financial advisory field. His practice emphasizes a disciplined, goals-based wealth management approach that considers clients' whole lives, including their financial goals, values, history, and attitudes towards investing. Andrew's areas of expertise include executive compensation, family wealth management strategies, legacy planning, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, tax minimization, and retirement income. He and his team, the Gusho Wallace Group, work to establish customized financial objectives and solutions tailored to clients' risk tolerance, time horizons, liquidity needs, and investment goals. Regular reviews are conducted to track progress and adjust strategies in response to life or business changes. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from the University of Utah and has earned the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC) designation awarded by The College for Financial Planning Institutes Corp. Andrew resides in Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin with his wife and is active in the community, including involvement with the House of Peace.

Gerald Jack is a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He has been with the firm since 1981 and holds the designation of Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). Gerald is a graduate of Buffalo State College, where he earned a bachelor's degree in economics. He has extensive experience in fixed income investments, with a primary focus on tax-free municipal bonds. His education and professional background enable him to assist clients in determining and implementing their long-term financial goals and objectives.

Justin Botham is a Wealth Management Advisor and First Vice President with the Duddingston Sylvester Group at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. Based in Minneapolis, he is a partner in a 13-member team that provides personalized financial advice and investment guidance for families at various stages of their financial journeys. Justin works closely with corporate executives and former business owners, particularly at significant financial inflection points such as managing company stock concentrations, planning for retirement within five years, and preparing for business sales to sustain income and cash flow in retirement. Justin holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP) designation awarded by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc., as well as the Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA) designation. He also carries credentials as a Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) and Senior Retirement Benefits Consultant (SRBC). Since beginning his career in wealth management in 2008, including five years as a Financial Advisor at Morgan Stanley, Justin has developed expertise in wealth planning, employee benefits planning, executive and equity compensation, and retirement benefits consulting. He helps clients construct detailed financial roadmaps aligning with their objectives, risk tolerance, timeframes, and lifestyle considerations. Justin earned his bachelor's degree in Finance from Iowa State University. Outside of his professional responsibilities, he lives in Orono, Minnesota, with his wife Megan and their two children. His personal interests include boating, cooking, gardening, racquetball, and spending summer weekends at the family cabin on Lake Minnetonka.

Timothy Long is a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, focusing on the financial and investment needs of institutions and high-net-worth families. He leads Long & Associates, providing a comprehensive range of wealth management services including investment management, asset allocation guidance, asset preservation, retirement strategies, and estate and legacy planning. He is also a member of Merrill Institutional Consulting™, a specialized group that assists institutional clients with investment management, consulting services, and philanthropic management. Tim has worked with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management since 1994 following a prior career with Mobil Oil. He holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan, an MBA earned Summa Cum Laude from St. John's University in New York, and the Certified Investment Management Analyst® (CIMA®) designation sponsored by the Investments & Wealth Institute™ at the Wharton School. He has been nationally recognized as a financial advisor, appearing on Barron's and Forbes lists of top wealth advisors and institutional consulting teams multiple times. He is active in community and professional organizations, serving as a Board Member for Hope College, Co-Chair of the Board of Governors at the Van Andel Institute, and Trustee for the Christian Schools International US Christian School Pension Plan and Trust Fund. In his personal time, Tim enjoys biking, football, reading, and running marathons.

Thomas Allers is a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. Since beginning his career in the financial services industry in 1982, he has focused on providing strategic advice to individuals, families, and businesses, aiming to align their short- and long-term financial goals. His areas of expertise include managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, individual and corporate investment strategy, and retirement income. Thomas holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®) certification and the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation. He earned a bachelor's degree in Accounting from the State University of New York at Buffalo. His educational background also includes attendance at the US Military Academy Preparatory School and two years at the US Military Academy at West Point. Thomas is affiliated with the professional organization Compass House and has contributed to his community as a youth softball coach for eight years. Outside of his professional commitments, Thomas enjoys spending time with his family, and his personal interests include billiards, bowling, golfing, photography, reading, and traveling. He resides in Williamsville, New York with his wife, Laurie, and has two daughters.

James Veldheer is a Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He serves institutional clients such as pensions, foundations, endowments, and high net-worth families, providing investment consulting and portfolio management services. His approach to wealth management is consultative and collaborative, following a continuous four-step process involving listening to client goals, recommending asset allocations, discussing a broad range of financial opportunities, and regularly reviewing portfolio performance and objectives. James holds a Bachelor's degree from Aquinas College and an Associate's degree from Grand Rapids Community College. He has earned the Certified Investment Management Analyst® (CIMA®) designation sponsored by the Investments & Wealth Institute® at the Wharton School and the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor™ (CRPC™) certification issued by the College for Financial Planning Institutes Corp. James is also a member of the Grand Rapids Sports Hall of Fame board. Residing in Grand Rapids, Michigan, James enjoys golfing, exercising, playing cribbage, watching NFL football, and spending time with his wife Mary and their seven grandchildren.

George Wolf is a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, where he has been serving clients since April 2007. He specializes in wealth management and financial strategies tailored for high net worth individuals, families, and business owners. George has particular expertise in assisting officers and directors of public companies with concentrated stock positions, including 144/restricted stock transactions, stock option strategies, and the implementation and design of 10b5-1 plans. He also collaborates with businesses to design and implement 401(k) plans. Prior to joining Merrill Lynch, George spent nine years at a regional broker-dealer, holding roles as an institutional sales trader and Vice President of Corporate and Venture Services. His professional credentials include the Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA) designation, Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Benefits Consultant (RBC). George holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Economics from SUNY Oneonta and an MBA from Russell Sage College. George’s client focus areas encompass corporate executive services, executive compensation, retirement income, family wealth management strategies, and services for endowments, foundations, and non-profits. He has been recognized on Forbes’s "Best-in-State Wealth Advisors" list in both 2022 and 2023. Outside of his professional work, George participates in community volunteer activities and enjoys baseball, golfing, and spending time with his family.