Charleston, WV Lee St E Office

Anthony Watts serves as a Senior Financial Advisor within Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. In his role, he provides financial guidance and investment strategies to clients, leveraging his expertise as a Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). He holds a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Charleston. This educational background supports his professional qualifications and role in advising clients on wealth management.

Austin Rosencrance is a Senior Financial Advisor at Hardy, Smith, Cross & Associates, part of Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He joined the team in October 2017, where he focuses on investment administration of client accounts, servicing retirement plans including 401(k) plans, and maintaining client relationships. Austin attained a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from West Virginia University and a Master of Science degree in Banking and Finance from the University of Nottingham in Nottingham, England. He holds professional designations including CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). His expertise includes family wealth management strategies, liquidity management, managing new wealth, portfolio management services, individual and corporate investment strategy, tax minimization, and retirement income. He resides in Charleston with his wife, Kenzie, and their two daughters. Outside of work, Austin enjoys running, spending time with his family, traveling, and cheering the Mountaineers to victory.

Marie Parsons is a financial advisor with Merrill in Charleston, WV. She holds a Series 66 designation and has 16 years of industry experience, including over 20 years with Merrill. 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 model-based and discretionary investment strategies for a range of clients including individuals, high-net-worth investors, pension plans, and charitable organizations.

Ronald Murad is a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He holds professional designations as a Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) and a Retirement Benefits Consultant (RBC). Ronald earned his Bachelor's Degree from West Virginia University. His expertise includes investment management and retirement planning, reflecting his credentials and role in wealth management. Additional personal interests or community involvement information has not been provided.

Lyle Smith is a financial advisor at Merrill with 14 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at Bank of America, N.A. and Merrill since 2015, in addition to his ongoing role at United Bank since 1999. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as vice president of Kanawha Roxalana Company, a family-owned land company involved in commercial property management, and he is a committee member and chair of the investment committee at the CAMC Foundation. 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, offering model-based and discretionary investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

James O'Connor is a financial advisor with Merrill, holding a Series 66 designation and 19 years of industry experience. He has worked with Bank of America and Merrill since 2011. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved in fundraising for the YMCA in Charleston, West Virginia. 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 model-based and discretionary investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

J Willis is a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He specializes in family wealth management strategies, legacy planning, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, and portfolio management services. With over 40 years of experience, Willis guides clients through complex financial environments, focusing on developing comprehensive wealth management strategies that include investment selection and the efficient transfer of business ownership and individual wealth. Willis joined Merrill in 1987 and has built trusted, long-term relationships with clients, now serving third and fourth generation families. Before his career in financial advising, he owned a specialty advertising company that utilized hot air balloons for promotional purposes and was a commercial pilot involved in balloon sales, training, and adventure flights. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing and Finance from Marshall University in 1980 and holds the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation. Willis lives in Charleston, West Virginia, with his wife Becky. They have two sons, James and Robert, who have pursued careers in dentistry and business, respectively.

James Ball is a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He works directly with clients to develop personalized financial strategies tailored to their long-term goals. His approach centers on understanding each client's full financial picture and creating flexible plans that respond to changing market conditions, leveraging investment insights from Merrill and solutions from Bank of America. James’s areas of expertise include investment consulting for defined contribution plans, personal retirement planning, portfolio management services, and retirement income. He holds multiple professional designations, including CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Benefits Consultant (RBC). James earned his bachelor's degree from West Virginia University. Outside of his professional work, James participates in community volunteering consistent with Merrill’s tradition of service. His personal interests include biking, golfing, pickleball, and tennis.

Otis O'connor Jr. is a Senior Financial Advisor specializing in financial strategies, retirement, and legacy planning for individual clients and their families. He also works with business retirement plans and provides access to commercial lending through Bank of America. As a founding member of the O'Connor & Associates team, he focuses on individual portfolio strategies for growing client wealth and retirement plans, complemented by lending solutions for medical practices and commercial and residential clients. Otis has a deep understanding of the financial needs of healthcare professionals, including financing start-ups or growing practices, debt restructuring, equipment financing, and retirement plans. His previous career was in healthcare management, where he served in multiple administrator roles for multi-specialty physician practices and surgery centers in the Carolinas and West Virginia. He is an active member of the Charleston Estate Planning Council and earned the Eagle Scout award in his youth. He holds a Bachelor's Degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University and a Master's Degree from Virginia Commonwealth University. Otis possesses the CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA) designations. His approach is founded on connecting all aspects of clients' financial lives to help prioritize and pursue their most important goals.

Collin Cornell is a Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He holds the Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA) designation from the Investments & Wealth Institute and has completed an Accredited Certificate Program from the Yale School of Management. His professional registrations include FINRA Series 7, 63, and 65. Collin's expertise encompasses portfolio management, retirement planning, business planning, philanthropic planning, wealth preservation, and transfer strategies. He applies institutional-level investment principles, emphasizing disciplined portfolio design, strategic asset allocation, and evidence-based investment decision-making. Collin works with a diverse client base that includes individuals, families, businesses, corporations, foundations, and non-profits to help navigate complex financial decisions through customized strategies and long-term planning. He is a member of the Charleston Estate Planning Council and participates in community activities with organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, River Ridge Church, and Special Olympics.

Sarah Trippe is a financial advisor at Merrill with 12 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at Merrill and Rockefeller Capital Management. Merrill, along with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients through its Select Portfolio Solutions Program, offering model-based and discretionary investment strategies for a range of clients including individuals, high-net-worth investors, and institutional plans.

Christian Perez is a Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. In his role, he focuses on understanding the unique priorities of his clients to develop personalized financial strategies aligned with their goals and family needs. He has expertise in general investing, retirement planning, and saving for unexpected events. Christian takes the time to get to know clients in order to provide ongoing advice and guidance as their circumstances and objectives evolve. Christian holds a Bachelor's Degree and a Master's Degree from Marshall University. He has earned professional designations including Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC) and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA).

Joshua Cross is a Wealth Management Advisor and a founding member of the Hardy, Smith, Cross & Associates team, where he serves as the lead relationship manager and financial strategies consultant. In this role, he works closely with clients to identify their personal objectives and monitors their progress toward achieving their financial goals. His background in both financial services and psychology and counseling provides him with a distinctive perspective to guide clients in creating their financial and personal legacy. Mr. Cross holds several professional designations, including CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® (CFP), Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA), Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU), CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). He earned a Master's Degree from Regent University and a Bachelor's Degree from West Virginia University. His client focus areas cover a broad range including retirement planning, portfolio management, legacy planning, socially responsible investing, and services for endowments, foundations, and non-profits. Originally from Morgantown, West Virginia, Joshua currently resides in Charleston with his wife and three children. He is actively involved in the Charleston community and serves on the board of the Clay Center for the Arts & Sciences. Outside of his professional responsibilities, he enjoys biking, hiking, reading, and spending time with his family.

Adam Perry is a Financial Advisor and partner on the PS & Associates team at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He has over five years of experience in the industry, focusing on wealth management for individuals and families. Adam works to understand each client's financial situation and priorities to develop personalized financial strategies that are flexible to changing needs and market conditions. His expertise includes college education planning, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, portfolio management services, sports and entertainment, tax minimization, and retirement income. Adam provides clients with access to Merrill's investment insights and the banking convenience and lending solutions of Bank of America to address various aspects of their financial lives. Adam holds a Bachelor's Degree from West Virginia University and holds professional designations including CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (CFP), CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). He is also involved in community service, volunteering with organizations in the communities he serves. In his personal time, Adam enjoys baseball, basketball, golfing, and hunting.

Norman Shumate III is a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He joined Merrill in 2019, leveraging nearly 30 years of experience in the newspaper business, venture capital, and public accounting. As a mid-life career changer, Norman has developed a client-centered practice within a large financial services firm. He works closely with business owners, individuals in mid-career contemplating retirement, and others managing transitions in their lives, aiming to help them grow, preserve, and leave a legacy with their wealth. Norman's background includes leading and selling a family-owned newspaper business, providing him with insights into the financial challenges faced by small business owners. His client focus areas encompass family wealth management strategies, investment consulting for defined contribution plans, legacy planning, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, philanthropic planning, portfolio management services, small business strategies, and retirement income. He holds professional designations including Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA), CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (CFP), and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). He earned both a Bachelor's Degree and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from West Virginia University. Norman and his family have resided in Charleston, West Virginia, for over 30 years. He contributes to his community through service on the Yeager Airport Board of Directors and previously served on the United Way of Central West Virginia Board of Directors from 2013 to 2021. Additionally, he has been involved with the YPO Gold Mountain State as an Assistant Learning Officer.