Encino, CA 16830 Ventura Blvd Office

Andrea Abeger is a financial advisor with Merrill in Encino, CA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and over 30 years of industry experience. She has worked at Merrill since 1992 and has been associated with Bank of America, N.A. since 2009. Outside of her advisory role, she is a general partner in a family limited partnership and serves as trustee or fiduciary for multiple family trusts. Merrill, together with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services for 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 and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Christian Ridout is a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He works closely with clients to develop personalized financial plans that align with their unique goals and priorities, helping them navigate complex investment and wealth management decisions. His areas of expertise include college education planning, family wealth management strategies, personal retirement planning, socially responsible and ESG investing, as well as serving clients in sports and entertainment sectors. Christian holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Villanova University and has earned the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation. Outside of his professional role, he enjoys baseball, cooking, gardening, skiing, surfing, and spending time with his family.

Debra Hart Gomez is a financial advisor at Merrill with 43 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 certifications and has worked at Merrill since 1976 and Bank of America since 2011. Merrill, together with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services 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 developed by internal teams and third-party managers.

Spencer Williams is a Client Experience Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. In this role, he works with clients to understand their current financial situations and introduces them to solutions available through Merrill and Bank of America. Spencer aims to empower clients with the knowledge and tools necessary to take control of their financial lives and select the platform that best fits their needs. He holds a Bachelor's Degree from Harvard University and has earned several professional designations, including Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Sports & Entertainment Accredited Wealth Management Advisor (SE-AWMA). These credentials support his expertise in retirement planning, personal investment, and wealth management for sports and entertainment clients. Spencer's professional approach centers on helping clients uncover what matters to them and their families to create strategies aligned with their financial goals.

Richard Humphries III is a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. In his role, he offers guidance on a range of financial matters including college education planning, family wealth management strategies, retirement income, and tax minimization. He also specializes in services tailored to corporate executives, women and wealth, sports and entertainment clients, and managing new wealth. He began his career in wealth management in 1998 when he joined Merrill Lynch. Richard is a qualified portfolio manager, enabling him to create and manage personalized investment strategies that may include individual stocks and bonds, firm model portfolios, and third-party strategies. He holds multiple professional designations such as CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (CFP), Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA), Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA), Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), Retirement Benefits Consultant (RBC), and Sports & Entertainment (SE) certification. Richard earned a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of California at Los Angeles. He is involved in several organizations including Bruin Professionals, Athletes Touch, North Ranch Country Club, and Oaks Christian School. In his personal time, he enjoys activities such as basketball, football, golfing, traveling, and yoga.

Jessie Chipps is a Wealth Management Advisor and partner at The Chipps Group at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. She co-leads the team alongside Judith Chipps and focuses on assisting clients who have recently come into wealth through inheritance or sale of a business. Jessie helps these individuals create a value system and lifelong plan around their money and delivers a comprehensive approach to managing wealth that begins with listening to clients' needs. Jessie holds a bachelor's degree from Lewis & Clark College and has earned professional designations including Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC), Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). She and her team serve high net worth individuals and families, providing advice and guidance tailored to major life events and financial decisions. A longtime resident of Los Angeles, Jessie enjoys cooking, drawing/sketching, interior decorating, reading, singing, spending time with her family, swimming, traveling, watching movies, and yoga.

Heather Gottlich is a Wealth Management Advisor and Portfolio Manager at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. She has been a Financial Advisor since 1989, working with high net worth individuals and institutional clients. Over her career, Heather has guided clients through various market conditions, emphasizing minimizing downside risk and providing personalized financial strategies. Heather spent 25 years at Bear Stearns, focusing on sophisticated hedging strategies, asset management, portfolio design, corporate finance, and liability management. She later worked at UBS Financial Services before joining Merrill Lynch in 2016. Her approach includes comprehensive client engagement to tailor customized financial recommendations. She leverages the resources of Merrill Lynch, including asset preservation, retirement and estate planning, and liability management services. Heather holds a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Arizona and the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation. She is a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® and serves a diverse client base, including business owners, individuals in entertainment, and clients navigating divorce or widowhood. Heather is active in community organizations such as the Boys and Girls Club, California Wildlife Center, City of Hope, and WIFE.org. She enjoys activities including biking, gardening, hiking, music, reading, scuba diving, and spending time with her family.

Robert Olson Jr. is a financial advisor at Merrill with Series 63 and Series 65 designations and 41 years of industry experience. He has been with Bank of America, N.A. and Merrill since 2009. 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 and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

David Tolson Solis is a Client Experience Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. In this role, he works closely with Merrill clients to understand their current financial situations and introduce them to financial solutions offered by Merrill and Bank of America. His objective is to provide clients with the knowledge and tools necessary to manage their financial lives effectively. He specializes in fostering personal connections with clients to comprehend their financial priorities. His expertise includes general investing, retirement planning, and preparing for unforeseen financial needs. David offers ongoing advice and guidance tailored to clients' evolving financial goals and concerns. David holds a Bachelor's Degree from SAE Expression and has earned the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation.

Paul Pepperman is the Senior Resident Director and Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in Encino, California. In his role, he works closely with clients and their families to help them achieve their financial goals, including retirement planning, education finance, and planning for life events. He provides personalized wealth management strategies that address wealth accumulation, preservation, and transfer, coordinating with clients' other trusted advisors such as attorneys and accountants to cover tax, trust, philanthropic, and wealth transfer issues. With over 40 years of experience, Paul holds multiple professional designations including CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (CFP), Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA), CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), Retirement Benefits Consultant (RBC), and Sports & Entertainment (SE). He earned a High School Diploma from Agoura High School and attended UCLA without a degree conferred. His expertise spans college education planning, family wealth management strategies, personal retirement planning, as well as sports and entertainment sectors. Outside of his professional duties, Paul is involved with several community organizations including the Adat Ari El Synagogue, Jewish Federation of Los Angeles, Los Angeles Jewish Health, and Providence Cedars-Sinai Tarzana Foundation. His personal interests include golfing, music, and traveling.

Grant Khechumyan is a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He specializes in a range of client focus areas including college education planning, divorce transition planning, family wealth management strategies, liquidity management, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, socially responsible, values based, and ESG investing, individual and corporate investment strategy, and retirement income. Grant holds a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Southern California and has earned the Professional Investment Advisor (PIA) designation. Outside of his professional role, he has interests in basketball, music, and reading.

Judith Chipps is a Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, where she has been advising clients since 1979. She leads The Chipps Group, a team dedicated to providing the extensive resources of a large wealth management firm combined with the personalized service of a boutique practice. Judith and her team primarily serve wealthy individuals and families, many referred by clients or external professionals, focusing on a holistic approach to wealth management, preservation, and transfer. With over four decades of experience, Judith specializes in helping clients navigate major financial decisions and life events while coordinating closely with their external advisors to align tax and estate planning with their personal and financial goals. Her expertise encompasses family wealth management strategies, legacy planning, liquidity management, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, portfolio management, and tailored strategies for women and wealth. Judith holds a Bachelor's degree in Chemistry from Smith College and an MBA in Finance from UCLA. She is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® certificant, Chartered Financial Consultant® (ChFC®), and Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor® (CPFA®). She resides in Sherman Oaks, where she enjoys kickboxing. Judith is a mother of two, including her daughter Jessie, who works with her at Merrill.

Thomas Roche is a Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He brings over 25 years of experience in providing individually tailored financial and wealth management strategies. Thomas is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® certificant and holds several professional designations including CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Benefits Consultant (RBC). Thomas advises clients on wealth accumulation, preservation, and transfer through a defined process that includes portfolio development, liability management, tax minimization, and asset preservation. He works closely with clients' other trusted advisors such as attorneys and accountants to address tax, trust, philanthropic, and estate issues, including wealth transfer strategies. His client focus areas include Divorce Transition Planning, Family Wealth Management Strategies, Liquidity Management, Managing New Wealth, Personal Retirement Planning, Portfolio Management Services, Tax Minimization, and Retirement Income. He holds a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Southern California and is a member of the USC Alumni Association. Outside of his professional work, Thomas volunteers with community organizations and enjoys golfing, hiking, pickleball, and skiing.

Vanessa Manquero is a financial advisor at Merrill with 11 years of industry experience. She holds the Series 63 and Series 66 designations and has previously worked at JP Morgan Chase Bank and JP Morgan Securities LLC. 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 strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Raffi Kardzair is a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, where he provides customized investment advice and financial services to high and ultra high-net-worth clients. Drawing from experience that began with UBS in 2007, Raffi joined Merrill Lynch in 2009 and has since focused on tailored wealth management solutions that consider clients’ risk tolerance, time horizons, liquidity needs, and overall investment goals. His areas of expertise include sound investment management, retirement and estate planning, real estate lending, and life insurance strategies. Before transitioning to financial services, Raffi served as a Senior Economist with the United Nations Development Program in Beirut, advising the Lebanese Treasury on international Eurobond issuance, debt, and public finance management. Concurrently, he lectured in Financial and Cost Accounting at Haigazian University. Raffi holds a Master’s degree in Money and Banking (now Financial Economics) from the American University of Beirut and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Haigazian University. He is a Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC), Certified Financial Planner (CFP), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). Raffi is involved in several professional and community organizations, including Haigazian University Alumni USA, the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church, World Vision Armenia, and YMCA Glendale. He speaks Arabic, Armenian, and English. Outside of work, Raffi enjoys basketball, photography, traveling, and spending time with his family.