Gainesville, GA Jesse Jewel Pkwy Office

Stephen Gayton is a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He specializes in family wealth management strategies, legacy planning, personal retirement planning, philanthropic planning, portfolio management services, individual and corporate investment strategy, and retirement income. Stephen holds a Bachelor's Degree from the University System of Georgia and holds the Professional Investment Advisor (PIA) designation. He emphasizes developing personalized financial strategies tailored to clients' long-term goals. Stephen is also active in his community, dedicating time to volunteer with local organizations in line with Merrill's tradition of community involvement.

Martha Spence is a Senior Financial Advisor and Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA) affiliated with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. She brings over 20 years of experience in financial services, concentrating her practice on supporting business owners by applying methodologies from the Exit Planning Institute and utilizing resources from Merrill and Bank of America. Martha collaborates closely with CPAs, attorneys, and families as part of the comprehensive planning and advisory process to deliver a tailored client experience. Her professional designations include the CEPA and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and she holds FINRA Series 7 and 63 registrations as well as a Life, Accident, and Sickness Insurance Agent License. Martha serves clients across 17 states in the U.S. and was named to the Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams list from 2024 through 2026. She is a member of several professional organizations including the Exit Planning Institute, North Georgia Community Foundation, North Georgia Estate Planning Council, and the Rotary Club of Gainesville. Outside her advisory role, Martha is involved in community service through her membership in the Gainesville Rotary Club and her annual participation on the Rotary Banquet Committee. She was named a Paul Harris Fellow by Rotary International in 2022. Additionally, Martha serves on the Board of the North Georgia Community Foundation and has been active with the Disabled Veteran Auxiliary and other charitable organizations in North Georgia. Her personal interests include racing and spending time with her son, who is preparing to attend college.

Matthew Thorne is a Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He specializes in family wealth management strategies, legacy planning, managing new wealth, and personal retirement planning. Matthew works closely with clients to define their financial goals and develop portfolio strategies designed to help reach those goals, providing ongoing advice and adjusting strategies as clients' situations change. He holds a Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation and earned a Bachelor's Degree from the United States Air Force Academy. Matthew is a veteran of the Air Force and balances his professional responsibilities with personal interests including baseball, football, golfing, reading, and spending time with his family.

Yoleiba Jenner is a Senior Resident Director and Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He joined the firm in 2006 and currently serves as the Resident Director of the Pleasanton office, overseeing 24 financial advisors and managing over $3.8 billion in assets as of March 2025. Jenner leads a team focused on helping individuals and families build and manage wealth by developing comprehensive plans tailored to each client’s goals, needs, and priorities. He also serves as a Retirement Benefits Consultant, assisting public and private companies with retirement plans and employee financial wellness programs. Jenner has over 22 years of industry experience, including leadership roles, and has shared his expertise as a speaker to hundreds of Merrill financial advisors. He holds several professional designations including Certified Private Wealth Advisor (CPWA), Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Benefits Consultant (RBC). He earned a bachelor’s degree from the California State University System. Outside of his professional work, Jenner is involved with the Gratitude Network and resides in Danville with his wife and two daughters. He enjoys traveling within the US and abroad, along with interests in baseball, basketball, cooking, football, music, running, swimming, and spending time with his family.

Austin Patton is a Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in Gainesville, Georgia. In his role as a Merrill Financial Solutions Advisor, he works closely with individuals and families to navigate important financial decisions, including general investing, retirement planning, and saving for unexpected events. He provides access to Bank of America specialists for a range of financial solutions, including banking, credit, home financing, and small business services. Austin holds a Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation and earned a High School Diploma from City of Buford. He also attended institutions within the University System of Georgia. His approach involves building lasting relationships centered on understanding what matters to his clients and their families, allowing him to create personalized strategies to help them pursue their financial goals. Outside of his professional work, Austin is involved in his community as a member of a church worship team. His personal interests include camping, hiking, hunting, music, photography, singing, and spending time with his family.

Scott Martin is a financial advisor at Merrill with nine years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at Bank of America, N.A., and SunTrust Bank. Martin also served on the faculty at Georgia Southern University for two years. 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, and institutional investors.

Cynthia Rivas is a Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, where she works with individuals and families on investment management, retirement planning, portfolio strategy, and long-term financial planning. She holds the FINRA Series 7 and Series 66 registrations and has earned both the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC) and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designations, reflecting her focus on retirement planning and investment advisory services. Cynthia is fluent in English and Spanish, allowing her to serve clients from diverse backgrounds. She earned a Bachelor's Degree from Georgia Gwinnett College. Cynthia's approach emphasizes building long-term relationships by understanding her clients' goals, priorities, and visions for the future. She encourages open communication so clients feel comfortable discussing their changing financial needs over time. Outside of her professional work, Cynthia enjoys traveling, running—including completing half and full marathons—fitness activities, cooking, dancing, hiking, soccer, reading, and spending time with family and friends. Her Salvadoran heritage and family are important to her and influence her commitment to relationships, hard work, and careful planning.