Irvine, CA Spectrum Center Dr Office

Shauna Castro is a financial advisor at Merrill with 9 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at Merrill since 2007. Her prior experience includes a role at Bank of America, N.A. She is based in Irvine, California. 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.

Martin Vu is a Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He has been working in the banking and financial industry since 2000, serving in multiple roles. Martin focuses on understanding his clients' priorities to help develop personalized strategies aligned with their short-, mid-, and long-term financial goals. His areas of expertise include family wealth management strategies, legacy planning, liquidity management, managing new wealth, and personal retirement planning. Martin provides clients with investment insights from Merrill and access to banking and lending solutions through Bank of America. He also offers ongoing advice and guidance as clients' needs evolve. Martin holds an Accredited Certificate from Irvine Valley College and professional designations including CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). He is fluent in English and Vietnamese. Outside of work, Martin has interests in basketball, bowling, camping, cooking, fishing, football, ice hockey, skiing, and traveling.

Ronald Koby is a financial advisor at Merrill with Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 40 years of industry experience. He has worked at Merrill since 1985 and has also been with Bank of America, N.A. since 2009. Merrill, along 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 and third-party managers.

Kevin Bonner is a financial advisor with Merrill in Irvine, CA, holding a Series 66 designation and eight years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Merrill since 2018 and Bank of America, N.A. since 2025, along with prior experience in contracting at Dan Spain Contracting. 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, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Jay Mitchell is a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, where he has been assisting clients since 2006. He focuses on helping clients identify and prioritize their financial goals, including estate planning, wealth transfer, tax minimization strategies, and retirement income. Jay develops customized strategies tailored to each client's unique circumstances and preferences. His expertise extends to managing both qualified and non-qualified employee benefit plans, cash management, customized investment management, and financing services through Bank of America, N.A. He also provides consulting and servicing for institutional clients such as non-profits, foundations, and endowments, with attention to corporate balance sheets to create efficiencies and improve existing practices. Jay graduated cum laude from National University in 2014 with a bachelor's degree in Finance. He holds professional designations including Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Benefits Consultant (RBC). Prior to his finance career, he graduated from Musicians Institute in 2004 with an emphasis on composition and production. Outside of his professional role, Jay is active in his synagogue community, having served as Co-President of the congregation Brotherhood. He enjoys playing golf and spending time with his wife, Stephanie, and their two daughters.

David Matthey is a Senior Vice President and Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. Since joining Merrill in 1990, he has worked with affluent individuals and families to address their financial needs through customized wealth management strategies. His approach emphasizes understanding each client's financial situation, risk tolerance, and time horizon to develop personalized plans aligned with their goals and priorities. He collaborates with clients to periodically review their strategies to ensure continued alignment with life changes. With over three decades in the financial services industry, David has expertise in areas such as family wealth management, legacy planning, retirement income, and philanthropic planning. He holds professional designations including Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). David earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and Finance from California State University, Fullerton. David resides in Irvine with his wife and four children. He is involved in his local community, supporting organizations such as the Anaheim family YMCA, Ginny’s Kids, and Kiwanis International. Outside of work, he enjoys baseball, music, reading, and traveling.

Joseph Osborne is a Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He focuses on personalized wealth management strategies that align with clients' life priorities and investment personalities. Osborne works closely with clients to develop flexible financial approaches that respond to changing market conditions and evolving individual goals. His expertise spans areas such as college education planning, family wealth management strategies, legacy planning, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, portfolio management services, tax minimization, and retirement income. Osborne holds the professional designations of CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (CFP) and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). He earned his Bachelor's Degree from the University of California System and an MBA from the California State University System. Born and raised in Southern California, Osborne spends time with his wife and two sons when not working. His personal interests include baseball, basketball, cooking, football, hiking, music, swimming, traveling, and watching movies.

Kyle Marsh is a Client Experience Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. In this role, he works directly with clients to understand their current financial situations and introduce them to solutions offered through Merrill and Bank of America. Kyle's work focuses on helping clients gain knowledge and tools to manage their financial lives and select platforms suited to their needs. Kyle holds a Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation and earned a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Wisconsin System. He applies his expertise to assist clients in uncovering what matters most to them and their families, aiming to create strategies that support their financial goals.

Kathleen Mariconda is a financial advisor with Merrill in Irvine, CA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and totaling 42 years of industry experience. She has worked at Merrill since 1984 and at Bank of America, N.A. since 2009. Outside of her advisory role, she is a Mary Kay beauty consultant, primarily to purchase products at reduced prices for herself and family members. 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 serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional investors with model-based and discretionary investment strategies designed by internal and third-party managers.

Patrick Newton is a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He began his career with Merrill in 1998 and has served the Laguna Hills, California office since May 5th of that year. Patrick works with families, executives, engineers, and businesses to preserve and grow their wealth and assist with wealth transition to heirs or charities. His client focus includes areas such as college education planning, corporate benefits, divorce transition planning, executive compensation, equity compensation services, family wealth management strategies, and services for endowments, foundations, and non-profits. Prior to joining Merrill Lynch, Patrick earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Marketing from the George Argyros School of Business at Chapman University in Orange, California, graduating in May 1998. He also served six years in the United States Marine Corps, with four years active duty and two years in inactive reserves. Patrick holds the professional designations Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC) and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). Patrick maintains an interest in community involvement consistent with Merrill's tradition, volunteering with local organizations. Outside of his professional work, he enjoys boxing, hiking, photography, and videography.

Jonathan Smith is a financial advisor with Merrill in Irvine, CA. He holds a Series 66 designation and has four years of experience at Merrill, with prior work at Bank of America and other firms. Merrill serves a diverse client base including individuals, retirement plans, corporations, and institutional clients by offering managed account programs, discretionary portfolio management, and brokerage execution services. The firm utilizes multiple investment program strategies and emphasizes tax-efficient solutions, supported by its integration with Bank of America’s broader banking and capital-markets platform.

Can Zhao is a financial advisor at Merrill with a Series 66 designation and two years of industry experience. Prior to joining Merrill in 2024, Zhao worked at Citibank N.A. and Wells Fargo Bank. 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, and institutional investors.

Amir Kompanian is a Financial Advisor and Senior Portfolio Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He brings extensive experience in wealth management, specializing in college education planning, employee benefits, executive and equity compensation, family wealth strategies, institutional consulting, and focused areas such as LGBT and women’s wealth planning. Amir’s approach integrates comprehensive financial strategies with estate planning while collaborating closely with clients’ external advisors, including attorneys and tax professionals. Amir began his career in private equity in Istanbul before moving to the United States in 2014. His professional background includes launching a start-up and roles at Bank of America and Merrill Lynch Wealth Management since 2015. Having lived in six countries, his global perspective supports a culturally fluent advisory style suited to clients with international ties or complex financial circumstances. Amir holds a Bachelor’s degree in Management Information Systems and an MBA from Eastern Mediterranean University. He holds the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation and communicates fluently in English, Persian, and Turkish. Outside of his professional work, Amir’s personal interests include bungee jumping, cooking, and various sports such as pickleball, skiing, soccer, table tennis, tennis, and refereeing.

Eliseo Lopez Ornelas is a Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, where he provides comprehensive financial guidance tailored to his clients' individual goals. He works closely with clients to understand their priorities and develops strategies aimed at achieving their short-, mid-, and long-term financial objectives. With expertise spanning general investing, retirement planning, and risk management, Eliseo serves as a resource for a range of financial needs. He also facilitates access to specialized services within Bank of America, including banking, credit, home financing, and small business solutions. As a Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), he offers ongoing advice and adjusts strategies as clients' circumstances evolve. Eliseo holds a Bachelor's degree from California State University Dominguez Hills and a Master's degree from DeVry University. He conducts his advisory services in both English and Spanish.

Stephanie Guyton is a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. She works closely with individuals and families to develop personalized financial strategies aimed at meeting their long-term goals. Stephanie specializes in areas such as college education planning, executive compensation, family wealth management, personal retirement planning, small business strategies, and tax minimization. She places particular focus on assisting women in transition, including those experiencing divorce, job changes, or loss of a parent, as well as business owners seeking to establish calculated exit strategies. Stephanie earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business Economics with an emphasis in Accounting from the University of California at Santa Barbara, graduating with honors. She holds an MBA from The Paul Merage School of Business at the University of California at Irvine. Her background includes experience at PricewaterhouseCoopers in Irvine and strategic development work leading US mergers and acquisitions at Ingram Micro. Stephanie holds professional designations as a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA) and a Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). In addition to her role as an advisor, Stephanie participates in community volunteer activities in line with Merrill’s tradition of community involvement. Outside of work, she enjoys biking, boating, dancing, golfing, hiking, reading, traveling, volleyball, yoga, and spending time with her family.