Lake Charles, LA Country Club Rd Office

Vaughn Scofield is a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He and his team provide a comprehensive approach to wealth management by offering personalized wealth planning and tailored strategies designed to address clients’ unique short- and long-term financial goals. Their services encompass portfolio management, retirement planning, tax minimization, legacy planning, and liquidity management, among other areas. Supported by Merrill’s investment insights and product breadth, as well as banking, trust, and fiduciary services from Bank of America, Vaughn assists clients in managing all aspects of their financial lives. Vaughn holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (CFP) designation and is a Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). He earned both a Bachelor’s Degree and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Louisiana State University. In his professional practice, Vaughn emphasizes building trust through transparency, objective advice, and open discussion, working closely with his clients to help them stay on course amid changing circumstances. Outside of his professional responsibilities, Vaughn engages in community involvement through volunteer work. His personal interests include basketball, football, golfing, music, reading, spending time with family, traveling, and watching movies.

Patricia Philmon serves as a Senior Resident Director at Merrill, where she provides corporate and individual clients with financial advice tailored to their specific needs and goals. She employs a personalized strategy that integrates all aspects of a client's financial life to identify the best strategies, offering services such as retirement analysis, stock option analysis, life insurance analysis and funding, survivor analysis, and educational planning for children and grandchildren. Patricia joined Merrill in 2008 and maintains Series 7 and Series 66 FINRA registrations, as well as licenses to sell fixed and variable annuities, long-term care, and life insurance. She holds the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC) designation and is a Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). Patricia earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from McNeese State University in 1989. She is active in professional organizations including Christus St Pats, Greater Lake Charles Rotary Club, Sowela Community College Foundation Board Advisor, and Trinity Baptist Church. Her community involvement includes participation with the American Heart Association, serving as a judge for local dance and twirling contests, and engagement with the SWLA Chamber Business Women Network. Originally from Southwest Louisiana, Patricia graduated from Sulphur High School and enjoys working with businesses and families. She values transparency and encourages questions from her clients. Outside of her professional responsibilities, she enjoys cooking, dancing, football, music, reading, and spending time with her family.

Cheryl Duhon is a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, specializing in providing personalized wealth management strategies. She focuses on building and preserving wealth for affluent clients in Southwest Louisiana, guiding them through complex financial landscapes including real estate, private equity, and family-owned businesses. Her approach centers on understanding each client's unique financial picture to develop flexible strategies aligned with their goals. With over 30 years of experience in the financial services industry, including more than 15 years as a Private Client Financial Advisor at JP Morgan Chase, Cheryl brings extensive expertise in areas such as employee benefits planning, family wealth management, retirement planning, philanthropic strategies, and special needs planning. She holds a Bachelor's Degree from McNeese State University and is designated as a Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). Cheryl is also actively involved in her community through participation in organizations like The Chamber SWLA and The Foundation at Lake Charles Memorial Hospital, as well as charitable groups including Autism Speaks, Lake Charles Memorial Hospital Foundation, March of Dimes, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, and the United Way of Southwest Louisiana. She is a lifelong Louisiana resident, fluent in English and French, and enjoys activities such as camping, cooking, knitting, reading, sewing, and traveling.

Kenneth Martin is a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He joined Merrill Lynch in 2012, bringing over thirty years of experience in operational and accounting management as well as ownership within the auto and heavy truck dealership industry. This extensive background provides him with valuable insight into the financial and business needs of business owners, enabling him to structure wealth management, estate planning, and business financial strategies tailored to their unique requirements. Mr. Martin graduated from Louisiana State University Baton Rouge in 1980 with a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Management. He holds the designation of Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). His expertise includes college education planning, corporate executive services, family wealth management, legacy planning, liquidity management, retirement planning, portfolio management, and investment strategy for individuals and businesses. A lifelong resident of Lake Charles, Louisiana, Kenneth Martin is actively involved in his community. He serves as a vestry member and finance committee member of the Good Shepherd Episcopal Church, where he has held leadership roles including Senior Warden. Additionally, he is a board member of the Chennault International Airport Authority. Outside of his professional and community commitments, he pursues interests such as big game hunting and enjoys spending time with his wife, Brigette Walker Martin, and their four children.