Lake Jackson, TX Lake Rd Office

Elaine Polemenakos is a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, where she has been serving clients for over a decade. She focuses on delivering wealth management services to professionals, business owners, retirees, and their families, aiming to provide customized investment strategies that align with clients' personal financial goals. Her areas of expertise include services for endowments, foundations, and non-profits, personal retirement planning, portfolio management, women and wealth, and retirement income. Elaine holds a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Texas School of Law and a bachelor's degree in Psychology from Texas A&M University. She carries several professional designations, including CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (CFP), CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). While she was formerly an attorney, she does not provide legal advice in her current role. Outside of her professional work, Elaine is involved in community organizations such as Brazosport Cares Food Pantry, Brazosport Center Stages, Brazosport Fine Arts Council, and the SPCA of Brazoria County. Her personal interests include reading, traveling, spending time with her family, and watching movies.

Grant Townsend is a Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. In his role, he focuses on helping clients understand financial planning by breaking down complex topics into clear and straightforward guidance. Grant takes the time to learn what matters most to his clients, including their goals and concerns, to build personalized plans that address investing, retirement preparation, and unexpected financial needs. Grant holds a Bachelor's Degree from Sam Houston State University and has earned the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation. His approach includes providing ongoing support to ensure financial plans adapt as clients' lives change. Born and raised in Lake Jackson, Texas, Grant is also committed to giving back to the community that shaped him. Outside of his professional work, Grant's interests include baseball, fishing, golfing, reading, and watching movies.

Ryan Follett is a financial advisor with Merrill, holding a Series 66 designation and bringing 10 years of industry experience. He worked at Charles Schwab from 2015 to 2019 before joining Merrill in 2019. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as a power of attorney for a family member. Merrill, along with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program, serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations using model-based and discretionary investment strategies.

Sotiros Polemenakos serves as Senior Resident Director and is the founder of The Polemenakos Group at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He specializes in providing wealth management services tailored to professionals, business owners, retirees, and their families. His practice focuses on areas including tax-efficient wealth management strategies, retirement income planning, estate, legacy and trust services through Bank of America Private Bank, executive compensation strategies, and credit and lending services via Bank of America, N.A. Before entering the financial services industry in 2000, Mr. Polemenakos had a long career as a research chemist. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Chemistry from Eastern Nazarene College and a Master's degree in Physical Chemistry from Duke University. He has earned the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional designation, along with CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA) credentials. He has been recognized on the Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Advisors" list for multiple years. Mr. Polemenakos’s background includes fluency in English and Greek. His client focus includes family wealth management, LGBT wealth planning, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, portfolio management services, special needs planning strategies, women and wealth, and retirement income.

Lisa Pauls is a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. She works with individuals, families, and institutions to identify their financial concerns and design integrated strategies to meet their objectives. Lisa provides tailored financial approaches, focusing on areas such as investment management, retirement strategy, cash flow analysis, trust and estate planning, lending services, and philanthropy. Her clientele includes professionals from diverse industries, multi-generational families, and non-profit organizations, some of whom are navigating significant life transitions. Lisa began her career with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in 2008 after eighteen years in executive roles within non-profit organizations. She holds a Bachelor's Degree from Indiana State University. Her professional designations include CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (CFP), CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). She is affiliated with professional organizations such as the Lake Jackson Church of Christ, Kingdom Advisors, and the CFP Board. Outside of her professional role, Lisa is active in her community through participation in Bible Study Fellowship, the Brazosport Rotary Club, and the Lake Jackson Development Corporation. She enjoys genealogy, hiking, music, reading, running, singing, spending time with her family, swimming, traveling, and watching movies.