Monterey, CA Office

Catherine Marino Edwards is a financial advisor at Merrill with nine years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and previously worked at Morgan Stanley and Hilltop Securities Inc. before joining Merrill in 2026. 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.

Jessica Stewart is a financial advisor with Merrill, holding a Series 66 designation and 18 years of industry experience. She has been with Merrill since 2005. 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 developed by internal Chief Investment Office teams and third-party managers for individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Paul Gregory III is a Senior Financial Advisor and Managing Director at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, based in the Monterey, CA branch office. He has been with Merrill Lynch since 1997 and leads an eight-person team that serves high net worth families, businesses, institutions, and endowments. Paul's focus includes delivering a broad range of financial services, strategies, and guidance tailored to address retirement planning, legacy planning, institutional and corporate benefit services, and investment consulting for defined contribution plans. Paul holds multiple professional designations, including Certified 401(k) Professional (C(k)P®), Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC®), and Chartered Retirement Plans Specialist (CRPS®). He leverages his expertise to assist plan sponsors and employees with compliance to ERISA requirements and employee education on retirement benefits, social security, Medicare, debt management, and other related topics. Paul earned a high school diploma from Grace Davis High School and a bachelor's degree from California State University Stanislaus. Outside of his professional role, he enjoys golfing, music, and spending time with his family. He and his wife Dominique have been married since 2002 and have three children.

Ryan McCormick is a Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. Since joining Merrill Lynch in 2009, he has built extensive experience in addressing a wide range of financial planning needs, including college education planning, family wealth management strategies, legacy planning, managing new wealth, retirement planning, philanthropic planning, portfolio management, individual and corporate investment strategy, tax minimization, and retirement income. He approaches client relationships by first understanding each client's unique financial situation and goals to develop tailored strategies that best fit their needs. Ryan's professional background includes involvement in managing concentrated portfolios, income replacement, efficient distribution strategies, and succession planning. He collaborates closely with clients' professional teams to manage tax exposure and estate planning. His approach focuses on connecting all aspects of a client's financial life to prioritize and pursue their most important goals. Ryan holds the Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA), CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (CFP), and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designations. Ryan graduated from San Francisco State University in 2002 with a B.S. in Business Finance. He serves on several nonprofit boards, including Jacob's Heart Childrens Cancer Support Services and the Old Monterey Business Association. He and his wife, Rosanna, live in Monterey and are outdoor enthusiasts who enjoy the local area's natural beauty. Ryan has been recognized on the Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Advisors" list in 2024, 2025, and 2026, and as part of the KBMD Wealth Management Group's "Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams" in 2023, 2024, and 2025.

Elizabeth Kirkpatrick is a Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. She holds the position of Senior Vice President and is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certificant. Elizabeth has been with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management for over 40 years, working closely with clients to achieve their personal financial goals. Her expertise includes retirement planning, trust and estate planning services in collaboration with family tax accountants and attorneys, corporate cash management, individual wealth preservation and insurance planning strategies, business strategies and transition planning, business retirement plans, banking, and credit and lending services provided through Bank of America, N.A. She focuses on areas such as college education planning, divorce transition planning, family wealth management strategies, socially responsible and ESG investing, tax minimization, and women and wealth. Elizabeth holds a Bachelor's Degree from the University of California, Santa Cruz. Outside of her professional work, she has personal interests in golfing, pickleball, tennis, and yoga.

Oscar Alcala is a Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. In his role, he works one-on-one with clients to define their financial goals and develop portfolio strategies aimed at achieving them. He provides ongoing advice and adapts clients' portfolios as their situations change. Oscar's expertise encompasses managing complex financial priorities including retirement planning, funding education, elder care, and healthcare preparation. He holds professional designations such as Accredited Wealth Management Advisor (AWMA), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). He earned a Bachelor's Degree from California State University of Monterey Bay and is proficient in English and Spanish. Beyond his professional activities, Oscar participates in community involvement through El Camino Futbol Club. His personal interests include camping, golfing, and soccer.

Melanie Pitnick is a Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, based in Carmel, CA. Since joining Merrill Lynch in 2014, she has been dedicated to providing personalized financial advice and guidance, aiming to help clients prepare for financial transitions throughout their lives. She works as part of a nine-person team in the Carmel branch, combining the resources of a global financial institution with a boutique-like client experience. Over her career, Melanie has developed expertise in designing customized wealth management plans for affluent individuals. Her services include tax minimization strategies, estate planning, retirement income needs analysis, and tailored asset allocation approaches. She holds professional designations including CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® (CFP), Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor® (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Benefits Consultant (RBC). Melanie earned her bachelor's degree in Psychology and Neuroscience from the University of Colorado at Boulder and completed an Accredited Certificate Program at the College for Financial Planning. She is active in the Carmel community, serving on the board of the Carmel Community Girls Softball Program and coaching a youth softball team. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, spending time with her pets, and engaging in outdoor activities.

Steven Keller is a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. In this role, he provides investment and financial planning services to clients, leveraging his expertise to support their financial goals. Steven holds the professional designation of Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), reflecting his qualifications in the field. He earned a Bachelor's Degree from Eastern Nazarene College.

Craig Brinton is a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He works closely with clients to address a broad range of financial goals, including college education planning, retirement income, legacy planning, and family wealth management strategies. Craig collaborates with business owners, agricultural executives, physicians, and attorneys, guiding them through personalized investment strategies, retirement planning, and fiduciary responsibilities related to company retirement plans. He holds multiple professional designations, including CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®), Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA™), Certified 401(k) Professional (C(k)P®), Retirement Benefits Consultant (RBC), and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). Craig earned his Bachelor's Degree from the University of the Pacific and works alongside the SBR Team to provide comprehensive wealth planning services, including trust or individual portfolios, 529 college plans, charitable gifting, insurance, and debt planning. Outside of his professional work, Craig supports various local nonprofit organizations and is involved with community groups such as The Salvation Army, Rotary, and the Boys and Girls Club. His personal interests include biking, fishing, and golfing.

Caroline Duddy is a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. She began her financial services career in 2017 and currently assists clients in building wealth management strategies tailored to their individual needs. Caroline approaches wealth management with a comprehensive perspective, emphasizing informed decision-making and attentive listening. Her expertise spans wealth management and transfer, retirement planning, and asset preservation, supported by over 50 combined years of investment experience within her team. Caroline holds the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation and earned a Bachelor's Degree from Loyola Marymount University. Caroline is involved in community organizations including Delta Delta Delta and The Stanford Fund.

Yvonne San Nicolas Barcinas is a financial advisor at Merrill with 22 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at Merrill since 2015, following prior experience at Bank of America. 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. The firm offers model-based and discretionary investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Denise Ganji is a financial advisor with Merrill in Monterey, California, holding a Series 66 designation and 27 years of industry experience. She has worked with Merrill since 1999 and has been associated with Bank of America, N.A. since 2011. Outside of her advisory role, she serves as an advisory board member for Shoreline Community Church, a charitable organization in Monterey. 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 a range of model-based and discretionary investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, and various institutional investors.

Benjamin Bishop is a Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, a role he has held since March 2017. He collaborates with his team to integrate all aspects of his clients' financial lives, helping them prioritize and pursue their most important goals. Ben focuses on assisting clients in articulating both short-term and long-term objectives and developing financial strategies to achieve them. Ben holds a Bachelor's degree in Psychology with a Minor in Biology, as well as a Master's degree in Psychology with an emphasis on Biological Psychology, both from Humboldt State University. He is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) and holds the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation. Originally from Monterey, California, Ben and his wife Kellie returned to Monterey County to be closer to family, where they now live with their three-year-old daughter. Outside of his professional work, Ben enjoys biking, golfing, rock climbing, spending time with his family, and watching movies.

Eriberto Alvarez is a financial advisor at Merrill with 19 years at the firm and 8 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and is based in Monterey, CA. 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 strategies for a range of clients including individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Whitney Ning is a financial advisor at Merrill with 23 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked at Merrill since 2009, previously working at Bank of America, N.A. Whitney is based in Monterey, CA. 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.