Pensacola, FL S Palafox St Office

Melissa Matteson is a financial advisor at Merrill with 22 years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and has worked at Merrill since 2009 and Bank of America, N.A. since 2015. Outside of her advisory role, she works as a dance fitness instructor at Anytime Fitness. 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, and institutions, with portfolio implementation varying by strategy and incorporating tactical asset allocation and tax-aware options.

Richard Poirier is a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He assists clients with integrated and custom wealth management strategies aimed at helping them pursue their financial goals, including retirement income planning, education funding, tax minimization strategies, and estate planning services. Richard's client focus areas include college education planning, equity compensation services, philanthropic planning, portfolio management, and socially responsible investing, among others. He holds a Bachelor's degree from the Georgia Institute of Technology and a High School Diploma from The Bolles School. Richard has earned several professional designations, including CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (CFP), CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), Chartered Retirement Plans Specialist (CRPS), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). Richard is involved in his community through organizations such as the First Baptist Church of Pensacola, the Pensacola State College Foundation Board of Governors, and has served on the board of the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra. He lives in Pensacola, Florida, with his wife Claire and their two children.

Bret Lomax is a Senior Financial Advisor and Senior Vice President at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He joined Merrill in 1995 and provides a broad range of financial services including investment management, retirement planning, trust and estate planning strategies, wealth preservation and insurance planning, liability management, strategies for concentrated equity positions, and business and retirement plans. He graduated from the University of West Florida in 1986 with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and a Minor in Finance. Prior to joining Merrill, Bret worked as a staff accountant with Deloitte Haskins & Sells (now Deloitte Touche) in public accounting and as an insurance agent and investment advisor with Northwestern Mutual. His professional experience allows him to understand individual, family, and business financial needs and develop long-term strategies for growth, preservation, and transfer of assets, working closely with clients' attorneys and CPAs to maximize tax efficiency and financial stability. Bret holds the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation. Bret is a native of Pensacola and resides in Pace with his wife, Susan. They have two grown children and are active members of their local church and participate in civic organizations, including The Rotary Club of Pace.

William Meigs is a Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He specializes in legacy planning, personal retirement planning, and tax minimization, focusing on helping clients develop strategies to pursue their financial goals. With a comprehensive approach to financial advising, William takes time to understand what is important to his clients and their families. He provides assistance ranging from general investing to retirement planning and preparing for unexpected financial needs. William utilizes the resources available through Merrill Lynch and the banking capabilities of Bank of America to support his clients' financial futures. William holds a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Georgia and has earned professional designations including Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC) and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). Outside of his professional work, he enjoys activities such as bowling, fishing, golfing, running, skiing, soccer, surfing, traveling, and spending time with his family.

Scott Hardie is a Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He provides financial planning services with a focus on family wealth and liability management. Scott has extensive experience in areas including college education planning, legacy planning, LGBT wealth planning, personal retirement planning, philanthropic planning, portfolio management, special needs planning strategies, tax minimization, and retirement income. Scott was born and raised in New Orleans. He earned his Bachelor's Degree from the University of Mississippi and completed graduate studies at George Washington University. Prior to joining Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in 1996, he spent 11 years in Corporate International Banking with two banks in Washington, D.C. He holds professional designations including CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Benefits Consultant (RBC). Scott is actively involved in his community, serving as a board member for the Metropolitan Crime Commission and the YMCA of Greater New Orleans. He is married to Jennifer and they have three children.

Ignacio Salazar is a financial advisor with Merrill, holding a Series 66 designation and based in Pensacola, FL. He has been with Merrill since 2017 and also has experience at Bank of America, N.A. since 2025. Prior to his financial services career, he worked at LA Fitness and The Coliseum Motors. 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.

Judith Prim is a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. She offers personalized financial strategies focused on clients' goals and priorities, providing guidance that adapts to changing needs and market conditions. Judith works with clients on areas including education planning, family wealth management, institutional and corporate benefit services, investment consulting for defined contribution plans, legacy planning, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, women and wealth, and retirement income. Judith holds the Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor® (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA) designations. She earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Florida. She follows a disciplined process that begins with understanding each client's financial situation and what matters most to them. Outside of her professional work, Judith is involved in her community through membership in the Five Flags Rotary Club and volunteering with the Pensacola Humane Society. Her personal interests include cooking, hiking, photography, reading, traveling, and yoga.

Bethany McDonald is a Vice President, Wealth Management Advisor, and Senior Portfolio Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. She joined Merrill Lynch in 2012 and has been advising clients for over a decade. In her current role, she develops and maintains financial strategies tailored to clients at various stages of life, focusing on a comprehensive approach to wealth management that includes investing, planning, banking, and lending services through Bank of America. Bethany began her career in financial services in 2005, gaining experience in underwriting, lending, and personal banking prior to joining Merrill Lynch. She is a 2005 graduate of Mississippi University for Women with a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration and a 2004 graduate of Cumberland University, where she earned an Associate of Arts in Business. She holds several professional designations, including Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC), Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). Her client focus areas include college education planning, divorce transition planning, family wealth management strategies, legacy planning, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, portfolio management services, women and wealth, tax minimization, and retirement income. Bethany resides in Pensacola, Florida, with her husband and three children. Outside of work, she enjoys cooking, drawing/sketching, music, photography, swimming, watching movies, and spending time with her family.

Christopher Brownson is a Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He works closely with clients to understand their financial priorities and develop strategies aimed at achieving their short-, mid-, and long-term goals. His services include general investing, retirement planning, and preparing for unexpected financial needs. Christopher also facilitates access to specialists in banking, credit, home financing, and small business solutions through Bank of America. With expertise in managing diverse financial demands such as home buying, college savings, elder care, and healthcare preparation, Christopher collaborates one-on-one with clients to define goals and tailor portfolio strategies accordingly. He provides ongoing advice and adjusts strategies to accommodate changes in clients' situations. Christopher holds a Bachelor's Degree and two Master's Degrees from Troy University. He has earned professional designations including Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC) and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA).

Mary Harper is a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, where she has built a career spanning over 30 years. Throughout her tenure, Mary has led a team focused on delivering customized strategies, intellectual rigor, and attentive service to clients. She serves as a Portfolio Advisor, guiding clients toward their investment objectives by recommending strategies from Merrill or approved third-party managers. Her professional expertise is supported by advanced education and credentials, including completion of the "Preparing for Tomorrow" Program at Dartmouth University's Tuck School of Business, the Certified Investment Management Analyst® (CIMA®) designation awarded by the Investments & Wealth Institute™ in partnership with the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School, and the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor® (CRPC®) designation from the College of Financial Planning. Mary has also shared her knowledge as a panelist and speaker at Merrill Lynch’s National Symposium Conferences and has contributed nationally as a financial commentator on various news outlets. Mary is actively involved in her community through volunteering with the Ronald McDonald House. Her client focus includes areas such as college education planning, divorce transition planning, family wealth management strategies, retirement income, and socially responsible investing. Outside of work, she enjoys cooking, gardening, golfing, interior decorating, music, reading, traveling, and spending time with her family.

Cameron Smith is a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He began his financial services career in 2006 and has since built a practice focused on helping clients preserve and grow their wealth through tax-efficient and risk-appropriate strategies. Cameron provides a high-touch, full-service approach, working closely with individuals and families to develop comprehensive wealth management plans tailored to their unique goals. Cameron’s expertise includes college education planning, divorce transition planning, LGBT wealth planning, managing new wealth, portfolio management services, and addressing the financial needs of women. He follows Merrill’s tradition of community involvement by volunteering with local organizations. His professional designation includes Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and his education includes a High School Diploma from RCS High School and attendance at Ithaca College. Outside of work, Cameron’s personal interests include baseball, boating, chess, football, music, reading, spending time with his family, traveling, and yoga.

Mary White is a financial advisor with Merrill who holds a Series 66 designation and has 24 years of industry experience. She has been with Merrill for 25 years and concurrently with Bank of America, N.A. for 17 years. Outside of her advisory role, she is the owner of a family rental business in Pensacola, Florida. Merrill serves a diverse client base including individuals, retirement plans, corporations, and institutional clients by providing managed account programs, third-party manager selection, discretionary portfolio management, brokerage execution, and custody services. The firm integrates closely with Bank of America affiliates and offers tax-focused investment solutions alongside a broad range of portfolio management strategies.

Anthony Harp is a financial advisor with Merrill in Pensacola, FL, holding a Series 66 designation and 19 years of industry experience. He has worked at Merrill since 2003 and also has experience with Bank of America, N.A. since 2011. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as a Power of Attorney for a non-investment-related entity. 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 a range of clients, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Ernst Leidner is a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He began his career in financial services in 1997 and established The Leidner Group in 2001. In his role, he assists clients by developing wealth management strategies tailored to their individual needs, focusing on a comprehensive approach to managing wealth. Ernst's areas of expertise include college education planning, divorce transition planning, family wealth management strategies, legacy planning, liquidity management, personal retirement planning, portfolio management services, and retirement income. He holds a Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation and earned a Bachelor's Degree from the Louisiana State University System. Outside of his professional work, Ernst enjoys outdoor activities such as boating, fishing, hunting, surfing, skiing, and spending time with his family.

Kevin Hammer is a financial advisor with Merrill in Pensacola, FL, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 13 years of industry experience. His prior work includes six years at Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and Thrivent Investment Management Inc. He has been with Merrill and Bank of America since 2019. 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, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations, offering both model-based and discretionary investment strategies.