Portage, MI Trade Centre Way Office

Ashley Stama is a Series 66 licensed advisor with Merrill, based in Portage, MI. She has 12 years of industry experience and has been with Merrill since 2013. 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.

Marc Vander Beek is a financial advisor with Merrill in Portage, MI, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and having 19 years of industry experience. His work history includes roles at Merrill since 2017 and Bank of America, N.A. since 2019, along with a position at Gun Lake Casino from 2016 to 2017. 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 a range of model-based and discretionary investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Ryan Hekman is a Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management and a founding partner of the Hekman & VanderStraaten Group. He has been in the financial services industry since 1994 and joined Merrill Lynch in 1999. Ryan works alongside fellow advisors and client associates to provide comprehensive wealth planning services aimed at helping individuals, families, and businesses meet their financial goals through personalized strategies and portfolio construction. Ryan's expertise spans a range of client focus areas including divorce transition planning, family wealth management strategies, services for endowments, foundations, and non-profits, defined benefit plans, legacy planning, personal retirement planning, philanthropic planning, portfolio management, individual and corporate investment strategy, and retirement income. He holds a bachelor's degree in Finance from Western Michigan University and has earned the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation. Outside of his professional endeavors, Ryan serves on the board of the Grandville Walker Foundation. He lives in Grandville with his five children and enjoys spending time with family, playing basketball, biking, boating, cooking, golfing, traveling, and watching sports.

Tristen Mabin is a Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. She focuses on legacy planning, managing new wealth, and supporting women and wealth clients. Tristen brings a unique perspective to her role, combining her background in teaching and finance to educate and coach clients toward achieving their financial goals. She holds a Bachelor's Degree from Kalamazoo College, where she studied Mathematics and Spanish. Tristen is a Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) and is fluent in both English and Spanish. Her career path includes living in Ecuador and New Orleans, experiences that enriched her commitment to serving others through volunteer opportunities. Tristen is involved in community service through AmeriCorps and pursues personal interests such as biking, horseback riding, music, reading, and traveling.

Michael Baer is a Senior Vice President and Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He has been with Merrill for 22 years and currently works with clients and their families to help achieve their financial goals by developing personalized financial strategies. His approach focuses on understanding the full financial picture of each client and creating flexible strategies aligned with their priorities. Michael specializes in retirement planning and analysis, cash management strategies, and Employee Stock Options. His client services include executive compensation, liquidity management, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, philanthropic planning, portfolio management services, socially responsible and ESG investing, individual and corporate investment strategy, tax minimization, and retirement income. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Finance with a minor in Economics from Western Michigan University. Additionally, he has earned the professional designations Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC) and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). Outside of his professional work, Michael participates in community volunteering and enjoys biking, boating, hiking, and spending time with his family.

Janene Pirbhai is a Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, where she has worked since 1991. She has been an advisor since 1993 and leads a team of culturally diverse investment professionals under the Pirbhai & Associates team. Their focus is on providing financial solutions designed to accomplish clients' long-term goals and simplify their financial lives. Janene's expertise includes integrating wealth management with portfolio management, focusing on areas such as family wealth management strategies, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, portfolio management services, women and wealth, and retirement income. She holds professional designations including CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (CFP), Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA), and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). She earned her Bachelor's Degree from Western Michigan University. Janene is engaged in community involvement through organizations such as the American Heart Association, Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan, Inner City Youth for Change, Love & JENGA, and Merze Tate Explorers. She lives in Kalamazoo, Michigan, with her husband, Erfan, and together they have raised three children. Janene also has personal interests that include hiking, photography, spending time with her family, and traveling.

Tara Nulty is a Senior Resident Director specializing in wealth management with over 10 years of direct experience in the field and 17 years in the financial services industry. She focuses on areas including family wealth management strategies, legacy planning, retirement income, philanthropic planning, and LGBT wealth planning. Tara works closely with clients to develop personalized financial strategies aimed at pursuing long-term goals amid changing market conditions. Before her current role, Tara held positions such as Executive Assistant to the Banc of America Global Head of Mergers & Acquisitions, Senior Management Team member at Barclays, and Analyst in Barclays Wealth Management. She holds a Bachelor's Degree from Boston College and is a Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) by professional designation. Tara participates actively in community organizations including the Elizabeth Upjohn Community Healing Center, South Haven Yacht Club, and Western Michigan University Theatre Guild. Her personal interests include boating, fishing, golfing, music, painting, scuba diving, sewing, singing, travel, and spending time with her family.

Sarah Jongeward is a financial advisor at Merrill with 17 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at Merrill since 2008 and Bank of America, N.A. since 2015. 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.

Eric Miles is a Managing Director and Wealth Management Advisor at the Portage/Kalamazoo Michigan branch of Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He has been with Merrill since July 2000 and served as Resident Director from 2006 to 2018. Eric provides a team-supported, goals-based financial strategy for high net worth investors that covers comprehensive aspects of their financial lives. He is also a member of the Bank of America Michigan LGBT Pride Leadership Team. Eric specializes in several client focus areas including investment consulting for defined contribution plans, legacy planning, LGBT wealth planning, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, portfolio management services, small business strategies, socially responsible and ESG investing, special needs planning strategies, and retirement income. He holds professional designations as a Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC) and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). Eric graduated from Western Michigan University with a Bachelor’s degree, majoring in Finance and minoring in Economics. He and his wife, Kim, live in Kalamazoo with their three children, Edward, Elle, and Monroe. His personal interests include boating, football, and skiing.

Jeffery Vanderstraaten is a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He began his career in financial services in 1999 at Merrill and has over two decades of experience. Jeff is a founding partner of the Hekman & VanderStraaten Group and focuses on total wealth management. He provides solutions based on clients' risk tolerance, time horizon, liquidity needs, and investment goals, utilizing a defined process to help clients reach their objectives. Jeff's expertise includes college education planning, employee benefits planning, employee financial health, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, portfolio management services, special needs planning strategies, women and wealth, tax minimization, and retirement income. He uses the Investment Personality Assessment developed by Merrill Lynch Wealth Management to better understand clients' investing preferences and customize financial strategies accordingly. He holds a Bachelor's degree and a Master's degree in Finance from Western Michigan University. Jeff has earned several professional designations, including Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC), Chartered Retirement Plans Specialist (CRPS), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), Chartered Special Needs Consultant (ChSNC), Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). He serves on the Endowment Committee at his church. Jeff lives in Portage with his wife, Michelle, and their two daughters, Ella and Grace. In his free time, he enjoys basketball, football, ice hockey, music, reading, and spending time with his family.

Daniel Ingles is a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. In this role, he works closely with clients and their families to identify and pursue meaningful financial goals through personalized wealth management strategies. Daniel assists clients in anticipating and managing major life transitions, such as business sales and retirement, while also addressing ongoing priorities like education planning and philanthropic endeavors. Daniel has been in the financial services industry since 2013 and joined Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in 2016. Prior to his financial career, he served six years in the United States Military. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Personal Financial Planning from Central Michigan University, where he graduated with high honors. Daniel is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP), a CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), and a Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). He is committed to adhering to a disciplined financial planning process to help clients pursue their long-term goals. In alignment with the Merrill tradition, Daniel dedicates time to volunteering in the communities he serves. His client focus areas include education planning, executive and equity compensation services, family wealth management, legacy and philanthropic planning, liquidity management, retirement planning, portfolio management, and tax minimization.

Daniel Pirbhai is a Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. As a second-generation Financial Advisor, he brings inherited knowledge from decades of experience to his practice. He works closely with clients to understand their financial situations and develop tailored strategies. Daniel specializes in equity compensation services, family wealth management strategies, legacy planning, managing new wealth, portfolio management services, tax minimization, and retirement income. He utilizes a team approach alongside other members of Pirbhai and Associates, leveraging over 50 years of combined experience and Merrill Lynch's resources to address a wide range of financial challenges and improve clients' financial outlooks. He holds a Bachelor's Degree from Colorado State University and has earned the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation. Outside of his professional work, Daniel enjoys camping, football, golfing, hiking, photography, pickleball, skiing, spending time with his family, traveling, and watching movies.