Portsmouth, NH Market St Office

Matthew Grant is a Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He focuses on helping clients simplify complex financial decisions, create organized plans, and maintain focus on their key priorities. His approach combines comprehensive financial planning with a commitment to building long-term, trusted relationships. Matthew brings expertise in areas including college education planning, executive and equity compensation services, legacy planning, retirement income, portfolio management, and tax minimization. He holds the Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA) and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designations. Matthew earned a Bachelor's Degree from the University of New Hampshire. Outside of work, Matthew enjoys golfing, snow and water skiing, tennis, and spending time with friends and family. He lives with his wife, Lexy, and their rescue dog, Maui.

James Pothier is a Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He assists individuals, families, and business owners by bringing clarity and structure to their financial lives through a planning-first approach. His work focuses on understanding where clients are today, identifying their future goals, and creating financial plans that support both long-term objectives and current needs. James specializes in coordinating various aspects of personal finance, including college education planning, family wealth management strategies, liquidity management, and retirement income. He combines a forward-thinking approach with the resources and specialists available at Merrill Lynch to help clients simplify complex financial decisions and achieve their financial aspirations. He holds a Bachelor's Degree from Northeastern University and professional designations including Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC) and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). In his personal time, James enjoys camping, hiking, music, reading, rock climbing, running, skiing, spending time with his family, and traveling.

Paul Brandon is a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He has over 31 years of experience assisting clients in understanding and managing their financial situations. His work includes conducting nationwide seminars on investing fundamentals for company 401(k) plans and providing retirement income analysis to answer client questions such as retirement readiness and sustainable withdrawal amounts. He develops long-term client relationships, addresses risk exposures affecting wealth planning strategies, and collaborates with attorneys to facilitate estate planning and intergenerational wealth transfer. Mr. Brandon holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® (CFP) designation and the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) credentials. He earned a Bachelor's degree from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He is fluent in English and Spanish. He currently resides in Portsmouth, New Hampshire with his wife of thirty-six years, Maria Jose. Mr. Brandon is also a member of the Burlington Breakfast Rotary. His personal interests include biking, hiking, and traveling. His approach emphasizes understanding clients' life priorities to create personalized financial plans aligned with their goals and aspirations.

Dale Wallace is a Senior Financial Advisor and Senior Vice President at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, and a founding partner of the DWJ Group. He operates primarily out of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, with his main office located in Boca Raton, Florida. With over 25 years of experience in the wealth management industry, Dale focuses on helping clients achieve their financial aspirations through comprehensive investment strategies. His expertise includes non-managed strategies such as syndicate investments, structured investments, and option strategies. Dale also co-manages client portfolios to deliver a well-rounded investment approach tailored to meet the needs of high net worth clients. He holds the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation and completed a non-accredited executive education program on value investing at Columbia University Graduate School of Business. Outside of his professional work, Dale enjoys baseball, basketball, football, ice hockey, skiing, and spending time with his family. He and his wife reside in Boca Raton with their two dogs, Marshmallow and Misty. Dale appreciates strong leadership and attributes part of his team’s approach to the example set by Tom Brady and the New England Patriots.

Kathryn Drew is a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. She serves as the managing partner of The Drew Knight Wealth Management Group, where she works with high net worth individuals, companies, non-profit organizations, and affluent families across the United States. Kathryn applies a strategic process to help clients build and preserve their net worth. With over 30 years of experience, Kathryn holds several professional designations including CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® (CFP), Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA), and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). Her expertise includes personal retirement planning, family wealth management strategies, philanthropic planning, portfolio management services, and specialized areas such as LGBT wealth planning and socially responsible investing. She also advises clients on financial transactions such as creating or selling a business, retirement planning, and estate planning needs. Kathryn graduated with a Bachelor's degree from Oral Roberts University. She is actively involved in community organizations including Cross Roads House, Loon Preservation Society, Seacoast Science Center, and Squam Lake Conservation Society. Outside of her professional role, Kathryn enjoys boating, cooking, gardening, hiking, music, reading, scuba diving, and spending time with her family. She lives in Rye, New Hampshire, and supports ocean health and lake preservation efforts in her free time.

Michael Samonas is a Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, specializing in assisting affluent families and entrepreneurs with personalized financial planning, portfolio strategy, and cash management. He focuses on helping clients optimize concentrated wealth such as business equity, stock options, or real estate portfolios into flexible, tax-efficient strategies that align with their long-term goals, including legacy planning, managing new wealth, retirement income, and small business strategies. With over five years of experience in the financial services industry, Michael offers expertise in tax efficiency, cash flow forecasting, portfolio management, and retirement funding. He leverages Merrill's Personal Wealth Analysis™, utilizing advanced financial modeling and cash flow analysis, to design individualized plans that aim to provide clients with financial freedom and flexibility. Michael holds a Bachelor's Degree from Bentley University and attended the College of Charleston without degree completion. He is a Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) and actively participates in community initiatives as a member of the Young Philanthropists for Mentoring (YP4M). Outside of his professional work, he enjoys baseball, boating, football, golfing, reading, traveling, and spending time with his family.

Katherine Fogg is a financial advisor at Merrill with seven years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has been with Merrill since 2015, having previously worked at Bank of America NA and Thirty-One Gifts. 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, offering model-based and discretionary investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Tyler Stephenson is a Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, specializing in guiding clients toward financial confidence and long-term security through clear and personalized strategies. He focuses on assisting individuals with complex financial situations, including executives with equity compensation and concentrated stock, physicians navigating career transitions, business owners aligning personal and business finances, and athletes and entertainers managing sudden or short-window income. With over seven years of experience in financial services, Tyler holds the Sports & Entertainment Accredited Wealth Management Advisor (SE-AWMA®) designation, which addresses the financial needs of athletes and entertainers. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance from the University of Tennessee at Martin. Throughout his career, he has mentored and trained newer advisors, emphasizing an approach that learns how clients think about money to build adaptable financial plans. Outside of his professional role, Tyler dedicates time to community building in the Seacoast area. He enjoys hosting gatherings around his BBQ smoker, walking his golden retriever named Cooper, and supporting the Tennessee Volunteers. He is also a member of the Pi Kappa Alpha International Fraternity.

Blair Inslee is a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. In this role, Blair provides financial advisory services to clients, assisting them with investment strategies and wealth management. Blair holds the professional designation of Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). Blair earned a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Vermont.

Joseph Meo is a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He has been in the financial services industry since 2000 and joined Merrill Lynch in 2007. In his role, he focuses on creating strategies for high-net-worth individuals, their families, and businesses to help them pursue both short- and long-term financial goals. Joseph is a New England partner of The JEMM Group, an institutional consulting group providing investment consulting services specifically to non-profit institutions. As a qualified Senior Portfolio Advisor, he offers traditional advice and guidance while assisting clients in pursuing their investment objectives through Merrill Lynch Wealth Management or approved third-party investment managers’ strategies, funds, or portfolios. His areas of expertise include family wealth management, institutional consulting, retirement planning, philanthropic planning, and portfolio management services. He earned a bachelor's degree in business administration with a concentration in finance from the Whittemore School of Business at the University of New Hampshire. Joseph resides in Rye, New Hampshire, and is active in his local community and charitable organizations. His personal interests include fishing, surfing, and tennis.

William Holland is a Financial Advisor currently affiliated with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He has been serving as a financial advisor since April 2019, with experience at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, Edward Jones, and TD Wealth. His focus areas include assisting individuals transitioning from careers to retirement, small business owners with retirement plans and exit strategies, and retirees managing their assets for longevity and income coordination. Holland integrates long-term planning, tax efficiencies, and personalized goal achievement into his client work. His professional designations include CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (CFP), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). Holland holds a Master's Degree from the University of St Andrews. Outside of his professional life, he enjoys hiking, music, pickleball, and skiing.

Wren Andre Giddarie is a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. Drawing on over five years of experience as a financial advisor and a prior 15-year career as a big box retail general manager and bank manager, he specializes in providing comprehensive wealth management services. His expertise encompasses areas such as college education planning, divorce transition planning, family wealth management strategies, retirement income, tax minimization, portfolio management, and small business strategies. Andre’s approach centers on understanding clients’ goals and priorities to design, implement, and regularly review personalized wealth management strategies that align with their long-term objectives. Andre holds a bachelor's degree from Southern New Hampshire University and a high school diploma from Brunswick High School. He has also attended the University of Toledo. His professional credentials include Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA), Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). Licenses and registrations held by Andre cover multiple states and include life, accident, and health insurance as well as FINRA Series 6, 7, 63, and 66 securities registrations. Based in Southern New Hampshire on the seacoast, Andre and his wife have lived there for over 20 years with their two young children. The family enjoys outdoor activities including skiing, canoeing, camping, golfing, dance, and karate. He is actively involved in community service and volunteering, supporting organizations such as the Knights of Columbus—Bishop Brady Council #5093—as well as the Community Food Bank in Hampton, NH, and Habitat for Humanity.

Joanne Knight is a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, specializing in collaborating with independent women and their families to help them achieve their financial goals. After a 20-year career in international banking serving large multinational corporations in Chicago, London, and Milan, she joined Merrill Lynch in May 2013. Joanne focuses on working with women clients, including women in transition, female executives, and entrepreneurs, providing tailored strategies to grow, preserve, and pass on wealth. Her expertise addresses the unique challenges women face such as longer life spans, interrupted careers, and earnings disparities. Joanne employs a goals-based wealth management approach and works closely with Merrill’s global team of product specialists to deliver personalized financial planning. She combines the service intimacy of a boutique with the resources of a leading financial services firm to help clients plan for active and long retirements. Joanne holds a Bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois and a Master's degree in Finance and Economics from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. She has earned professional designations including CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). Joanne is involved with organizations such as Arts in Reach, The Seacoast Women's Giving Circle, and Womenaid. In her personal time, she enjoys biking, hiking, tennis, traveling, yoga, and spending time with her family.

Paige Inslee is a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, where she supports clients in achieving their financial goals through the Inslee Wealth Management team. The team, founded in 1990 by Chris and Guy Inslee, was one of the first family advisory practices in Northern New England. As the newest generational member of the team, Paige works to maintain a client experience centered on trust, confidence, and advocacy, leveraging resources from Merrill Lynch and Bank of America. Paige began her career as a Financial Advisor in July 2021 after holding several positions at Merrill. She holds her Series 7 and Series 66 FINRA registrations and the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation. Paige graduated with honors from the University of Miami with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and minors in Psychology and Marketing. She also leads her team's digital outreach and e-communications efforts. Originally from Burlington, Vermont, Paige returned to the New England area after attending a private college preparatory school in Naples, Florida, and spending time living abroad in Prague. She focuses on areas including retirement income, legacy and education planning, LGBT wealth planning, socially responsible investing, and women and wealth. Outside of work, Paige enjoys cooking, music, writing, and yoga.

Robert Cummins is a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He has over 25 years of experience in the financial services industry, having joined Merrill Lynch in 1994. Robert focuses on wealth management and planning strategies designed to help families grow and preserve their wealth. His expertise includes education planning, family wealth management strategies, personal retirement planning, portfolio management services, tax minimization, and retirement income. Robert works closely with clients to understand their current financial situation and future goals, dedicating time to thoughtful questions and careful listening to develop tailored financial strategies. He holds a Bachelor's degree from the University of New Hampshire, where he was also the captain of the basketball team. Robert resides in York, Maine, with his wife, Karen, and their three sons, Chris, Brady, and Ryan. Outside of his professional work, Robert enjoys basketball, golfing, and spending time with his family.