San Diego, CA El Camino Real Office

John Peluso is a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, offering personalized wealth management strategies aligned with clients' long-term goals. He specializes in personal retirement planning, portfolio management services, and tax minimization, serving individuals, families, business owners, and professionals primarily in San Diego and California. With decades of experience, John employs a goals-based wealth management approach that emphasizes client participation and understanding of investment decisions. He hosts educational events on retirement planning, Social Security, and global market trends, assisting clients through major life milestones and financial transitions. His approach involves a comprehensive review of clients' financial situations using Merrill's planning tools and providing access to banking and lending resources through Bank of America. John holds a Bachelor's Degree from San Diego State University and holds the professional designations of Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC) and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). He is actively involved in his community, including volunteer work with Canine Companions for Independence, and participates in organizations such as the Athenaeum Music & Arts Library. His personal interests include golfing, tennis, and yoga.

Daniel Avram is a financial advisor at Merrill with 19 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked at Merrill and Bank of America since 2016. Merrill, together with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, offers managed account services through the Select Portfolio Solutions (SPS) Program to Bank of America fiduciary clients. The firm provides model-based and discretionary investment strategies for a range of clients, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Benjamin Smith is a financial advisor at Merrill with a Series 66 designation and four years of industry experience. He has worked at Merrill since 2017 and previously held roles at U.S. Bank and Bank of America N.A. 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 strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional investors.

Monette Marino is a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, joining the firm in November 2012. She works as part of the Buchanan/Sims/Essick/Marino & Associates Team, focusing on portfolio strategy, asset allocation, retirement planning including 401k and IRA services, estate planning, charitable giving, home refinancing, and custom lending. Ms. Marino collaborates with specialists across Bank of America and Merrill Lynch Wealth Management to provide comprehensive services and tailored recommendations to clients. Prior to her current role, Ms. Marino served as the CEO of a non-profit arts corporation and owned a music production company in San Diego. She brings over 20 years of experience from those positions to her financial advising work. Ms. Marino holds a Bachelor's Degree from the University of California San Diego and a Master's Degree from San Diego State University. She is a CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). A third-generation native of San Diego, Ms. Marino is fluent in English, French, and Italian. In addition to her professional activities, she is involved with the Mo'Rhythm School of Percussion and the community organization SPOT Saving Pets One at a Time.

Carina Porterfield is a financial advisor at Merrill with 23 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and previously worked at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC for six years before joining Merrill in 2019. Based in San Diego, CA, she has been with Merrill for seven years. 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 serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations using model-based and discretionary investment strategies.

Sherifa El Mofty is a Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management and a member of the Mohler Polo Mofty Team. She has been with the firm since 2010 and focuses on client service, relationship management, and retirement income and distribution strategies. Sherifa's approach emphasizes building lifelong relationships with clients based on trust, transparency, and mutual respect. She specializes in providing financial guidance for areas including college education planning, executive compensation, family wealth management strategies, services for endowments, foundations, and non-profits, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, socially responsible investing, women and wealth, and individual and corporate investment strategy. Sherifa brings a multi-generational perspective to her practice, aiming to ensure continuity of advice for high-net-worth families. Sherifa holds the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designation, Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA) certification, Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA) designation, Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) credential, and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA) credential. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Finance from San Diego State University, where she was a Dean's List graduate. Sherifa is fluent in Arabic and English and is involved with Soroptimist International of Oceanside/Carlsbad. Her personal interests include scuba diving, tennis, traveling, and spending time with her family.

Ken Morris is a Senior Resident Director at Merrill Lynch, where he focuses on helping wealthy families, institutions, and endowments preserve and grow their wealth through proactive financial planning and the simplification of complex investment management strategies. As a founding partner of the Morris Sevier Group, he is committed to providing fully customized, research-backed guidance. Ken has over a decade of experience in financial services, including positions as a Financial Analyst on Wall Street, an Assurance and Advisory Specialist at Deloitte and Touche, and senior leadership at Canyon Ranch. He holds multiple professional designations including Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (CFP), Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA), CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). Ken earned both his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Business Administration from the University of Arizona. Active in his community, Ken contributes to the Frances Parker School and is involved with professional organizations such as the Frances Parker Finance Committee and Provisors. In his personal time, he enjoys spending time with his wife and children, playing golf, and participating in Crossfit.

Oliver Polo is a Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management and a partner with the Mohler Polo Mofty Group based in Del Mar, California. He has been in the financial advisory industry since 2007, providing services to a select group of families and businesses. Oliver's approach involves developing a clear understanding of his clients' financial situations, goals, timelines, and risk tolerances to create personalized and efficient financial strategies. He regularly reviews these strategies to adapt to clients' changing circumstances. Oliver's areas of expertise include portfolio management, investment analysis, market-linked investments, alternative investments, and various client focus areas such as corporate executive services, family wealth management strategies, LGBT wealth planning, philanthropy, socially responsible investing, tax minimization, and retirement income. He holds several professional designations including the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). Oliver is a graduate of San Diego State University, where he earned a Bachelor's Degree with an emphasis in Finance. He is fluent in Spanish and engages with professional organizations such as the CFA Society San Diego. Beyond his professional life, Oliver is involved in community organizations including Feeding San Diego and Junior Achievement. He has a variety of personal interests including basketball, boxing, dancing, hiking, music, reading, soccer, spending time with family, watching movies, and practicing yoga.

Paul Lamb is a Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management and a member of the Essick, Sims, Lamb & Associates team. He focuses on comprehensive wealth planning, employing a long-term outlook that emphasizes tax efficiency and exposure to private markets such as private equity, credit, infrastructure, and real estate when appropriate. He works closely with clients to develop personalized financial strategies designed to pursue their long-term goals. Paul's expertise spans college education planning, family wealth management strategies, legacy planning, philanthropic planning, and socially responsible, values-based, and ESG investing. He holds professional designations including Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), Certified Financial Planner (CFP), and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). He earned a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Michigan and an MBA from San Diego State University. In addition to his professional work, Paul is involved with the community organization Just In Time For Foster Youth. His personal interests include golfing, ice hockey, pickleball, rock climbing, spending time with his family, traveling, and writing.

Patricia Hobanchavez is a financial advisor with Merrill, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and seven years of industry experience. She has been affiliated with Merrill since 1989 and Bank of America since 1988. Outside of her advisory work, she serves as a board member of the Theater and Arts Foundation of San Diego, also known as the La Jolla Playhouse, where she participates in governance and community engagement activities. 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, and institutional investors.

Eugene Cunningham is a Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, based in the Del Mar, California office. He develops investment portfolios for individuals, businesses, and tax-exempt organizations that prefer professional management of their assets. Gene serves a select group of clients, including individuals, families, and organizations with substantial wealth, providing confidential wealth management services that address both short-term and long-term needs. His approach emphasizes a disciplined, coordinated process designed to support informed decision-making while minimizing the influence of emotional factors on investment choices. Gene began his career with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in April 1988. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Villanova University and has completed coursework at the Donald T. Regan School of Advanced Financial Management. He is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional and holds additional designations including Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). Gene has also served as an officer in the United States Marine Corps and is a frequent lecturer to fellow Merrill Financial Advisors in southern California. He previously held a board member position with Physician Advocates for Veterans. Fluent in English and Spanish, Gene’s professional focus areas include college education planning, family wealth management strategies, tax minimization, retirement income planning, and socially responsible investing, among others. He resides in San Diego with his wife Mary and their children, Patrick and Claire. Outside of work, Gene enjoys baseball, basketball, biking, chess, football, golfing, reading, skiing, traveling, and spending time with his family.

Scott Sims is a financial advisor with Merrill in San Diego, CA, holding a Series 66 designation and 20 years of industry experience. He has worked at Bank of America and Merrill Lynch since 2010. 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 model-based and discretionary investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Kelly S. Garton is a Wealth Management Advisor and Managing Director at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He serves as the senior member of The Garton Group, a Merrill Lynch Wealth Management team based in San Diego, California. Kelly's client base includes high-net-worth individuals and families, professional athletes, pension funds, endowments, foundations, corporations, and not-for-profit organizations. Kelly began his career in 1989 as a Financial Representative with Fidelity Investments and joined Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in 1993. He has over 35 years of experience in the financial services industry, with a primary focus on wealth management strategies for affluent individuals and organizations. He has been recognized nationally, having been named to Forbes' "Best-in-State Wealth Advisors" list for eight consecutive years as of 2026. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Finance from the University of Utah's David Eccles School of Business. Kelly holds several professional designations, including CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® (CFP®), Certified Investment Management Analyst® (CIMA®), and CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR® (CPFA®). He is also involved in community activities, including associations with The Kyoto Symposium Organization and The Monarch School San Diego. Kelly resides in San Diego with his wife and three children and has personal interests in skiing, snowboarding, running, mountain biking, biking, genealogy, hiking, racquetball, table tennis, and watching movies.

Itamar Erster is a Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He specializes in providing guidance on general investing, retirement planning, education planning, family wealth management strategies, and legacy planning among other areas. Itamar works closely with clients to develop and implement personalized wealth management strategies that align with their financial objectives and risk tolerance. He also connects clients with Bank of America specialists for support in banking, credit, home financing, and small business solutions. Itamar holds professional designations including Accredited Wealth Management Advisor (AWMA), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). He earned a Bachelor's Degree from the California State University System. He is a member of professional organizations such as Beta Gamma Sigma and Phi Delta Theta Fraternity, where he is also involved in the Philanthropy Committee. In addition to his professional pursuits, Itamar participates in community service activities through his fraternity. He enjoys personal interests including basketball, chess, football, hiking, music, traveling, watching movies, and spending time with his family.

Andrew Garton is a financial advisor at Merrill with a Series 66 designation and three years of industry experience. He has held roles at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management since 2019 and previously worked in experience strategy consultancy and the hospitality industry. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as a financial clerk for his local congregation of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Merrill, together with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services for 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 institutional investors.