San Luis Obispo, CA Marsh St Office

Jesus Fernandez is a Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. In his role as a Merrill Financial Solutions Advisor, he works closely with clients to understand their priorities and develop personalized strategies to pursue their short-, mid-, and long-term financial goals. He provides guidance on a range of topics including investing, retirement planning, and saving for unexpected events, and also facilitates access to specialists in banking, credit, home financing, and small business solutions through Bank of America. Jesus brings expertise in managing complex financial priorities such as home buying, college saving, elder care, and healthcare planning. He takes a one-on-one approach to define client goals and tailor portfolio strategies accordingly, offering ongoing advice and adjustments as client needs evolve. His professional certifications include CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). He holds a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Phoenix and communicates with clients in both English and Spanish. Beyond his professional work, Jesus is involved in his community as a girls youth softball coach and assistant. He enjoys baseball, football, music, softball, spending time with his family, volleyball, watching movies, and woodworking.

Cheryl Millard is a financial advisor at Merrill with Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and 43 years of industry experience. She has worked at Merrill since 2005 and has been with Bank of America since 2009, both roles held concurrently. 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.

Samantha Rodrigues is a Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. She works closely with clients to understand their financial goals and builds personalized portfolio strategies to help them pursue those goals. Samantha provides ongoing advice and guidance, adjusting strategies as clients' needs evolve over time. Her areas of focus include education planning, family wealth management strategies, legacy planning, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, portfolio management services, women and wealth, and retirement income. Samantha holds several professional designations, including Accredited Asset Management Specialist (AAMS), Accredited Wealth Management Advisor (AWMA), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). She earned a Bachelor's Degree from The University of Arizona Global Campus. Outside of her professional work, Samantha enjoys camping, cooking, golfing, and spending time with her family.

William Rasmussen is a financial advisor at Merrill with 19 years of industry experience and holds a Series 66 designation. He has worked at Bank of America, N.A. since 2011 and at Merrill since 2009. Merrill, together with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program for Bank of America fiduciary clients. The firm serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations using a mix of model-based and discretionary investment strategies.

Melissa Jane is a financial advisor with Merrill in San Luis Obispo, California, holding a Series 66 designation and six years of industry experience. She has worked at Bank of America and Merrill since 2020 and previously was involved in small business operations including serving as President of Covered SLO LLC, a now inactive local customer service employment firm. Merrill, together with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services for Bank of America fiduciary clients through its Select Portfolio Solutions Program. The firm serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutions using model-based and discretionary strategies developed by internal and third-party managers.

Michael Leeder serves as a Resident Director and Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in San Luis Obispo. He joined Merrill Lynch in 2004 after a career in the tech industry. In his role, he assists individuals, families, and business owners in building, managing, and transitioning their wealth through personalized planning and investment strategies. His advisory services include wealth planning, investment management, retirement planning, business owner planning, and estate and legacy planning, serving clients throughout San Luis Obispo County and Central California. Michael holds a Bachelor's degree from the University of Southern California and professional credentials including Certified Financial Planner (CFP®), Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA®), and Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA®). His areas of expertise cover college education planning, executive compensation, family wealth management, retirement income, tax minimization, and socially responsible investing. Outside of his professional career, Michael is involved with several community organizations such as 805 Lacrosse, Alex's Lemonade Stand, and the San Luis Obispo Community Foundation. His personal interests include golfing, scuba diving, skiing, and tennis.

Jeff Showers is a Wealth Management Advisor and Senior Vice President with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. Based in the Bakersfield office, he has been with Merrill Lynch since 1984. Jeff helps clients determine long-term financial goals and develop strategies in areas such as education planning, family wealth management, retirement planning, and retirement income. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance from San Jose State University and has earned multiple professional designations, including CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). Jeff is a native of Kern County and is involved in the community as a member of the advisory board for the Bob Elias Athletic Hall of Fame. Outside of his professional work, Jeff enjoys hiking, music, reading, and spending time with his wife, Kym, their two children, and three grandchildren.

Michael Stenvall is a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He joined the firm in 1984 and applies his extensive experience to craft financial strategies that provide flexibility in reaching clients' goals over time. Michael holds the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation. He specializes in areas such as college education planning, family wealth management, retirement planning, portfolio management, socially responsible and values-based investing, and tax minimization. Michael's client-focused approach aims to align financial plans with individual priorities and perspectives. Michael earned a bachelor's degree from the University of California, Riverside and a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of San Diego School of Law. He lives in San Luis Obispo with his three daughters and supports organizations including Old Mission School, the SLO Academy of Dance, SLO Soccer Club, Community Action Partnership of SLO County, and Cal Poly Arts.

Cale Kunkle is a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He joined Merrill Lynch in 2015 after a 12-year career as a classically trained chef. In his current role, he advises clients on areas including college education planning, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, portfolio management services, socially responsible investing, individual and corporate investment strategy, tax minimization, and retirement income. Cale holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics with a concentration in Finance from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, as well as an Associate of Arts in Culinary Arts from Le Cordon Bleu in Pennsylvania. His professional credentials include Certified Financial Planner (CFP), Certified Private Wealth Advisor (CPWA), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). He is affiliated with professional organizations such as Business Networking International - Five Cities Chapter, San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce, South County Chambers of Commerce, and Toastmasters. Outside of his advisory role, Cale is involved in the San Luis Obispo Classical Academy and enjoys cooking, football, golfing, hiking, pickleball, softball, surfing, and spending time with his wife Sarah and their three children.

Brett Zimmer is a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, serving clients on the Central Coast since 1986. He specializes in managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, portfolio management services, tax minimization, and retirement income strategies. Brett holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®) certification awarded by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc., as well as the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Cal Poly State University in San Luis Obispo, CA. Brett has lived on the Central Coast since 1980, where he and his wife, Karen, have raised their four children. In addition to his professional work, Brett serves on the board of his local church. He enjoys a variety of sports and outdoor activities including baseball, football, golfing, hiking, racquetball, swimming, and table tennis.

Stephen Moses is a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in San Luis Obispo, California. He has over 20 years of experience in the financial services industry, providing wealth and retirement strategies for individuals, executives, and corporations. Stephen joined Merrill Lynch in 2007, bringing with him prior experience as a Principal at Affinity Investment Advisors and as the CEO of a fine art company. Stephen holds several professional designations, including Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). He earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Southern California. Committed to the communities he serves, Stephen founded the Southern California Venture Network, the Orange County Hiking Club, the Orange County Medical Device group (now DeviceAlliance), and the CFO2CFO roundtable. Stephen focuses on family wealth management strategies, small business strategies, and individual and corporate investment strategy. He believes that true wealth encompasses more than money, emphasizing achieving the life one desires, family security, meaningful work, personal passions, and financial flexibility to support others.