Springfield, MO E Bradford Pkwy Office

Dana Nelson is a Wealth Management Advisor based in Springfield, Missouri, affiliated with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. Dana began working at the Springfield Merrill office in 1986 and focuses on collaborating with clients to understand their investment objectives and preferences for involvement in the investment process. Dana develops strategies tailored to clients' mindsets, desired approaches, and investment goals, utilizing resources from Merrill and Bank of America. Dana holds a Bachelor's Degree in Accounting from Missouri State University and has earned several professional designations including the Certified Investment Management Analyst® (CIMA®) since 2002, the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor™ (CRPC™) designation in 2013, and is recognized as a Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). Dana’s areas of expertise encompass education planning, family wealth management strategies, legacy planning, personal retirement planning, philanthropic planning, small business strategies, tax minimization, and retirement income. Dana is involved in community activities, volunteering with organizations such as Crosslines and King's Way United Methodist Church. In personal time, Dana enjoys activities including baseball, golfing, and yoga.

Mary Friday is a financial advisor at Merrill with 25 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked at both Bank of America and Merrill since 2009. Outside of her advisory role, she serves as Treasurer for Norwex, a retail cleaning products corporation. 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, and institutional accounts.

James Hallam is a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management with over 15 years of experience. He works closely with clients to develop personalized financial strategies that address their long-term goals, focusing on areas such as employee benefits planning, family wealth management, retirement planning, philanthropic planning, investment strategy, tax minimization, and retirement income. Throughout his career, Hallam has supported a diverse client base including neighbors, former schoolteachers, active and retired business owners, and their employees. He emphasizes a long-term investment approach to help clients navigate market volatility and measures success strictly in terms of client outcomes. Hallam holds the Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA) and Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC) designations. He earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Missouri. Hallam has resided in Springfield with his wife and children for many years. Beyond his professional work, he has been involved with organizations such as Kings Way United Methodist Church, Ozarks Food Harvest, Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Ozarks, and Rotary International.

Ethan Straus is a Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in Springfield, Missouri. He works with clients to develop financial strategies utilizing the tools and resources of the Merrill and Bank of America enterprise, which may include banking, lending, and investing services. Ethan partners with individuals, families, and businesses, focusing on long-term relationships beyond account management by leveraging a team approach to understand client priorities and guide them through evolving financial needs. His expertise encompasses family wealth management strategies, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, tax minimization, and retirement income. Born and raised in Springfield, he holds a bachelor's degree in Finance and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Missouri State University. He also holds the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) professional designation. Ethan values family connections and aims to support not only his clients but their families as well. Outside of his professional work, he enjoys fishing, golfing, hiking, hunting, spending time with his family, traveling, and watching movies.

Trenton Feuerbacher is a Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He focuses on helping individuals and families make informed financial decisions with confidence through personalized financial planning and investment management. Trenton began his career as a Client Associate, gaining a comprehensive understanding of wealth management to create a seamless experience for his clients. His expertise includes college education planning, family wealth management strategies, legacy planning, personal retirement planning, portfolio management services, tax minimization, and retirement income. He is committed to building long-term relationships and helping clients navigate important financial decisions by developing tailored strategies that align with their unique goals and values. Trenton holds a Bachelor's Degree from Missouri State University and has earned professional designations as a Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC) and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). He is involved with the Lost and Found Grief Center and serves on its Jr Board. Outside of work, he enjoys boating, football, golfing, ice hockey, music, spending time with his family, and traveling.

Christopher Obert is a Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He specializes in helping clients build and execute financial strategies tailored to their priorities, including personal retirement planning, family wealth management, legacy planning, college education planning, and socially responsible investing. Chris often serves as a first advisor to professionals and couples, emphasizing investor education, transparency, and a long-term perspective on investing. Before joining Merrill Lynch in 2022, Christopher worked as an associate financial advisor at Ameriprise Financial, focusing on financial planning and portfolio management. He holds the Accredited Portfolio Management Advisor™ (APMA®) designation, is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (CFP), and a Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). His academic credentials include a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance, an MBA, and a graduate certificate in International Business, all from Missouri State University. Chris's approach centers on understanding clients' life priorities and collaborating to create personalized plans. He is an active listener who seeks to grasp clients' long-term goals and financial situations. Outside of his professional work, Christopher enjoys spending time with his wife Madison and their young son. He plays golf and is involved in his community through board membership with Rotaract Springfield and participation in the Springfield Sertoma Club.

Julia Ridgway is a Series 66 licensed financial advisor with 11 years of industry experience. She has worked at Merrill since 2017 and previously held positions at Transamerica Investors Securities Corporation, Transamerica Retirement Solutions, and BMO Harris Bank. 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 using model-based and discretionary investment strategies.

Michael Esch is a financial advisor with Merrill in Springfield, MO, holding a Series 66 credential and 25 years of industry experience. He has been with Merrill since 2000 and also has worked at Bank of America since 2011. Outside of his advisory role, he is the managing member of Esch Investments, LLC, a family-owned real estate LLC. 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 supported by internal and third-party managers for a range of clients including individuals, high-net-worth investors, and institutional entities.

Keisha Lemmon Clifford is a Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management based in Springfield, Missouri. She works with individuals and families to understand their financial circumstances and develop strategies that align with their stated goals and objectives. Her practice includes investment management, retirement planning, and wealth accumulation. Clifford takes a structured approach to organizing financial information and supports clients in evaluating available options over time. She maintains ongoing communication with clients and updates strategies as their financial situations, objectives, and market conditions change. She holds the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation and has completed education at Ozark's Technical Community College, as well as a High School Diploma from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Outside of her professional work, Clifford enjoys adventure sports, camping, football, hiking, traveling, and spending time with her family.

Karl Kime is a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, where he joined in 2022. He works with affluent clients to develop personalized financial strategies tailored to their short- and long-term goals, focusing on areas such as college education planning, divorce transition planning, legacy planning, liquidity management, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, and retirement income. Karl emphasizes connecting all aspects of a client's financial life to prioritize and pursue meaningful goals. Karl has been in the financial services industry since 2011. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from Drury University and has earned the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation. He believes that the primary challenge for long-term investors is not market volatility but rather the erosion of purchasing power due to inflation, aiming to craft plans to help clients increase their assets and potential income beyond inflation. Born and raised in southwest Missouri, Karl lives in Springfield with his wife Becky and their two children. He is active in the community, supporting organizations such as CASA of the Ozarks and the Heart of the Ozarks Sertoma Club. In his free time, he enjoys mountain biking, golf, baseball, reading, and spending time with his family.

Rabera Moranga is a Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, specializing in advising business owners, healthcare professionals, and high-income individuals through complex financial planning decisions and transition events. Her work focuses on delivering clarity, coordination, and disciplined judgment to clients dealing with liquidity events, incentive-based compensation, succession considerations, and organizational changes. Rabera brings experience from a decade working in regulated healthcare environments as a clinician and educator, which contributes to her disciplined, compliance-oriented approach to financial planning. She holds a Bachelor's degree from Rutgers the State University of New Jersey and maintains professional designations including Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Sports & Entertainment Accredited Wealth Management Advisor (SE-AWMA). She actively participates in professional organizations such as the Association of African American Financial Advisors and the Greene County Estate Planning Council. In addition to her professional commitments, Rabera is involved in community initiatives including the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce Small Business Council and serves as an ambassador for the Foundation for Springfield Public Schools. Her personal interests include hiking, reading, and traveling.

Shelley Marshall serves as the Senior Resident Director and Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in Springfield, Missouri. She joined Merrill Lynch and the PBM Group in 2015, bringing over 20 years of financial experience to her roles. Shelley works with clients to develop and execute tailored wealth management strategies that address various stages of their financial lives. Shelley holds a bachelor's degree in business from Drury University and a master's degree in accountancy from Missouri State University. She is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional and began her career in public accounting, though she does not provide accounting services in her current role. Her client focus areas include college education planning, legacy planning, liquidity management, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, women and wealth, tax minimization, and retirement income. Beyond her professional work, Shelley is involved in community service as a board member of Ozark Food Harvest and the Ozark Regional YMCA. She resides in Springfield with her husband and daughter and enjoys family time and fitness activities such as hiking and yoga.

Michael Pinkston is a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management and serves as the lead financial advisor for The PBM Group. He has been working in the financial industry since 1995, beginning his career at Merrill. Over his more than 25 years of experience, Michael has focused on building long-term client relationships and delivering customized wealth management strategies tailored to individual goals. His areas of expertise include college education planning, executive compensation, family wealth management strategies, personal retirement planning, tax minimization, and retirement income. Michael holds a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Missouri System and has earned the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation. He emphasizes educating clients about how their investment portfolios align with their overall wealth management objectives. Community involvement is an important aspect of Michael's professional approach. He actively volunteers and fundraises for local non-profit organizations, including the Humane Society of Southwest Missouri and Ozarks Food Harvest, where he has also served on the board and currently sits on the foundation board. Residing in Springfield, Michael lives with his wife, Whitney, and their three children. Outside of work, he enjoys baseball, football, golfing, music, travel, and spending time outdoors.

Matthew Lyons is a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. With over a decade of experience in upper-level retail management focusing on operational finances and customer relationships, he joined Merrill in 2015 to leverage their resources in helping clients achieve their goals. Matthew specializes in areas including education planning, family wealth management strategies, legacy planning, liquidity management, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, portfolio management services, and retirement income. Matthew holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business from Drury University. He is a Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) and utilizes the banking resources of Bank of America to provide integrated financial solutions, including access to Wealth Management Lending Officers and Relationship Managers. His approach centers on connecting all aspects of his clients' financial lives to prioritize and pursue goals such as retirement income, long-term care, education funding, gifting, tax minimization, wealth transfer, and estate planning. Residing in Springfield, Missouri for most of his life, Matthew is involved in community organizations such as the Arkansas Climbers Coalition, Boy Scouts of America, Lost and Found, and Trailspring. He enjoys adventure sports, boating, camping, hiking, music, rock climbing, running, soccer, spending time with his family, and traveling.

Sayla Sherard is a Series 66 licensed financial advisor at Merrill with 7 years of industry experience. She has worked at Merrill since 2018 and previously was employed at Jack Henry & Associates for one year. Sherard serves as a board member of the Twin Oaks Country Club, a social club in Springfield, Missouri. 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, and institutions.