Stamford, CT Tresser Blvd Office

Robert Cappiello is a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. In this role, he provides guidance to clients on managing their investment portfolios and financial planning. He holds the professional designation of Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), which reflects his expertise in advising individuals on personal investment strategies. Robert earned his Bachelor's Degree from the University of Connecticut. This combination of education and professional designation supports his work in helping clients meet their financial goals through tailored wealth management solutions.

Elizabeth Maccarone is a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, where she has been working since 2012. She specializes in serving high-net-worth individuals and their families by developing personalized and comprehensive financial strategies that encompass investment management, retirement planning, liability management, and multigenerational planning. Elizabeth emphasizes the importance of building and maintaining relationships with clients and their families, including the next generation. Her client focus areas include corporate executive services, executive compensation, family wealth management strategies, legacy planning, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, portfolio management services, socially responsible and values-based investing, women and wealth, and individual and corporate investment strategy. She holds professional designations such as Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Sports & Entertainment Accredited Wealth Management Advisor (SE-AWMA). Elizabeth graduated from Fairfield University with a dual bachelor's degree in Finance and Marketing. Prior to joining Merrill Lynch, she began her career as a Business Development Associate at a boutique investment firm, specializing in commodities and futures trading. Outside of her professional work, she enjoys biking, cooking, photography, reading, spending time with her family, and traveling.

Natacha Cesar is a financial advisor at Merrill with 18 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked previously at UBS Financial Services and Morgan Stanley. Outside of her advisory role, she is the sole owner of a rental property in Stamford, CT. 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.

Abigail Sullivan is a financial advisor at Merrill with a Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. Her prior work includes roles at Bank of America, Romney Studios, and Hexcel Corporation. Outside of finance, she has experience with Tulane Campus Recreation and Sweet Blue Swim Academy. 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 a range of clients including individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional accounts.

Michael Pearson is a Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management and co-leads The Linke-Pearson Group, a boutique-style wealth management practice serving clients nationwide from Stamford, Connecticut. He specializes in working with high-earning executives, business leaders, and first-generation wealth creators, providing customized investment management, executive compensation strategies, and comprehensive financial planning. With over 15 years of experience, Michael holds multiple professional designations including CFP®, CFA, ChFC®, CAIA®, CPWA®, and CPFA. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Connecticut and serves as a mentor at its School of Business. Michael also participates in the Estate Planning Council of Fairfield County. His expertise encompasses areas such as college education planning, family wealth management, philanthropic planning, and institutional consulting for endowments and non-profits. Michael coordinates all aspects of his clients' financial lives, integrating tax, investment, estate, and lending strategies to provide disciplined, data-driven guidance. Beyond his client work, he has spoken at national advisor events and contributes to leadership on institutional business strategy.

William Tassinaro serves as a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. In this role, he focuses on developing personalized wealth management strategies that reflect each client's unique financial situation and life priorities. William collaborates with clients to create flexible plans that align with their goals, drawing on investment insights from Merrill and banking solutions from Bank of America. He holds the Professional Investment Advisor (PIA) designation and earned a Bachelor's Degree from Central Connecticut State University. William follows Merrill’s tradition of community involvement and dedicates time to volunteering with local organizations. His approach emphasizes understanding what matters most to clients beyond markets and returns, aiming to build strategies tailored to their families and aspirations.

Colleen Sharkey is a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. She began her career at Merrill in 1988, initially working in the residential lending group before transitioning to financial advising. She focuses on helping clients manage wealth tailored to their individual needs, emphasizing liability management for both individuals and businesses. With over a decade of experience in residential lending, Ms. Sharkey provides specialized advice on liability management and plays a key role in retirement and employee benefits planning. She holds the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC) and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designations. Ms. Sharkey earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance from Sacred Heart University. A lifelong resident of Stamford, Connecticut, Ms. Sharkey volunteers with organizations including the Fight For Two Foundation, Tough Like Tori Foundation, and UNICO-Stamford. She enjoys skiing, cooking, spending time with her family, and traveling.

Peter Kappel is a financial advisor with Merrill in Stamford, CT, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 29 years of industry experience. He has worked at Merrill Lynch since 1996 and at Bank of America, NA since 2009. Additionally, he has a longstanding association with Connecticut Metallurgical Processes Inc dating back to 1968. 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 a range of clients including individuals, high-net-worth investors, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Jonathan Castle is a financial advisor at Merrill with 26 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has worked at Merrill since 2009, with a brief tenure at Bofa Securities, Inc. in 2019. 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 offers a range of model-based and discretionary investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional investors.

William Robins is a Client Experience Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, specializing in holistic strategic planning and client relations. He provides clients with a comprehensive understanding of financial solutions available through Merrill and Bank of America, serving as a singular point of contact across the enterprise. His role involves maintaining close contact with clients to deliver efficient, best-in-class service and leveraging resources such as the Chief Investment Office to guide investment decisions. Robins' expertise encompasses a broad range of financial planning areas, including college education planning, family wealth management strategies, legacy planning, liquidity management, personal retirement planning, portfolio management, special needs planning strategies, tax minimization, and retirement income. He holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (CFP) certification and the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation, underscoring his commitment to acting in his clients' best interests. He earned a Bachelor's Degree from New York University. Outside of his professional life, Robins engages in activities such as basketball, biking, cooking, golfing, hiking, music, skiing, spending time with family, traveling, and writing. His personal philosophy centers on helping clients uncover what matters to them and their families to create strategies for their financial goals.

Alexandra Allen is a financial advisor at Merrill with six years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked for Raem Capital for nine years before joining Merrill. 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 strategies developed by internal and third-party teams, serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Forrest Close is a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, bringing close to 40 years of experience in the financial industry, including 25 years on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. At Merrill Lynch, he is a member of the GC Group, which focuses on helping multigenerational families maintain their lifestyles and make informed decisions about their wealth through comprehensive strategies encompassing lending, insurance, and banking solutions. Forrest holds a B.A. in Economics from Columbia University and maintains several professional designations, including Certified Divorce Financial Analyst®, Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA), and Sports & Entertainment Accredited Wealth Management Advisor (SE-AWMA). As a Senior Portfolio Advisor, he offers clients personalized financial strategies by managing custom investment portfolios, utilizing Merrill Lynch Wealth Management models, and selecting third-party investment strategies on a discretionary basis. In his personal life, Forrest enjoys spending time with his wife and two daughters, engaging in activities such as beach outings in summer and skiing in winter. He has been actively involved in his community, serving as President of the Board at Trackside Teen Center in Wilton, CT, and participating in his local church, Wilton Presbyterian Church.

Ian Bass is a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He joined the firm in 2016 following a nine-year tenure at Morgan Stanley. Prior to his career in financial advisory, Ian served as President and CEO of a wholly-owned subsidiary of Media General, Inc. He holds the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation and is registered with Series 7, 31, and 66 FINRA licenses, as well as State Insurance licenses. Ian earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business from the University of Bridgeport and completed an accredited certificate program at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School. His professional expertise includes wealth preservation, portfolio management, investment planning, and strategies tailored for high net worth and high profile clients. He collaborates with specialists at Merrill Lynch who focus on equities, fixed income, managed portfolios, and estate planning services. In addition to his professional role, Ian is actively involved in community and philanthropic organizations. His current and past roles include Board member of the Fair Acres Association, committee member of the Humane Society of the United States, Board member of the Pootatuck Yacht Club, Board member of RYASAP, and former Treasurer and Finance Chair of Temple Israel in Westport, Connecticut. Ian's personal interests include boating, golfing, spending time with his family, and traveling.

Samuel Lazar is a financial advisor with Merrill, holding a Series 66 designation and based in Stamford, CT. He has one year of industry experience, having previously worked at GAMCO Investors, Inc. and Barnum Financial Group. Outside of his advisory roles, he has been involved with Old Oaks Country Club over multiple years. Merrill provides managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program, offering a range of model-based and discretionary investment strategies supported by internal and third-party managers. The firm serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Joseph Zavory is a financial advisor at Merrill with Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 32 years of industry experience. He has worked at Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated since 2006. 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.