Venice, FL Venetia Bay Blvd Office

Owen Thiessen serves as a Resident Director and Wealth Management Advisor leading the Thiessen Group since joining Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in 2006. He provides advice and guidance to individuals and families focusing on portfolio management, retirement planning, corporate retirement planning, and wealth transfer and preservation strategies. Owen adopts a long-term outlook, emphasizing minimizing risk to investment portfolios and developing tax-minimizing cash flow strategies. He earned a bachelor's degree in Aeronautical Science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida. Owen holds several professional designations including CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® (CFP®) awarded in 2006, Certified Investment Management Analyst® (CIMA®), and Certified Private Wealth Advisor® (CPWA®), credentials administered by the Investments & Wealth Institute and taught in conjunction with the Yale School of Management. Residing in Osprey, Florida, Owen has lived in the Sarasota area for over 30 years and is a member of The Oaks Club. His personal interests include boating, football, golfing, music, spending time with family, and traveling.

Cole Mc Hargue is a Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, having joined the Picazio McHargue Group in 2020. He specializes in retirement planning, tax minimization, and portfolio strategies for individuals, particularly in the Venice area. Cole also focuses on wealth management, estate planning services, and wealth transfer strategies for multigenerational families. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Finance and a Bachelor's degree in Economics from Northeastern University in Boston. Additionally, Cole earned his CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification in 2022 and is a Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). His areas of expertise include family wealth management strategies, legacy planning, liquidity management, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, philanthropic planning, socially responsible and values-based investing, tax minimization, and retirement income strategies. Cole is involved in the community through organizations such as Take Stock in Children and the Venice Arts Center. His professional focus is on assisting clients with investment planning, risk management, and tax minimization strategies to help optimize the financial outcomes for clients and their families.

Stephen Picazio Jr. is a financial advisor with Merrill, holding a Series 66 credential and 28 years of industry experience. He has been with Merrill since 1997 and also associated with Bank of America since 2009. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as a board member of the Venice Nokomis Rotary Club and holds power of attorney responsibilities for family-related matters. 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 plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Cornelius Bonner is a Senior Financial Advisor and Senior Portfolio Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He joined Merrill Lynch in 2017 as part of the GBSDC Wealth Management Group. Cornelius offers advice tailored to individuals, families, and business clients by understanding their financial goals, focusing on areas such as retirement planning, investment management, wealth transfer, and navigating financial transitions. With experience in the financial industry since 2008, Cornelius works closely with retirees, business owners, widows, and those building long-term wealth. His approach involves developing customized strategies integrating investments, tax efficiency, risk management, and retirement income. He holds the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC) designation and the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) credential. Cornelius holds a High School Diploma from Sussex County Vocational Technical School and an Associate's Degree from Sussex County Community College. He is involved with the organization Big Brothers Big Sisters. Outside of work, he enjoys cooking, participating in various sports, and spending time with his family.

Gail Costa is a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. She has been in the financial services industry for over 23 years and is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® certificant as well as a Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor™. She leads the Costa Leonard Wealth Management Group, focusing on providing financial advice and guidance with a long-term approach to families, individuals, and business owners. Her expertise includes retirement management, investment management, portfolio management, and insurance, with particular attention to life and long-term care insurance and income annuities. Prior to her financial services career, Gail worked for over 18 years in information technology as an international sales and marketing manager. Gail holds an M.B.A. from the Katz Graduate School of Business at the University of Pittsburgh and dual B.A. degrees in Economics and French from Albion College. She is involved with the Civic Light Opera Guild and the Camp Nicolet Foundation. In her personal time, she enjoys antiquing, camping, golfing, interior decorating, reading, running, sewing, spending time with her family, tennis, and watching movies.

Jay Mchargue is a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, based in Venice, Florida. He has been with Merrill Lynch since 1981, focusing on portfolio management of individual assets. His client focus areas include family wealth management strategies, legacy planning, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, socially responsible and ESG investing, tax minimization, and retirement income. Jay holds a Bachelor's Degree in Economics from Indiana State University. He has earned professional designations including CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). His professional affiliations have included serving on the Board of Directors of the Indiana State University Foundation and the Gulf Coast Community Foundation, where he was also board chair, as well as serving on the board for Historic Spanish Point. He is a member of the Venice Yacht Club and resides in Sarasota, Florida, with his wife, Beth. Jay enjoys biking, gardening, and hiking. After years of involvement with the Gulf Coast Community Foundation and the Indiana State University Foundation, he is currently taking a break from community board activities.

Samuel Stempler serves as a Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, based in Venice, Florida. He focuses on providing clients with thoughtful planning and flexible financial strategies, emphasizing clear communication, transparency, and long-term client relationships. His approach aims to help clients understand the importance of developing a financial plan and adapting it as life circumstances change. Originally from New York, Samuel relocated to Florida in 2023. He has been with Merrill since 2020 and assists clients with investment planning, risk management, and tax minimization strategies. He works alongside a team with over 70 years of collective wealth management experience. Samuel holds the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation and earned a Bachelor's Degree from the State University of New York System. Samuel is an active member of the Sertoma organization in Venice, Florida. He resides in Parrish with his close family friend, Morgan, and their golden retriever, Oakley. His personal interests include chess, cooking, fishing, gardening, golfing, painting, pickleball, soccer, spending time with family, and swimming.

Terri Nelson is a financial advisor at Merrill with a Series 66 designation and two years of industry experience. Prior to joining Merrill, she worked in law enforcement with the Sarasota County and Jefferson County Sheriff's Offices and held roles at LifeLock/Symantec Corporation and Ann Taylor Factory Store. Merrill provides managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program, offering model-based and discretionary strategies constructed by internal and third-party managers for individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional investors.

Brandi Davan is a financial advisor with Merrill in Venice, FL, holding a Series 66 designation and with nine years of industry experience. She has been with Merrill since 2016. Outside of her advisory role, she operates a family household employer entity to manage payroll for her in-home daycare provider. Merrill, together with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program. The firm serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations with model-based and discretionary investment strategies.

David Gordon is a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He specializes in areas such as college education planning, legacy planning, liquidity management, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, philanthropic planning, women and wealth, sports and entertainment, tax minimization, and retirement income. David collaborates closely with clients to develop personalized financial strategies aimed at pursuing long-term goals. Originally from Long Island, David moved to Englewood, Florida at a young age. He graduated from the University of Saint Francis, where he was a four-time NCAA Division 1 letterman in tennis and a member of the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity. After working as a stock broker in New York for ten years, he relocated back to the Englewood/Venice area in 2007 to be near his mother. He holds professional designations including Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), Sports & Entertainment (SE), and Sports & Entertainment Accredited Wealth Management Advisor (SE-AWMA). David is involved in community organizations such as Kiwanis and Venice Little League. He enjoys spending time with his family, playing basketball and tennis, and coaching little league baseball. His experience living near retirees has provided him with further insight into retirement planning and related client needs.

Allan Thiessen is a financial advisor at Merrill with 43 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has been with Merrill since 1983, also working at Bank of America since 2009. 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 a range of clients including individuals, high-net-worth investors, and institutions.

Travis Mann is a Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. After serving eight years in the United States Army, including leadership roles in the 75th Ranger Regiment, he transitioned to a career in financial services. He earned a bachelor's degree from Flagler College in 2022 and holds professional designations as a Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC) and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). Travis specializes in providing comprehensive financial planning and investment management tailored to the individual needs of clients. His areas of expertise include education planning, family wealth management, legacy and philanthropic planning, liquidity management, retirement planning, portfolio management, small business strategies, and special needs planning. He focuses on uncovering client goals to create personalized strategies that address both current concerns and future aspirations, with ongoing guidance as client needs evolve. In addition to his professional activities, Travis is involved in community organizations such as the American Legion, Habitat for Humanity, and the Three Rangers Foundation. He is also a member of the Charlotte County Chamber of Commerce. Outside of work, he engages in biking, boating, bowling, camping, chess, golfing, hiking, reading, skydiving, and spending time with his family.