Weeki Wachee, FL Office

Russell Brander is a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He has been a financial advisor since 1996, specializing in personal retirement planning, individual and corporate investment strategy, and retirement income. Russell holds a Bachelor's Degree from Bucknell University and a Master's Degree from Florida Metropolitan University. He is certified as a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (CFP) and is a Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). His approach focuses on developing personalized financial plans that consider clients’ unique ambitions and priorities, including funding education, planning for retirement and healthcare costs, and achieving long-term family goals. Outside of his professional work, Russell enjoys biking, boating, golfing, and traveling.

Timothy Martin is a Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. In his role, he works directly with clients to identify their financial goals and develop customized portfolio strategies aimed at achieving these objectives. He provides ongoing advisory services, adapting investment plans as clients' personal and financial situations evolve. He brings expertise in areas including family wealth management, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, small business strategies, sports and entertainment financial matters, tax minimization, and retirement income planning. Timothy holds several professional designations, including Accredited Wealth Management Advisor (AWMA), Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), and Sports & Entertainment Accredited Wealth Management Advisor (SE-AWMA). Timothy earned a Bachelor's Degree from Full Sail University. Outside of his professional work, he enjoys golfing, photography, pickleball, spending time with his family, and traveling.

Charles Hickman is a Client Experience Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. In his role, he works directly with clients to understand their current financial situations and presents solutions offered through Merrill and Bank of America. His approach involves helping clients identify what matters to them and their families, assisting in the creation of strategies to pursue their financial goals. He holds the designation of Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). Charles completed his high school education at Sandalwood High School.

Steven Griffith is a Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He has been with Merrill Lynch since 2013, initially working in Jacksonville where he focused on educating clients and assisting with their 401(k) plans. In 2015, he relocated to the Citrus/Hernando County area to join a team dedicated to helping clients implement comprehensive financial plans. Steven's areas of expertise include family wealth management strategies, legacy planning, liquidity management, personal retirement planning, portfolio management services, tax minimization, and retirement income. He holds a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Florida and has earned professional designations as a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (CFP) and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). He is fluent in both English and Russian. Outside of his professional role, Steven is involved in the automotive community in Citrus and Hernando Counties and participates in automotive events across Florida. He enjoys outdoor activities such as biking, boating, camping, fishing, football, golfing, and hunting. Steven and his wife are raising three active boys and support the Florida Gators.

John McCullough is a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, serving clients primarily in Citrus County, Hernando County, Pasco County, Polk County, Hillsborough County, and Pinellas County in Florida. He has been in the financial services industry since 1995 and joined Merrill Lynch in 2006. John holds several professional designations including CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), Chartered Retirement Plans Specialist (CRPS), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Benefits Consultant (RBC). John earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from Florida State University in 1990 and a High School Diploma from Northeast High School in St. Petersburg, Florida. His areas of expertise include retirement income planning strategies, 401(k), Defined Benefit Pension and Cash Balance Retirement Plans for corporations, business owners, corporate executives, retirees, and their families. He provides personalized financial strategies based on clients' risk tolerance, time horizon, liquidity needs, and investment goals, and offers services such as wealth outlook strategies, investment advice, estate coordination, legacy implementation, and personalized income strategies. Residing on the Nature Coast of Florida, John is a parent of two grown daughters. Outside of his professional work, he enjoys outdoor activities including biking, boating, camping, fishing, hiking, hunting, swimming, and traveling. He also has an interest in cooking and values spending time with his family.

Katie King is a Financial Advisor on the Brander Team at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, where she collaborates closely with a senior advisor who holds a CFP® certification. In her role, she utilizes the combined expertise and resources of Merrill Lynch and Bank of America to provide personalized financial strategies tailored to each client's specific goals. Her practice focuses on empowering individuals, families, and businesses to make informed financial decisions, with a particular emphasis on supporting women in finance. Katie's areas of expertise include family wealth management, legacy planning, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, portfolio management, small business strategies, and retirement income. Katie holds a Bachelor's Degree from the University of South Florida and is a Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). She communicates in both English and American Sign Language (ASL). She is involved in the Greater Pasco Chamber of Commerce and contributes to community efforts through the Messengers of Hope Food Pantry. Her personal interests include billiards, camping, chess, cooking, hiking, music, pickleball, spending time with family, traveling, and watching movies.

Kyle Benitez is a Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He works with families, professionals, and business owners to develop personalized financial strategies aimed at growing, protecting, and transferring wealth. Kyle focuses on building long-term relationships and serving as a trusted resource as clients navigate significant financial decisions. He specializes in areas including college education planning, family wealth management strategies, legacy planning, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, special needs planning strategies, sports and entertainment, and retirement income. Kyle emphasizes understanding his clients' priorities by helping them identify their goals and guiding them on a suitable pathway to achieve them. His approach includes providing ongoing advice and guidance as clients' needs evolve. Kyle holds the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC) and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designations. He completed his high school education at Gateway High School. Outside of his professional work, he enjoys activities such as cooking, drawing and sketching, music, pottery, spending time with his family, and watching movies.

Racheal Freeman is a Series 66 licensed financial advisor with Merrill, where she has worked since 2019. She has five years of industry experience, including prior roles at Bank of America and a subcontracting position assembling repair kits for an inflatables patch company. Freeman balances her advisory work with part-time manufacturing assembly outside of the investment field. 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 a range of model-based and discretionary investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional investors.

Paul Nessler is a financial advisor with Merrill in Weeki Wachee, Florida. He holds a Series 66 designation and has 8 years of industry experience. He has worked at both Bank of America, N.A. and Merrill since 2009. 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.

Joseph Weston Jr. is a financial advisor with Merrill, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 29 years of industry experience. He previously worked with Morgan Stanley Dow Inc. and Banc of America Investment Services, Inc. In addition to his advisory role, he owns a limited liability company focused on self-storage commercial real estate investment. 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 a range of model-based and discretionary investment strategies for individual and institutional clients.