Women’s superpower: Investing

Watch our experts share ways to tap into your ability to build a more secure financial future.

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Women’s superpower: Investing

Watch our experts share ways to tap into your ability to build a more secure financial future.

Watch now

Merrill Lynch

The Douglass Group

Wealth Management

Learn more about an advisor's background on
FINRA's BrokerCheck

Merrill Lynch
Wealth Management

Whatever your personal goals may be, we will work together with you, one-on-one, to develop a personalized financial strategy designed to help you pursue your long-term goals.
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Helping you manage life's financial milestones

The Douglass Group is dedicated to serving the financial needs of a select cadre of families and individuals who possess substantial wealth. We offer strategic wealth management for business owners, entrepreneurs, Fortune 500 executives, wealthy retirees, private investors and institutions. These clients have come to The Douglass Group, in our opinion, because they realize their wealth demands special care.

Prospective clients often ask, "Why should we work with The Douglass Group?" We believe that they find the answer in who we are, what we do and how we do it. Our team has more than 100 years of collective experience helping affluent families make prudent choices about managing their wealth. That's seven combined decades of offering wealth and investing strategies through a number of market and economic cycles, across waves of ever more complicated financial products and services.

We believe that clients seek us out for goals-based guidance on the complex matters affecting their futures, and we also believe that they find value in engaging our insights across multiple wealth management disciplines.

Helping you pave the financial path that's right for you

Clients, especially those preparing for the next stage of their lives, face a number of challenges in managing significant wealth. Our team understands the obstacles, the opportunities and the many forms of risk. We are adept at developing strategies that help clients create the kind of future they want–on their terms, within their outlook.

In helping you define and chart a path toward your goals, we take into consideration your assets, your objectives and, just as important, your attitude and habits regarding money. We'll look at how you can segment your assets into portfolios targeting preservation, income and liquidity, intermediate and long-term growth, plus any special objectives you have. We'll also look at how to help you:

Manage For Risk:
Is there too much or too little risk in your portfolio? Are your goals matched correctly with the risk you're willing to take? How and where can your exposure to risk be offset where needed?

Structure For Growth:
How much growth and liquidity do you desire? How can the impact of taxes and inflation be minimized? Which alternative investments, if appropriate, have potential long-term growth?

Prepare The Portfolio Against The Unexpected:
What tactics could respond to adverse markets? What strategies can help your family manage in case of lost income or the loss of the primary earner? How could changes in family structure affect the overall portfolio?

We'll also help you review your portfolio and we can make tactical suggestions on modifying asset allocations or percentages based on performance and market trends.
*Some or all alternative investment programs may not be in the best interest of certain investors. No assurance can be given that any alternative investment’s investment objectives will be achieved.

Managing vital areas of your wealth outlook

Your wealth has a structure–and as with any structure, the better its design and construction, the better it can withstand the stress of the outside environment and the demands of the people it can benefit. Our wealth allocation framework can help you reengineer and manage your assets to stand up to these four key risk factors:

LONGEVITY
What if spending and inflation threaten to deplete your assets in your later years when you need them most? We can show you how to develop practical, durable income generation and management strategies for your lifetime.

TAXES
What if you are paying more in taxes than you should? In consultation with your tax professional, we can find where your tax burden is heaviest, and then, if appropriate, help develop tactics to shift more of your potential taxable income to tax minimizing income streams.

FAMILY CHANGES
What if sudden education needs, elder care, divorce or death causes multiple unexpected spending priorities? We can help you skillfully implement an array of responses, from separately managed accounts to long-term care insurance, to help your family's assets withstand the unexpected.

ESTATE TRANSFER MATTERS
What if your estate transfer strategy is insufficient or out-of-date? We can coordinate with Merrill estate planning specialists to help create smart approaches to wealth transfer that may use insurance, trusts and gifting to pass on wealth the way you want.

A broad range of capabilities designed to build and enrich your financial life

To take advantage of the opportunities in today’s markets, there is no substitute for a one-on-one relationship with a Merrill financial advisor committed to your needs—an advocate who can access the combined strength of the investment insights of Merrill and the banking convenience of Bank of America, so you can plan ahead with strategies designed to face the new financial landscape:
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*Options involve risk and are not suitable for all investors. Before engaging in the purchase or sale of options, investors should understand the nature of and extent of their rights and obligations and be aware of the risks involved in investing with options. Prior to buying or selling an option, clients must receive the options disclosure document Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options. This document is available by contacting your Merrill Financial Advisor.
*Some or all alternative investment programs may not be in the best interest of certain investors. No assurance can be given that any alternative investment’s investment objectives will be achieved.

Recognition

Merrill is proud of our advisors who’ve received recognition from financial industry publications or directly from Bank of America Corporation. We believe they are setting the standard for exemplary client service.

Ted Douglass

Barron's "Top 1,200 Financial Advisors: State-by-State" 2018
Published on March 12, 2018. Rankings based on data as of September 30, 2017.

Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Advisors" 2018,2019,2020,2021,2022,2023
Published annually Jan- April. Rankings based on data as of June 30 of prior year.

Meet the Team

Supported by the global resources of Merrill, our team is comprised of talented and experienced individuals committed to building strong client relationships based on trust and personalized service.

Additional Resources

The following specialists do not make securities recommendations. Please contact your Merrill Lynch Wealth Management Advisor if you have questions about how a specialist might be able to assist you.

Brenda Dolan

Wealth Strategies Advisor

Bank of America, N.A.

George M Scafidi

Wealth Management Banking Specialist

Merrill

Staying on Track

We understand that both your life and the financial markets can change over time. By checking in to discuss changes in your life and revisiting your financial approach, our goal is to help you stay on track to achieve what's most important to you.



Reviews to help you
stay on track

We’ll meet with you to review your goals and the progress you’ve made toward reaching them. We’ll also discuss any adjustments needed to your financial approach to help you stay on course.



    Changes in your life
    and to your goals

    Your life and goals change. As these changes occur, we can update your approach to reflect them.

    #DigitalMerrill

    MyMerrill is your online destination for access to your financial information, secure communications, and a robust offering of tools and capabilities.

    Your advisor is a click away within our site or mobile apps

    You can manage account security with our customizable security capabilities such as touch ID, one time passcode, and other security features

    Access to your complete financial life is available with My Financial Picture, Merrill’s asset aggregation tool

      Let’s Have a Conversation

      Helping you reach your goals starts with getting to know you personally. Through understanding what matters most to you, together we can help you create a financial approach that reflects your personality. Only then can we offer an approach that is built around your life priorities and the advice you need to help you address fluctuations in the market and changes in your life. Let’s work together to help you achieve your goals.

      Why Merrill?

      As Merrill Lynch Wealth Management Advisors, we will sort through the financial complexities of your life, helping you build a customized investment approach to address your needs and pursue your goals.


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      We put you first, every day.
      Learn more about the dedicated one-on-one relationship you can have with a Merrill Lynch Wealth Management Advisor.

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      Transcript of Video 

      No question too big or moment too small
      For every question you have, every decision you make and every answer you need, we are with you to listen and help guide you along the many paths your life can take. Watch this video to see some questions we can address together.


      The Power of the Right Advisor®
      Working with a dedicated Merrill advisor means you get personalized investment strategies from Merrill plus access to comprehensive financial solutions only Bank of America can deliver.

      Personalized advice from a dedicated financial advisor.

      We get to know you and your family, your financial situation and what matters most to you.

      A comprehensive approach, built around your life’s priorities.

      Drawing from our experience and the best thinking of Merrill, together we will design an approach that reflects your unique needs, priorities and financial situation.

      Adjusting your investment approach as your life and the markets change.

      We will work to help you stay on track, regardless of what the markets are doing.