Women’s superpower: Investing

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Saad Vannatta & Associates

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Our team focuses on addressing the investing and fiduciary responsibilities of institutions as well as the wealth management needs of individuals and families. We work closely with clients to determine their needs so that we can craft customized financial strategies to help them pursue their goals.

Our Videos

Insights, observations, and ideas to help you in your pursuit of your financial goals.

Important Video Disclosures

Welcome to Our Website

Merrill Personal Wealth Analysis® can help us build and document your personalized plan, centered on your goals and focused on what you want to achieve.

How my team and I can help you fulfill your organization’s mission.

Connecting with you is important to me

We start with what’s important to you

We take the time to listen and learn about the needs and goals of your institution and the people it serves – it’s these real-world insights that guide our strategies and personalized service.

About Us

Meet the Team

Our team is comprised of talented and experienced individuals committed to building strong client relationships based on trust and personalized service.

Additional Resources

Saad Vannatta & Associates is supported by talented specialists who have experience working with institutions and share a strong commitment to guiding investment programs and strategic decision making.

Deborah S Smith

Deborah S Smith

Wealth Management Lending Officer

Bank of America, N.A.

NMLS #505114

Madison Montemayor

Madison Montemayor

Wealth Management Banking Specialist

Merrill

Ryan Thrower

Ryan Thrower

Wealth Strategies Advisor

Bank of America, N.A.

David Samman

David Samman

Investment Solutions Group Portfolio Strategist

Bank of America, N.A.

Joseph L Crews

Joseph L Crews

Retirement Specialist

Bank of America, N.A.

Zachary D. Kallick

Zachary D. Kallick

Employee Benefits Specialist

Bank of America, N.A.

Jon Cates

Jon Cates

Employee Benefits Specialist

Bank of America, N.A.

Mission

We focus on addressing the investing and wealth management needs of institutions and high net worth individuals and families. We work closely with clients to determine their needs and aspirations so that we can craft customized strategies to help them pursue their goals.

Approach

We believe that while investment results are important, how you pursue those results is paramount. Our team follows  a disciplined consulting process, one that begins and ends with you. First, we listen so that we can truly understand your needs. We take the time to ask questions that will help you articulate your concerns and priorities, so that we can then help you develop strategies and align resources to help address your needs and pursue your goals. We offer insights and we take the time to educate you on markets, trends and best practices.

Retirement Benefits Consultant

As Bank of America Retirement Benefits Consultants (RBC), Saad Vannatta & Associates is one of a select group of highly qualified and credentialed Merrill  advisors specialized in defined contribution plans who can add value to your plan by:

  • Offering access to 3(21) fiduciary services1
  • Helping you shape your investment strategies
  • Offering thoughtful advice without a proprietary investment requirement
  • Providing periodic reporting and helping you understand results and measurements to assist you in managing your plan over time
  • Working with you to create a plan that is designed to drive employee engagement and positive participant behavior
  • Assisting in the delivery of employee financial wellness programs and education
  • Educating employees on connecting their life priorities with their finances to help them pursue what matters most to them
1Fiduciary Advisory Services is an investment advisory program sponsored by Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (also referred to as “MLPF&S” or “Merrill”). MLPF&S is a registered broker-dealer, Member SIPC and a wholly owned subsidiary of BofA Corp. MLPF&S. MLPF&S offers a broad range of brokerage, investment advisory and other services. There are important differences between brokerage and investment advisory services, including the type of advice and assistance provided, the fees charged, and the rights and obligations of the parties. It is important to understand the differences, particularly when determining which service or services to select. Please refer to the Fiduciary Advisory Services Brochure for information on the program including a description of the series and related fees.




Please mark your calendar for our first #WomenInvested Meet Up, Women’s superpower: Investing, premiering March 15 at 2 p.m. ET, and available for viewing on-demand.

In this engaging conversation, our experts will cut through the jargon, offering useful tips and insights to help you build a more secure financial future.

Topics explored:

• Ways to preserve and grow your wealth
• How to build a portfolio that aligns with your goals
• Using your risk tolerance to make better-informed investing choices

Visit our webcast page to learn more about the program and set a calendar reminder. It’s sure to be an informative discussion that you won’t want to miss.




Please join us for a virtual event, Social Security and You, on Tuesday, March 26th, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. hosted by Saad Vannatta & Associates and presented by Joe Crews, CFP® CRPC®, Personal Retirement Specialist at Bank of America

During this informative event, we'll discuss:

• Who is eligible for Social Security benefits
• What factors you should consider before starting your benefits
• When is the most appropriate time to start taking benefits
• Ways in which you can potentially maximize your benefits

Click here to Register
Event number (access code): 2422 344 7088
Event password: SVGroup24!


Other Upcoming Events:

Journey of Caregiving


Please join us on Monday, March 4th, 2024 from 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM Eastern for a Journey of Caregiving seminar. This seminar will cover how caregiving can affect you and the people you love and potential impacts to your finances. However, there are things you can do to help mitigate some of these impacts by planning ahead and having the conversation with your family today.
Click here to register

Investing Basics

Please join us on Tuesday, March 5th, 2024 from 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM Eastern for an Investing Basics seminar. You don't have to be a financial expert to invest for the future. However, you do need basic knowledge of the investing world to help make informed decisions. So whether you plan to invest on your own or with the help of a financial specialist this seminar will give you a basic introduction to the world of investing.
Click here to register

Planning for The Retirement You Want

Please join us on Tuesday, March 19th, 2024 from 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM Eastern for a Planning for The Retirement You Want seminar. How much will you need in savings for retirement? While the amount is different for each of us, the need for a plan isn’t. Join this seminar to begin the process and put a plan in place for your retirement.
Click here to register

Financial Tips for Your 20s and 30s

Please join us on Tuesday, April 2nd, 2024 from 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM Eastern for a Financial Tips for Your 20s and 30s seminar. When it comes to your financial wellness, you may have questions about your day-to-day expenses, renting vs. buying a home, student loans and other debt, preparing for the future and balancing all of that while having some fun along the way. Join this seminar to learn how to set financial goals and put a plan in place to work toward them.
Click here to register

Financial Tips for Your 30s and 40s

Please join us on Wednesday, April 3rd, 2024 from 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM Eastern for a Financial Tips for Your 30s and 40s seminar. Strategies to help manage some of the most common life priorities, including home, family (children and caregiving) and retirement.
Click here to register

Financial Tips For Your 50s and 60s

Please join us on Thursday, April 4th, 2024 from 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM Eastern for a Financial Tips For Your 50s and 60s seminar. Your financial needs may change as you approach retirement. Learn some strategies on how to adjust and manage your finances to help you prepare for life and your financial needs in retirement.
Click here to register

Financial Fundamentals

Please join us on Tuesday, April 16th, 2024 from 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM Eastern for a Financial Fundamentals seminar. Your financial priorities depend on where you are in life and what's most important to you. Learn how to set goals, and put a spending and savings plan in place to help you work towards them.
Click here to register

Cyber Security Awareness

Please join us on Thursday, May 2nd, 2024 from 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM Eastern for a Cyber Security Awareness seminar. Cyber crime and fraud against individuals and businesses have become a common daily headline. The risks to your digital identity, personal information and financial accounts are increasing, but there are ways you can protect yourself. Join this seminar to learn more about how Bank of America protects our customers and best practices for staying ahead of cyber threats in a digital world.
Click here to register

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.

Scott F Saad

Forbes “Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams” 2024 and 2023
Published annually in January. Rankings based on data as of March 31 of prior year.*

Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Advisors" 2023
Published on April 4, 2023. Rankings based on data as of June 30, 2022.

Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Advisors" 2022
Published on April 7, 2022.  Rankings based on data as of June 30, 2021.

Financial Times "401 Top Retirement Advisers" 2016
Published on September 15, 2016. Rankings based on data as of December 31, 2015.

Paul R Vannatta

Forbes “Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams” 2024 and 2023
Published annually in January. Rankings based on data as of March 31 of prior year.*

Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Advisors" 2023
Published on April 4, 2023. Rankings based on data as of June 30, 2022.

Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Advisors" 2022
Published on April 7, 2022.  Rankings based on data as of June 30, 2021.

Barron's "Top 1,200 Financial Advisors: State-by-State" 2020, 2021, 2022
Published annually in February - March. Rankings based on data as of September 30 of the prior year.

Solutions for Institutions

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Supporting a strong retirement plan and helping to keep it on track

The retirement and financial needs of your employees, as well as the responsibility those needs create for you as an employer, are important to you. We offer the solutions your employees may need to help pursue their financial goals and maintain financial wellness. Our array of resources and experience is designed to help meet your employees’ financial needs in ways that make sense for your company — strategically, operationally and financially. You and your employees will have a team of experienced and passionate advocates for financial wellness on your side. Our team will make your priorities their own so you can focus more on your business.

For Plan Sponsors

Your role as a plan sponsor is more challenging than ever, and it’s not something to face alone. We bring the resources and thought leadership from Bank of America Corporation and its affiliates to bear in helping you provide a strong, healthy and fully compliant program that runs smoothly, engages your employees and makes your job easier. We can help you focus on the areas that may be helpful to plan success, including Fiduciary Advisory Services 1 and Education and Plan Services 2 appropriate for your plan.

Fiduciary Advisory Services1

Through Fiduciary Advisory Services, we can help you design and maintain an investment menu.
  • Investment Policy Statement (IPS)3
  • Comprehensive due diligence processes to identify appropriate investments 
  • Proactive delivery – online and by your designated advisor – of investment performance reporting every quarter 
  • Report providing fund analysis and market trends.

1 Fiduciary Advisory Services is an investment advisory program sponsored by Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (also referred to as “MLPF&S” or “Merrill”). Merrill offers a broad range of brokerage, investment advisory and other services. There are important differences between brokerage and investment advisory services, including the type of advice and assistance provided, the fees charged, and the rights and obligations of the parties. It is important to understand the differences, particularly when determining which service or services to select. Please refer to the Fiduciary Advisory Services Brochure for information on the program including a description of the series and related fees.

2 Education and Plan Services are non-fiduciary services required for Advisor Alliance clients and optional for MLII clients.

3 IPS service is not available for FAS Discretionary. The plan sponsor is responsible for the approval and final adoption of the IPS.

For Employees

Financial Life Benefits® provides employees access to a seamless integrated solution that supports their broad financial needs. They will be able to take advantage of tools, resources, insights, education and guidance from Bank of America Corporation affiliates.

Helping your employees:

  • Understand the impact of financial decisions.
  • Prepare for life events, short- and long-term.
  • Create a financial strategy.
  • Take action and stay engaged.
  • Reduce stress.

Helping institutions meet their investment needs

We put the resources and intellectual capital of Merrill to work for institutional clients like you by delivering thoughtful advice and sophisticated investment strategies through focused client-centric consulting. We help organizations like yours address today’s complex investment challenges through an integrated, goals-based investment process that enables them to redefine success, manage risk and help fulfill their missions.

Investment Solutions

We provide access to a broad suite of potential investment solutions for non-profit organizations, foundations, endowments and corporate retirement and pension plans. Our level of involvement is based on your preference — from traditional consulting, to client-directed implementation, to full discretionary outsourced CIO services. We work with your CFO, board  of directors and investment committee to develop a tailored investment strategy that is consistent with your culture, goals, preferences and risk profile.

Disciplined Investment Process

We follow a disciplined process that helps to address your organization’s changing needs and provides you with a potentially higher probability of achieving your long-term investment goals.

1

Investment Policy Statement Development and Review

Act as liaison between institutional clients and Merrill's Investment Policy Statement (IPS) service, which creates and modifies an IPS, based on the client’s investment goals and objectives.

2

Strategic Allocation Modeling

Customizable asset allocation based on the Chief Investment Office capital market assumptions.

3

Investment Manager Due Diligence

Recommend investment solutions leveraging Merrill's thorough and rigorous due diligence process.

4

Investment Manager Search and Selection

Advanced portfolio construction techniques combined with client specific objectives and Merrill's capital market guidance.

5

Portfolio Strategy

Leverage Merrill's global intellectual capital including tactical tilts to potentially help increase returns.

6

Performance Measurement

Review, quantify and evaluate performance to identify opportunities to refine the portfolio’s overall strategy, based on the Investment Policy Statement.

Endowments, Foundations and Nonprofits

We understand the issues nonprofits, endowments and foundations address in funding their missions in an ever-changing financial climate. Drawing on the global resources of Bank of America Corporation and its affiliates, we offer insight, guidance and personalized service to help institutions develop and execute investment strategies focused on what matters most to them and the people they serve.

Impact investing and/or Environmental Social Governance (ESG) investing has certain risks based on the fact that ESG criteria excludes securities of certain issuers for nonfinancial reasons and therefore, investors may forgo some market opportunities and the universe of investments available will be smaller.

And More

Beyond our experience, we offer access to the deep intellectual capital and broad capabilities of Bank of America Corporation and its affiliates. If we identify a need we can’t service ourselves, we can connect you with the people and resources to help you. Through our network of advisors, we strive to deliver strategies to help you manage the day-to-day and long-term responsibilities required in pursuing your institution’s goals. As we work together to address your evolving needs, we can help make the broad capabilities of Bank of America Corporation feel more accessible.

We’re committed to a high standard

Putting clients’ interests first isn’t new, and this isn’t a one-time event. Our clients have been at the center of everything we do since Charles Merrill founded Merrill over a hundred years ago.

Solutions for Individuals

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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.

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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.

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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.

Wealth Management Your Way

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

Your Financial Approach

We offer you access to the investing insights of Merrill, trust and fiduciary services from Bank of America Private Bank, and the banking convenience of Bank of America to help you pursue your goals. We will work to help you stay on track, regardless of what the markets are doing.

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FAMILY
Taking care of your family and other people in your life
  • Trust & Estate Services4
  • Education Funding1
  • Insurance3
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HEALTH
Planning for healthcare expenses now and in the future
  • Long-term Care Insurance3
  • Health Savings Account2
  • Disability Insurance3
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HOME
Upsizing, downsizing, remodeling or buying a vacation home
  • Home Loans2
  • Home Equity Lines of Credit2
  • Securities-Based Lending2
  • Credit Cards2
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WORK
Working in retirement, selling or starting a business
  • Bank of America Business Banking2
  • Exchange Funds1
  • Concentrated Stock Management1
  • Succession Planning1
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LEISURE
Spending your free time in meaningful ways
  • Credit Cards2
  • Securities-Based Lending2
  • Structured Lending2
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GIVING
Volunteering, mentoring others and giving to charities
  • Donor-Advised Funds4
  • Private Foundations4
  • Charitable Trusts4
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FINANCE
Using your finances to bring it all together
  • Merrill Investment Accounts1
  • Investment Advisory Accounts1
  • Alternative Investments1
  • Exchange-Traded Funds1
  • Mutual Funds1
  • Closed-end Funds1
  • Fixed Income Products1
  • Options1
  • Annuities3
  • Impact Portfolios1
  • Market-Linked Investments1
  • Securities-Based Lending2
  • Margin1
  • Home Loans2
  • Bank of America Checking and Savings Accounts2
  • Credit Cards2
  • Online Account Access1,2

¹ Investment products are offered by Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated.
² Banking, mortgage and home equity products offered by Bank of America, N.A.
³ Insurance and annuity products offered through Merrill Lynch Life Agency Inc.
4 Trust and fiduciary services are provided by Bank of America Private Bank.

Philosophy

We believe the best financial approach is the one that helps you pursue your goals. That's why, from the start, we talk about your aspirations and encourage you to ask questions about issues that matter most to you. Calculating how to manage future health care expenses? College on the horizon? Considering the sale of a business or purchase of a home? Preparing to pass your wealth to future generations? It all starts with a plan intended to help you manage, grow, and preserve your wealth today, while also considering the impact it can have for years to come. With access to the investment insights of Merrill and banking solutions from Bank of America, we will work with you to develop an approach designed to help address your financial needs.

Approach

An effective approach to wealth management requires working closely with you to help identify and define your goals. The process begins by understanding what matters most to you. We help create a financial strategy to pursue your goals that reflects your investment style and is built around your life plan.

Whether you are focused on growing, preserving or transferring wealth the team is committed to helping you address your financial goals at every stage of your life.

Your approach to investing

Drawing upon research in the field of behavioral finance, Merrill developed the Investment Personality Assessment to help us get to know you better as an investor and potentially help you refine your own investing preferences. By gaining a deeper understanding of how you think and feel about investing through this assessment, we can customize the financial approach we develop together to help you pursue what matters most to you. Our Investment Personality Assessment is one of the ways to help us get to know you - to understand your goals and priorities. These questions will help us provide you with additional insights and resources.

Understanding your goals and priorities

Your life and goals change. We have tools to help you keep track of these changes so they can be reflected in your financial approach.

Capabilities

Regarding your finances, it is important for you to know exactly where you are, where you want to go, and how much you may need to get there. We work together to develop a personalized financial strategy, providing access to the investment insights of Merrill and the banking convenience of Bank of America, to help you plan for your financial future. We provide transparency on potential risks and opportunities and what you’re paying for and what you’re getting. Understanding that life needs and market conditions can change, we will meet with you to help ensure your strategy stays on track in pursuing your goals and to adjust your approach as needed for the journey ahead.

Join us

Let’s Have a Conversation

There is no substitute for a one-on-one relationship with a Merrill financial advisor committed to your needs.