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Merrill lynch

Homes Hill Group

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Merrill Lynch
Wealth Management


Each Homes Hill Group member is dedicated to helping you achieve your financial goals. We believe every client deserves the highest level of personalized service.

We are committed to exceeding your expectations.


We place you at the center of the wealth management process. We have access to the investment insights of Merrill and banking services at Bank of America. We work together to design goals-based financial strategies focused on your most important life priorities.

Click below to see our brochure

Homes Hill_3010270_Brochure_LR.pdf

Taking the Emotion Out of Investing

Investing in the market can cause emotional ups and downs. When the market is going up, many investors want more. When the market is sinking, those same individuals might want to get out as soon as possible. These reactions can lead to buying high and selling low—exactly the opposite of wise investing. 

While nothing about investing is guaranteed, we believe that navigating changing markets with a goal of coming out ahead takes a solid vision, a levelheaded approach and an ability to focus on the big picture.

We believe that asset allocation is more important than stock selection, market timing or other decisions. Our approach is designed to hedge against downside risk as well as pursue a predictable level of income, regardless of market conditions.

We utilize BofA Global Research to provide up-to-date market research and analysis. This research helps us to identify risk points in the market and immediately act as necessary in order to help you manage downside risk. 

We are here to help you sort through all of the complexities of financial wealth management.  Our experience, combined with our access to the investment insights of Merrill and the banking convenience of Bank of America, enables us to develop detailed wealth management strategies.

Your Future Begins with a Conversation

We recognize that every client is unique, and approach each relationship through these four steps:

UNDERSTANDING YOU. Your relationship starts with a frank conversation to help us understand your goals and what you would like your finances to accomplish in tandem with your life priorities.

TAILORING YOUR STRATEGY. We will invest the time to thoroughly evaluate your situation, and then offer an appropriate customized strategy based on your goals, cash flow needs, risk tolerance and time horizon.  Most importantly, we will make sure you understand our strategies.

CARRYING OUT YOUR CHOICES.  We will help you implement the wealth strategy you choose.  These strategies might be put in place immediately or in stages, depending on the complexity of your situation and the current market environment.

STAYING COMMITTTED TO YOU.  We maintain consistent contact with you by reviewing your progress and suggesting modifications, if needed, in response to the current economic climate or changes in your circumstances.

*Any information presented in connection with BofA Global Research is general in nature and is not intended to provide personal investment advice. The information does not take into account the specific investment objectives, financial situation and particular needs of any specific person who may receive it. Investors should understand that statements regarding future prospects may not be realized. BofA Global Research is research produced by BofA Securities, Inc. (“BofAS”) and/or one or more of its affiliates. BofAS is a registered broker-dealer, Member SIPC, and wholly owned subsidiary of Bank of America Corporation. BofA Global Research does and seeks to do business with companies covered in its research reports. As a result, investors should be aware that the firm may have a conflict of interest that could affect the objectivity of this report. Investors should consider this report as only a single factor in making their investment decision.

Client Experience Redefined

We want to deliver nothing short of the best client service experience available in today's marketplace. Clients should feel that they have an advocate in their financial advisor-and that is why every member of our team is focused on providing high-quality service and knowledgeable financial advice and guidance to clients.

Integrity, discipline and diligence, combined with our experience and ability to effectively communicate openly and honestly, are the cornerstones of our best client relationships. We are readily accessible, and our goal is for you to turn to us first whenever you have a life event that requires careful consideration.

We use multiple resources to help you stay informed and actively participating in our process, including:

  • Merrill client account statements
  • Periodic performance reviews, either in person, via telephone, or by WebEx, depending on your personal situation
  • Annual statement for tax reporting
  • Periodic, focused, topical communications pertinent to your life priorities
  • Relevant research information
  • Timely responses to questions and requests
  • Special client appreciation events that may be educational or purely social in nature 

A Disciplined Planning Process
While we pride ourselves on aligning your financial strategy and portfolio structure to your unique situation, we also believe that every client should have a uniform experience.  We offer clients detailed, proactive planning reviews, including but not limited to the following items:

INVESTMENT PERFORMANCE AND NET WORTH STATEMENT - During this meeting, we can review your net-worth statement and the performance of your portfolio from the previous year.  The necessary adjustments can be determined for your asset allocation. Through Bank of America, we offer access to personal and business financing.

LIFESTYLE PLANNING STRATEGY REVIEW - We can discuss any issues that may impact your lifestyle goals, such as risk profiling, cash flow needs and retirement income planning.  We can evaluate your life priorities to suggest any necessary asset allocations to help meet your objectives.

ESTATE PLANNING SERVICES AND INSURANCE NEEDS - In this review, we can consider your wills and discuss estate planning services, in conjunction with your attorney if you wish.  We can review your insurance needs and health savings accounts.  Our discussions can also cover your philanthropic desires, succession planning and trustee designations.

YEAR-END SERVICES - To help you prepare for tax season, in conjunction with your tax professional, we can review your account for any gains and losses and execute any necessary tax-loss trades.  We can also reconfirm your gifting requests and check to see that the required minimum distributions from your retirement accounts have been satisfied.

A Broad Range of Services

We can work with you to develop and implement strategies to help you pursue financial success by defining what's important and addressing your particular wealth management needs. 

Wealth Management
We have access to the investment insights of Merrill and the banking convenience of Bank of America in providing you:

  • Retirement planning services 
  • Access to business and personal credit, and banking through Bank of America
  • Intergenerational wealth transfer
  • Philanthropic, trust and estate planning services

When appropriate, we will coordinate with your other advisors, including financial, tax and legal professionals, in order to pursue a more cohesive overall strategy. Our integrated, holistic approach helps simplify matters and allows you to spend more time on the things that matter most to you. 

Estate Planning Services
The transfer of wealth is a personal and sometimes complex situation. There is no greater comfort than knowing your estate is in order and that your beneficiaries will inherit exactly what you intended.  We can help you review your current strategy and, if needed, work with your attorney to design and implement strategies to help you maximize your estate. 

When appropriate, we will include your heirs in our meetings, and we can serve as a bridge for the multiple generations of your family.  Whether you are looking for insurance and annuities, or a trustee or an executor for your estate, our collective years of experience and professional training allow us to think creatively and arrive at effective approaches for you to consider.


Philanthropic Giving

True wealth is about more than money - it is about having the means to support the causes that matter most to you. We have access to resources that can help you make a difference - through family foundations, charitable trusts and gifting strategies - and can offer a number of ways to help you move toward your goals.  The key is to design an approach tailored to meet your own particular set of charitable intentions and family financial objectives.


Strategies for Business Owners
A business offers special concerns: the impact of death, disability, retirement or sale.  We can assist owners with implementing strategies to help them preserve this valuable asset: maximizing liquidity events, succession and tax minimizing strategies in conjunction with your outside tax advisor, and asset preservation strategies.


Risk and Asset Management
We believe there is no "one size fits all" strategy for managing investment portfolios. Often, preservation of capital and income replacement are every bit as important as wealth accumulation and growth.  Using this focus, we carefully measure your tolerance for risk and identify your time horizon and liquidity needs, then design appropriate short- and long-term strategies to help prepare you for the unexpected. Next, we align this portfolio with your growth objectives to build a tailored strategy for your personal situation.  Finally, the strategy will be reviewed periodically to pursue your priorities.

You can delegate to Garland Homes, Jr. and Ken Hill the investment management responsibilities for your portfolios, meaning they have discretion over certain investment decisions surrounding your portfolio strategy.  Once Garland and Ken have confirmed your goals and life priorities, as well as identified your portfolio investment objective, time horizon, risk factor and liquidity needs, they will recommend targeted asset allocations for your portfolios to help you meet your specific investment objectives.  Granting them authority allows them to respond to market changes, price volatility and global events with the ability to make adjustments, if needed, to help your portfolio stay on track to meet your goals.



 

*Garland Homes, Jr. and Ken Hill are specially qualified Senior Portfolio Managers who, in addition to providing traditional advice and guidance, can help clients pursue their objectives by building and managing their own personalized or defined strategies, which may incorporate individual stocks and bonds, Merrill model portfolios, and third-party strategies. Senior Portfolio Managers are provided a high degree of flexibility in constructing portfolios and selecting securities. When servicing clients through the Firm’s Investment Advisory Program, a Senior Portfolio Manager may manage his strategies on a discretionary basis. After meeting certain additional requirements, a Senior Portfolio Manager may use his own strategies to manage the assets of clients working with other Merrill Advisors.

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.

Kenneth F Hill

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

Garland R Homes

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

Stephanie M. Batten

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

Eric Scriffiano

Employee Benefits Specialist

Bank of America, N.A.

Leslee Cornelius

Regional Lending Specialist

Bank of America, N.A.

NMLS #1014795

Patti Cowan

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

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

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    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.