Women’s superpower: Investing

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

Watch now

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.

Rhonda S Brooks

Wealth Management Lending Officer

Bank of America, N.A.

NMLS #589225

Kimberly Abernethy

Wealth Management Banking Specialist

Merrill

Ryan Thrower

Wealth Strategies Advisor

Bank of America, N.A.

Where do we begin? It starts with you.

At Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, your financial advisor focuses on the things you care about most- family, goals and priorities - even as they change over the years.

Understanding Your Life

The Clark-Troutman Group

The Clark-Troutman Group is a six member Wealth Management Team with offices in Beaufort, South Carolina and metropolitan New York. We have over 140 years of combined financial services and banking industry experience, and as of January 26, 2024 have been entrusted with over $800 Million in client balances.

Our group has significant experience advising families, individuals, business owners, professionals, and corporate executives, assisting them manage all aspects of their finances including:

-diversified portfolio strategies;

-retirement and wealth management planning;

-concentrated stock management;

-banking and lending through Bank of America, N.A.;

-trust and estate planning services;

-philanthropy;

-access to family office services; and

-tax minimization strategies in collaboration with your tax professionals




*Trust, fiduciary, and investment management services are provided by Bank of America, N.A., Member FDIC, and wholly owned subsidiary of Bank of America Corporation (“BofA Corp.”), and its agents. 

Our Philosophy

In 1914, Merrill Founder Charles Merrill said, “The interests of our customers MUST come first.” That is a commitment that The Clark-Troutman Group honors today, and always will. With the industry leading investment insights of Merrill, access to the specialized wealth structuring services of Bank of America Private Bank and the banking convenience of Bank of America, we take great pride in delivering a breadth of financial services to our clients addressing virtually every financial challenge they may face on either side of the balance sheet.

 


Institutional Investor magazine announced BofA Global Research as one of the Top Global Research Firms in 2022 based on surveys held throughout the year. The magazine creates rankings of the top research analysts in a wide variety of specializations, drawn from the choices of portfolio managers and other investment professionals at more than 1,000 firms. 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. Learn more about the methodology at Institutional Investor. Rankings and recognition from Institutional Investor are no guarantee of future investment success and do not ensure that a current or prospective client will experience a higher level of performance results and such rankings should not be construed as an endorsement.

 

Our Process

At the Clark-Troutman Group- from the very outset we ask what matters to the affluent families and individuals we serve, and we never stop asking that question. 

More specifically, we start with our intensive wealth management profiling process – where we invest considerable time together with you in understanding your background, perspective, investing experience, the goals and purpose for your wealth as well as your most pressing financial concerns. 

Next, we apply our extensive business and investment experience – and strong analytical and statistical backgrounds – to craft a diversified portfolio and wealth management plan customized to your unique investment personality and your key financial goals derived from your profile. 

Then we extend our focus to assisting you develop tax minimization and estate planning strategies along with business succession plans, as we coordinate our efforts with your CPA, attorneys and other financial advisors you may have- as well as provide access to our own network of internal specialist partners. 

Having helped you establish appropriate portfolio and financial strategies– we remain in regular contact as we diligently assess your plans’ performance and continued efficacy in light of changing market, regulatory and tax policy environments as well as any modifications to your own goals and life priorities. Fundamentally, we remain ever cognizant of the fact that we are retained to help you accelerate your success, put your goals within reach, and assist you enjoy the lifestyle you have worked so hard to achieve.

The Clientele We Serve

The vast majority of clients have been referred to us and come from all walks of life. They are afffluent families, high and ultra-high net worth individuals, business owners, professionals, corporate executives, successful entrepreneurs and philanthropists. We are privileged to have built strong, and in many cases multi-decade, multi-generational relationships with our clients through our professionalism and steadfast commitment to their interests.



 

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

      We believe it’s important that you seek the advice and guidance of an experienced financial advisor who can thoughtfully analyze your situation, work with you to identify potential solutions that address your needs, and clearly communicate them to you. We want to work with you to develop your wealth management approach for the future.

      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.


      MLBrochure.png

      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.

      Anthem video thumb.jpg 
      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.