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Merrill lynch

The Peters Group

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Merrill Lynch
Wealth Management


Working closely with growth-minded and forward-thinking clients, we focus on constructing “indestructible wealth” – and teach them how to manage and preserve it over time.

Welcome

Estate planning strategies are at the core of everything we do as The Peters Group. For this reason, we maintain a watchful eye on a client’s tax consequences – not only at “tax time” – but throughout the year. This ongoing focus can help uncover and correct tax inefficiencies quickly.

Given John-Michael’s high level of tax awareness – and Adam’s previous experience as an estate-planning attorney – we have a natural affinity for identifying, optimizing and maintaining tax efficiencies for clients, on an ongoing basis.

As we begin working with a client, one of our initial tasks is examining their portfolio and working diligently to fully understand the taxation of individual holdings. Once we fully appreciate a client’s long-term goals – for retirement, wealth transfer, business succession, and/or charitable giving – we exercise “tax-diligence” in crafting a customized portfolio and making other recommendations, with a defined purpose that will anchor our discipline over time.

In addition to our individual skillsets, we have significant experience working collaboratively with CPAs and tax attorneys – directing their implementation of the strategies we’ve formulated. In coordination with clients and their other trusted professionals, we find that aligning financial, tax minimization, and legal strategies can bring about countless benefits – that can span generations.

Planning Strategies

At the Peters Group, we believe that superior wealth management begins with a thorough evaluation of a client’s existing wealth structure, tax situation, and long-term financial needs. 

As a planning focused advisory team founded by John-Michael Peters more than ten years ago, we have helped generations of clients define their meanings of wealth and preserve family legacies. While there are many aspects to estate planning strategies, we strive to simplify what can be complex and emotional decisions. Our team is equipped to provide a streamlined, positive experience – to relieve you of managing your assets and, especially, to give you the confidence that comes from the tax-efficient preservation and transfer of wealth.

We can help coordinate legal issues around all sorts of financial situations. In co-creating the architecture of a client’s estate strategy, we explain why choices are being made and who will be responsible for choices made down the road. Then, we work in concert with a client’s attorney or CPA – someone we consider as the conduit and responsible for implementation.

The recent addition of Adam Wood to our team has added significantly to our knowledge base and capabilities. Having spent ten years as an estate-planning attorney, Adam has formulated customized strategies for hundreds of clients and their families. Adam is admitted to practice law in New York State and while he does not practice law at Merrill nor does he provide legal advice, he uses his experience and knowledge to build a planning framework for each client – accounting for tax minimization considerations and other factors as they can affect the longevity and stability of a family’s wealth.

Our long-held belief is that planning is a process, not an event, and certainly not a document. Recognizing that clients can make vastly improved decisions in an environment they understand, we educate and encourage their values-based decisions. Everything we do is based on a client’s values, which change far less often than their goals. The quality and longevity of our client relationships remind us of the roles we play and the trust we’ve earned.

Tax Efficiencies

The core of The Peters Group practice is intelligent estate planning strategy. For this reason, we maintain a watchful eye on a client’s tax consequences – not only at “tax time” – but throughout the year. This ongoing focus can help uncover and correct tax inefficiencies quickly.

Given John-Michael’s high level of tax awareness – and Adam’s previous experience as an estate-planning attorney – we have a natural affinity for identifying, optimizing and maintaining tax efficiencies for clients, on a regular basis.

As we begin working with a client, one of our initial tasks is examining their portfolio and working diligently to fully understand the taxation of individual holdings. Once we fully appreciate a client’s long-term goals – for retirement, wealth transfer, business succession, and/or charitable giving – we exercise “tax-diligence” in crafting a customized portfolio and making other recommendations, with a defined purpose that will anchor our discipline over time.

In addition to our individual skillsets, we have significant experience working collaboratively with clients' CPAs and tax attorneys – directing their implementation of the strategies we’ve formulated. In coordination with clients and their other trusted professionals, we find that aligning financial, tax minimization, and legal strategies can bring about countless benefits – that can span generations.

*Merrill, its affiliates, and financial advisors do not provide legal, tax, or accounting advice. You should consult your legal and/or tax advisors before making any financial decisions.

Uncommon Value

At the Peters Group, we believe our job is not about managing a client’s money. It’s about managing a client’s decisions around money. While the first certainly unlocks value, our ability to successfully help manage and inform people’s financial decisions can unlock multiples of value –throughout their lives.

Here’s an example. If you could re-wind 20 or 30 years of investing and create a highlight reel, you might see ten major long-term decisions that affected your assets while reflecting your values and intentions.

Through intimate conversations with you – about your life and family – we can help you explore areas you deem important as well as those you may never have considered. Our objective is to help inform those critical decisions and, in turn, optimize your wealth, so that it helps you achieve a more complete set of fulfilling goals.

Having earned our stripes in the worlds of estate planning services and investing, we bring distinct knowledge and perspectives to each client relationship. In our quest to drive positive and wide-ranging financial outcomes, we are driven to help you build and preserve what we call “indestructible wealth.” As a result, you can be better positioned to achieve objectives that you deem meaningful – for you family, finances and business. 

Commensurate with you becoming a better-informed client, we expect that you’ll enjoy a higher level of comfort. Regardless of how we design a portfolio, for example, your “sleep at night” factor is one of our key considerations. The simultaneous delivery of insight and empathy is a rare skill but – as a hallmark of our planning-based approach – it’s what you can expect and rightfully deserve.

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.

Erich Williams

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.

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      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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      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.