Women’s superpower: Investing

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

Watch now

Our Videos

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

Important Video Disclosures

Take charge of your financial future with a plan that is all about you.

Watch my video to see how my team and I can help you achieve your financial goals for your business and your family.

Take charge of your financial future with a plan that is all about you.

Watch my video to see how my team and I can help you achieve your financial goals for your business and your family.

Watch my video to see all the ways I can serve and support you on your financial journey.

Take charge of your financial future with a plan that is all about you.

Take charge of your financial future with a plan that is all about you.

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.

David N Krake

Profile

David Krake is a Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill, in the Brea, California, office. He began at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in 2004, and has worked in the financial services industry since 2003. David works with families and businesses to navigate the many challenges that our lives and financial markets may bring, in order to help clients meet their goals with an amount of risk with which they're comfortable. He holds the CFP® certification awarded by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc., using this extensive knowledge daily in his work with individuals.*  In his work with businesses, David focuses on helping business owners effectively deploy capital, as well as assisting plan sponsors in their fiduciary responsibility with regard to their workplace retirement plans.  In this effort, David has also received the Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor designation, CPFA from the National Association of Plan Advisors.  Finally, in David's work with business owners he appreciates the deep commitment they have to their work and the unique challenges they face.  David achieved the Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA) designation in 2021 and he focuses on helping business owners align their business, wealth management and personal plans.     

Mr. Krake graduated summa cum laude from Hardin-Simmons University, in Abilene, Texas, with a BBA in Finance and Marketing, receiving high recognition from both HSU, the local community, and throughout Texas, for his outstanding academic and civic achievements. In his professional career, David was named to Forbes/SHOOK "America’s Top Next-Generation Wealth Advisors" List in 2017 and 2018 (Published annually July – Sept. Rankings based on data as of March 31 of current year), as well as Forbes/SHOOK Next Gen Best-In-State Wealth Advisors 2019** (Published on September 4, 2019. Rankings based on data as of March 31, 2019).

 In addition to his work, he is very involved in the local community. He is a member of the Whittier Chamber of Commerce, and previously served as its Vice President of Finance.  He is chairman of the Whittier Mayor's Prayer Breakfast and he volunteers, along with his wife, Lauren, with Imagine Whittier, a non-profit mentoring program for families that have recently come out of homelessness.

David is an elder at his church, The Church at Green Hills, and he loves to run, play the piano, compose music, and cook. He lives in Whittier with his lovely wife, Lauren, and their three children, Chloe, Camille, and Clayton.



*Source: The Forbes “Top Next-Generation Wealth Advisors” list, published annually July - Sept. Rankings based on data as of March 31
of current year.

Data provided by SHOOK® Research, LLC. Forbes “Top Next Generation Wealth Advisors” ranking. SHOOK considered advisors born in
1983 or later with a minimum 4 years as an advisor. Advisors have: built their own practices and lead their teams; joined teams and are
viewed as future leadership; or a combination of both. Ranking algorithm is based on qualitative measures: telephone and in-person
interviews to measure best practices, client retention, industry experience, credentials, review of compliance records, firm nominations;
and quantitative criteria, such as: assets under management and revenue generated for their firms. Investment performance is not a
criterion because client objectives and risk tolerances vary, and advisors rarely have audited performance reports. Rankings are based on
the opinions of Forbes and not representative nor indicative of any one client’s experience, future performance, or investment outcome
and should not be construed as an endorsement of the advisor. SHOOK’s research and rankings provide opinions intended to help investors
choose the right financial advisor and are not indicative of future performance or representative of any one client’s experience. Past
performance is not an indication of future results. Neither Forbes nor SHOOK Research receive compensation in exchange for placement
on the ranking. For more information, please see www.SHOOKresearch.com. SHOOK is a registered trademark of SHOOK Research, LLC.
 **Source: The Forbes “Best-in-State Next-Generation Wealth Advisors” list, published on September 4, 2019. Rankings based on data as of
March 31, 2019.

Forbes “Best-in-State Next-Generation Wealth Advisors” list was developed by SHOOK Research. Advisors considered for this ranking
were born in 1980 or later with a minimum 4 years relevant experience; advisors have: built their own practices and lead their teams;
joined teams and are viewed as future leadership; or a combination of both. Ranking algorithm is based on qualitative measures:
telephone and in-person interviews, client retention, industry experience, credentials, review of compliance records, firm nominations;
and quantitative criteria, such as: assets under management and revenue generated for their firms. Investment performance is not a
criteria because client objectives and risk tolerances vary, and advisors rarely have audited performance reports. Rankings are based
on the opinions of SHOOK Research, LLC and not representative nor indicative of any one client’s experience, future performance, or
investment outcome. Neither Forbes nor SHOOK Research receives compensation in exchange for placement on the ranking. Forbes
is a trademark of Forbes Media LLC. All rights reserved. Rankings and recognition from Forbes 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 of the advisor.

  • LANGUAGES

    English & Spanish

  • EDUCATION

    Hardin-Simmons University

Professional Staff

Supported by the global resources of Merrill, my 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.

Shahla B Hunter

Wealth Management Banking Specialist

Merrill

Rudy Armijo

Wealth Management Lending Officer

Bank of America, N.A.

NMLS #1254939

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

Welcome

One of the reasons I chose to become a Merrill financial advisor was my passion for educating clients about investing. I want to help you understand planning for your wealth, as well as the challenges and possibilities presented by the markets, and the impact this greater understanding can have on your full financial life.

Philosophy

Life is always changing and growing more complex. In the same way, your priorities and needs around your family, work, health and home are always evolving. And since your finances are so deeply connected with the rest of your life, an investment approach that is specific to your unique situation can be helpful. Even if you’re accustomed to managing your finances on your own, you may find value in having a relationship with someone who understands your priorities and who has the knowledge and resources to help you make more informed decisions, no matter where you are in life.

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.

Focus On Individuals, Families and Small Businesses

I believe that financial success can be achieved when you’re able to make investment-related decisions and trade-offs that can help you reach personally meaningful goals. Whether you’re planning your retirement, saving to buy a home or funding a child’s education, the process begins by getting to know you and how you feel about the following:

  • Health: Managing healthcare expenses, now and in the future
  • Home: Upsizing, downsizing, remodeling or buying a vacation home
  • Family: Taking care of your family and other people in your life
  • Leisure: Spending your free time in meaningful ways
  • Giving: Volunteering, mentoring others and giving to charities
  • Work: Working in retirement, selling or starting a business
  • Finance: Bringing it all together and defining your financial goals

Success will be measured by the amount of progress you are making toward reaching your goals, making thoughtfully considered adjustments as events and conditions warrant.

This material should be regarded as general or educational information on healthcare or Social Security considerations and is not intended to provide specific healthcare or social security advice. If you have questions regarding your particular situation, please contact your legal or tax advisor.

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 I can help you create a financial approach that reflects your personality. Only then can I 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.


      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.