KM & Associates

Merrill Lynch Wealth Management
222 Lakeview Avenue
Suite 1300
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
(561) 514-4832
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You have high standards. So do we. At KM & Associates, we look to create a different kind of client experience, one committed to excellence in every aspect of our work that touches your life.
KM & Associates
Merrill Lynch Wealth Management
Welcome

Your path to wealth is your own. You know the decisions you have made, the sacrifices you have undertaken, and the sheer time you have invested to arrive where you are today.


At KM & Associates, we appreciate the singularity of your situation—both where you are now and where you want to be in the future.


Clients come to us for a few different reasons:

  • Complexity. Some clients realize their wealth has become more complicated than they ever anticipated. We help them unwind the intricacies of significant wealth, anticipating opportunities, creating a customized plan, and looking ahead to what they want to accomplish. We believe we have the knowledge and insight to tackle the thorniest issues, unleashing our team of veteran problem-solvers. 
  • Time. Other clients come to us because managing their wealth has become time consuming. Some are eager to make headway on long-intended tasks. Others want a stable and reliable team in place, either to free up time in their own schedules or to ease the burden for important people in their lives. We’re skilled in manufacturing time in people’s lives, helping them take care of the people and things they cherish. 
  • Uncertainty. Some clients come to us with questions. They may foresee a significant financial decision on the horizon. Others have more general inquiries about the direction of their wealth. We offer integrity and honesty in asking—and answering—the questions they want to address. 

To these needs and others, we bring a focused mindset, a readiness to dive into each client’s situation, and an appreciation for the trust clients have placed in us. 

To speak with one of our Advisors, please see the red “Contact Us” button at the top of our webpage. We welcome the opportunity to speak with you.

Recognition
Erick Ellsweig
Managing Director, Wealth Management Advisor
Financial Times "FT400", 2015-2016
(Published annually Mar – April. Rankings based on data as of June 30 of prior year.)
Barron's "America's Top 1200 Financial Advisors State-by-State", 2014-2017, 2019-2022
(Published annually in March. Rankings based on data as of September 30 of prior year.)
Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Advisors", 2018, 2020-2023
(Published annually Jan – April. Rankings based on data as of June 30 of prior year.)
Forbes "America’s Top Wealth Management Teams High Net Worth", 2022-2023
(Published annually in November. Rankings based on data as of September 30 of current year.)
Barron's "Top 1,200 Financial Advisors", 2023
(Published on March 10, 2023. Rankings based on data as of September 30, 2021.)
Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams", 2023
(Published on January 12, 2023. Rankings based on data as of March 31, 2022.)
Show more recognition
About Us
Why KM & Associates?

Your wealth represents your hard work and your hope for the future. It helps you fulfill your obligations and give flight to your ambitions.

At KM & Associates, we never lose sight of the trust you have placed in us. We built our team with a specific vision in mind: to be the preeminent wealth management team to a high achieving clientele whom we like and respect.

Headquartered in Palm Beach, Florida, and Greensboro, North Carolina, we serve clients in diverse locales throughout the United States. High-net-worth individuals, families, and institutions look to us to deliver a different caliber of advice, guidance, and strategy.

We believe there are a few factors that set us apart:

  • Our Commitment to Quality. We aspire to excellence. If there is a "secret sauce," that is ours. We don't simply pay lip service to this ideal. It infuses the depth of our strategy, the immediacy of our relationships, the rigor of our analysis, and the precision of our service ethic. The people who are attracted to our team have high standards. We look forward to exceeding those expectations.

  • Our First-Hand Experience. As the scale of wealth intensifies, its decision points become more numerous. Our team offers the benefit of knowledge and insight gained from advising an accomplished clientele. We advise wealth creators—senior executives, entrepreneurs, business owners, entertainers, technology founders, professionals, and significant families. We've seen first-hand what works in advancing their priorities—and what to watch out for.

  • Our Emphasis on Planning. Our wealth-management process is encapsulated in a thorough, defined, and highly customized plan for each client. A dynamic document, this plan is the foundation of our work. It reflects changing conditions—a client's unique priorities, as well as evolving economic and geopolitical realities—while also driving our recommendations

  • Our Diversity. We have purposely structured our team to accommodate different viewpoints and life stages. We are diverse by race, ethnicity, age, gender, and geography, as well as our strengths and skills. A harmonious team, we appreciate the unique contributions of each of our team members.

  • Our Investment in Our Team. Investing in people is one of the best ways we can enhance our value to clients. As our bios can attest, we have engaged in extensive education and professional enrichment, demonstrating our commitment to our craft. We have also invested in the organizational capacity of our team, with significant resources in investment management, planning, and service.

  • Our Achievements. Our team culture embraces high standards. Our Advisors have earned national recognition by Barron's, Forbes, and the Financial Times. This external validation is gratifying in that it confirms our original vision: We seek the best in each other so that we can deliver a singular experience for the individuals, families, and institutions who have entrusted their wealth to our care.

Meet Our Team
Erick Ellsweig,

CIMA®

Managing Director, Wealth Management Advisor
561.514.4832
James Kirkpatrick,

CRPC™

Managing Director, Senior Financial Advisor
336.574.4661
Justin Moore,

AAMS™,CRPC™

Senior Vice President, Senior Financial Advisor
336.333.7422
Almog Olshtein,

CFP®

Financial Advisor
561.514.4825
Christopher L Kohly,

CFP®

Vice President, Senior Wealth Planner
336.333.7404
David Marcus,

CFA®,CPM®

Vice President, Senior Investment Manager
336.333.7406
Lance A Rushing,

CFP®

Relationship Manager
561.514.4828
Mary J Otterberg
Assistant Vice President, Wealth Management Associate
336.574.8243
Jennifer Miller
Wealth Management Client Associate
561.514.4818
M. Elizabeth Gautier
Assistant Vice President, Registered Wealth Management Client Associate
336.574.8269
Kelly D Belton
Assistant Vice President, Wealth Management Client Associate
336.333.7401
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.
Angie N Turner
Wealth Management Banking Specialist
Cindy Pastrana
Wealth Management Banking Specialist
About Merrill

Bringing fresh perspectives to your financial life

The financial decisions you make today can help determine the future you build for yourself and your family. Carving a clear path forward starts with connecting your life and finances. A Merrill advisor provides access to the investing insights of Merrill and banking capabilities of Bank of America to help you make informed decisions as you pursue your goals.

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Investments & Wealth Institute™ (The Institute) is the owner of the certification marks CIMA® and Certified Investment Management Analyst®. Use of CIMA®, and/or Certified Investment Management Analyst® signifies that the user has successfully completed the Institute’s initial and ongoing credentialing requirements for investment management professionals.
Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor™, CRPC™, and the CRPC™ logo are certification marks or registered certification marks of The College for Financial Planning Institutes Corp. in the United States.
AAMS™ and Accredited Asset Management Specialist™ are registered service marks, and CRPC® and Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor™ are registered service marks of the College for Financial Planning.
Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (CFP Board) owns the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, and the CFP® (with plaque design) in the United States, which it authorizes use of by individuals who successfully complete CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements.
CFA® and Chartered Financial Analyst® are registered trademarks of the CFA Institute.
CPM® and Certified Portfolio Manager® are registered service marks of the Academy of Certified Portfolio Managers.