TODD SILAIKA:

So I started in [PH] ACO in 1996 answering telephones and ultimately becoming a Financial Planner. And built a practice there working with high network retail clients. ACO was acquired by a major firm in 2003, and when we looked at the planning process coupled with the investment acumen our team felt we needed more on the investment side. So we began a search to look around and in 2006 after exhaustive due diligence, we joined the thundering herd.

When we joined Merrill Lynch we were a team of five. Three advisors, two CA's, managing around $400 million dollars in assets.  We're now a team of 13 with nearly two billion dollars, five advisors, three IA's and five CA's.

The reason we joined Merrill can be centered on four principles. They all happen to start with the letter P. You start with a Purpose. The purpose of the firm was, the client's always first. We then look at the Process. How do we transition a business and then how do we grow a business? We really wanted to partner with a firm that has top notch processes. Third we needed a Platform. And Merrill has an unbelievable platform.

We felt the analogy we would use is like its driving a bicycle to work and then one day somebody gives you the car keys. And we had this incredible platform where we could do everything from banking and lending and credit cards on top of all of the investment vehicles. Top notch alternative investments which is core part of our process. Then finally and probably the most importantly is the people. Leadership cares.

GRAPHIC: Merrill leadership

I remember my first meeting at Merrill Lynch. The market exec thanked everyone in the room for taking time out of their day to listen to his presentation. And we all left and thought have we joined either the greatest firm ever or are we living in an upside down world? Here it truly is a partnership. Leadership and I know many of them at the firm, wake up every day with the same mission. How do we help our advisors to become better? How do we help our advisors grow? How do we knock down barriers so it's easier to do business? That's the mentality they start every day with, and it's pervasive throughout the firm. So our partnership with our leaders is as good as it could ever be.

And at Merrill when we win we win collectively together. You're not on an island here. You have unbelievable resources and other advisors that will literally drop what they are doing to share their best ideas with you if you are facing a challenge.

There is competitive juices flowing of course throughout the firm but there's also this culture of caring and sharing. An example, at Merrill Lynch we have something called the Advisor Growth Network. More than 50 national members and 600 local members. The goal of the Advisor Growth Network is to take the best practices of some of the top tier advisors in the industry and open that playbook and share it with everyone. I've never seen this at another firm and it is incredible.

GRAPHIC: Being part of Bank of America Corp.

Being owned by Bank of America Corp, gives us access to the entire suite of bank products, including lending, trust, credit cards, operating accounts the entire suite is now available to our Merrill Lynch clients and it's wonderful,

We had part of the equation solved at Merrill Lynch especially the investment platform. What we didn't have solved, was the full suite of Financial Services. Those that embrace it, grow much faster, and have higher client retention, and happier clients.

GRAPHIC: What does the Bull mean?

Merrill and the bull are iconic symbols in the U.S. What it means to our clients first and foremost is trust. This firm puts clients first. This firm leads the charge on being a fiduciary for your client. What does that mean, it means always put the client first. Our clients all know Merrill Lynch. Our prospective clients all know Merrill Lynch. They know that they’re are getting all of the capabilities that the firm can deliver. And they know there are processes behind the scenes which are in place to protect them. So we promote the bull because the bull promotes our growth.

Personally the bull means a career which has been incredible. It's a career where I can go home, look at my kids, look at my wife, and know I did the right thing every day and I have a firm that supports me in doing the right thing every day. So the bull to me speaks much louder than an iconic brand, it's right here. I carry it right here because it exemplifies what we’re trying to do as a firm, bring Wall Street to Main Street. Bring planning to people. Set goals, create outcomes and be a trusted advisor for our clients and that is what the bull represents.

GRAPHIC: Why consider Merrill?

Why would a seasoned advisory team consider Merrill? It is a true one stop shop and it's a one stop shop where you have an alignment between leadership and the FA's. And that's something that's missing at most firms. Here leadership and the FAs have the same goal. Grow the practice, do right by your client every day and create the best outcomes. And when you work at a company that feels the same as you do on the inside, it motivates you every day to get up and go. We can talk all day about the great platform we have at Merrill and about our research, but ultimately it's the culture of the firm which is symbiotic. We work together to create the best outcomes for our clients and that's why we are here.

END

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