Forbes Names 59 Merrill Advisors to America's Top Wealth Advisors, Including the #1 Advisor

Key points

• 2,314 advisors recognized on the 2026 Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Advisors list, more than any other firm.
• 59 Merrill advisors recognized on the 2026 Forbes America's Top Wealth Advisors list.
• Merrill Private Wealth Advisor Jeff Erdmann ranks #1 overall on Forbes' 2026 America's Top Wealth Advisors list.

NEW YORK, May 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Forbes recognized Merrill Wealth Management advisors across two of its annual wealth advisor rankings: "America's Top Wealth Advisors" and "Best–in–State Wealth Advisors" (published April 7, 2026, based on data as of June 30, 2025). Merrill had more advisors than any other firm (2,314) named to Forbes' Best in State Wealth Advisors list, which recognizes top advisors in every state. Fifty–nine Merrill advisors were recognized on Forbes' America's Top Wealth Advisors list, which recognizes the top 250 advisors nationally.

"This level of recognition across Forbes' rankings speaks to the caliber of our advisors. Congratulations to the thousands of Merrill advisors who made this year's lists," said Kenneth Correa, Head of Business and Client Development at Merrill.

The following Merrill advisors were named to the 2026 Forbes "America's Top Wealth Advisors" list, including three in the top 10: 

• Jeff Erdmann, Greenwich, CT – #1
• Michael Valdes, Tampa, FL – #8
• Rod Westmoreland, Atlanta, GA – #10
• Raj Sharma, Boston, MA – #13
• Noel Weil, New York, NY – #16
• Richard Jones, Los Angeles, CA – #18
• Reza Zafari, Los Angeles, CA – #19
• Kent Pearce, Towson, MD – #29
• Peter Rohr, Wayne, PA – #34
• Nestor Vicknair, Houston, TX – #40
• John Barrett, New York, NY – #43
• David Singer, Cincinnati, OH – #44
• William Corbellini, Dallas, TX – #47
• Michelle Mayer, Naples, FL – #48
• Daniel Fries, Chicago, IL – #52
• John Olson, West Palm Beach, FL – #55
• Kelly Westmoreland, Atlanta, GA – #59
• Brian Hetherington, New Canaan, CT – #60
• David Katz, New York, NY – #63
• Leo Stevenson, Wyandotte, MI – #66
• Benjamin Klein, Northbrook, IL – #75
• Mark Thorndyke, Naples, FL – #80
• Robert Waldele, New York, NY – #82
• Tommy McBride, Dallas, TX – #84
• Brian Tramontano, San Antonio, TX – #87
• Johanna Walters, Blue Bell, PA – #98
• Dwight Emanuelson Jr., Dallas, TX – #112
• Jeffery Price, Southlake, TX – #116
• Corina Davis, Seattle, WA – #120
• Raj Bhatia, Naples, FL – #124
• Curtis Eustis, New Orleans, LA – #127
• Robert Dyer, New York, NY – #129
• David Briegs, Bridgewater, NJ – #133
• Sharon Oberlander, Chicago, IL – #135
• Timothy Long, Grand Rapids, MI – #138
• Richard Migliore, Columbia, SC – #144
• Todd Silaika, Clifton Park, NY – #147
• Charles Balducci, New York, NY – #150
• Tom Vacheron, Fairfield, CT – #152
• Mary Mullin, Boston, MA – #154
• Daniel O'Connell, Garden City, NY – #157
• Dominic Casanueva, Lakewood Ranch, FL – #163
• W. Corby May, Garden City, NY – #166
• Eric Payne, Indianapolis, IN – #170
• John McCardell, Charlotte, NC – #172
• Michael Beckerman, Coral Gables, FL – #174
• Michael Breen, San Francisco, CA – #177
• Christopher Cook, Florham Park, NJ – #178
• Ramzi Nuwayhid, Boston, MA – #188
• Carl Cafaro, Newton, MA – #191
• Matt Van Beek, Seattle, WA – #195
• Sal Tiano, Palm Beach Gardens, FL – #200
• Ron Mencias, Indianapolis, IN – #211
• Philip Appel, Bloomfield Hills, MI – #215
• Steve Nagel, Frisco, TX – #221
• Jens Pascucci, Seattle, WA – #229
• Michael Shalhoup, New York, NY – #234
• David Magrone, New York, NY – #240
• Buck Wiley III, Atlanta, GA – #246

For the full list and methodology, visit: America's Top Wealth Advisors

About Forbes America's Top Wealth Advisors
2026 Forbes | SHOOK® "America's Top Wealth Advisors" list¹. Opinions provided by SHOOK® Research, LLC and is based on in-person, virtual and telephone due-diligence meetings that measure best practices, client retention, industry experience, credentials, compliance records, firm nominations, assets under management and Firm-generated revenue (investment performance is not a criterion). SHOOK's rankings are available for client evaluation only, are not indicative of future performance and do not represent any one client's experience and available for investor help in evaluating the right financial advisor. Compensation was not received from anyone for the study. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Details available at the SHOOK Research website. SHOOK is a registered trademark of SHOOK Research, LLC.

For the full list and methodology, visit: Forbes America's Top Wealth Advisors 2026.

About Forbes America's Best-in-State Wealth Advisors
2026 Forbes | SHOOK® "Best-in-State Wealth Advisors" list². Opinions provided by SHOOK® Research, LLC and is based on in-person, virtual and telephone due-diligence meetings that measure best practices, client retention, industry experience, credentials, compliance records, firm nominations, assets under management and Firm-generated revenue (investment performance is not a criterion). SHOOK's rankings are available for client evaluation only, are not indicative of future performance and do not represent any one client's experience and available for investor help in evaluating the right financial advisor. Compensation was not received from anyone for the study. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Details available at the SHOOK Research website. SHOOK is a registered trademark of SHOOK Research, LLC.

For the full list and methodology, visit: Forbes America's Top Best-in-State Wealth Advisors 2026.

Frequently asked questions

Question: What are the Forbes "America's Top Wealth Advisors" and "Best-in-State Wealth Advisors" lists?
Answer: Forbes publishes 6 individual advisor rankings and 3 team or firm rankings each year, aiming to shine a spotlight on the nation's best wealth advisors and practices serving clients across the country.

Question: What other lists have Merrill advisors appeared on this year?
Answer: Merrill advisors have appeared on the following lists so far in 2026:

• 4,837 advisors and 1,844 teams on the 2026 Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams"³
• 23 advisors on the 2026 Forbes "America's Top Women Wealth Advisors"⁴
• 539 advisors on the 2026 Forbes "Top Women Wealth Advisors Best-in-State"⁵
• 24 advisors on the 2026 Financial Planning "Top 40 Brokers Under 40"⁶
• 341 advisors on the 2026 Barron's "Top 1,500 Financial Advisors"⁷

Question: How does Merrill invest in the training and development of next–generation advisors?
Answer: Merrill has a long–standing commitment to developing the next generation of advisors through its Advisor Development Program. The program is designed to build strong foundational skills while preparing advisors to serve increasingly complex client needs.

Question: How does Merrill's solutions, platform and technology support its advisors?
Answer: Merrill provides clients, through their advisors, with an integrated platform that brings together planning, investment, banking, and lending capabilities. Through an open–architecture investment approach and providing access to banking capabilities, advisors have access to a broad range of solutions. Merrill continues to invest in its platform and technology, including the recently launched AI-Powered Meeting Journey, to help advisors navigate complexity, scale their practices, and deliver personalized advice.

Bank of America
Bank of America is one of the world's leading financial institutions, serving individual consumers, small and middle-market businesses and large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset management and other financial and risk management products and services. The company provides unmatched convenience in the United States, serving nearly 70 million clients with approximately 3,600 retail financial centers, approximately 15,000 ATMs (automated teller machines) and award-winning digital banking with approximately 59 million verified digital users. Bank of America is a global leader in wealth management, corporate and investment banking and trading across a broad range of asset classes, serving corporations, governments, institutions and individuals around the world. Bank of America offers industry-leading support to approximately 4 million small business households through a suite of innovative, easy-to-use online products and services. The company serves clients through operations across the United States, its territories and more than 35 countries. Bank of America Corporation stock (NYSE: BAC) is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

For more Bank of America news, including dividend announcements and other important information, visit the Bank of America newsroom and register for news email alerts.

Reporters may contact
Julia Ehrenfeld, Bank of America
Phone: 1.646.855.3267
julia.ehrenfeld@bofa.com

Footnotes
¹ 2026 Forbes "America's Top Wealth Advisors" list. Opinions provided by SHOOK® Research, LLC and is based on in-person, virtual and telephone due-diligence meetings that measure best practices, client retention, industry experience, credentials, compliance records, firm nominations, assets under management and Firm-generated revenue (investment performance is not a criterion). SHOOK's rankings are available for client evaluation only, are not indicative of future performance and do not represent any one client's experience and available for investor help in evaluating the right financial advisor. Compensation was not received from anyone for the study. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Details available at the SHOOK Research website. SHOOK is a registered trademark of SHOOK Research, LLC.

²2026 Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Advisors" list. Opinions provided by SHOOK® Research, LLC and is based on in-person, virtual and telephone due-diligence meetings that measure best practices, client retention, industry experience, credentials, compliance records, firm nominations, assets under management and Firm-generated revenue (investment performance is not a criterion). SHOOK's rankings are available for client evaluation only, are not indicative of future performance and do not represent any one client's experience and available for investor help in evaluating the right financial advisor. Compensation was not received from anyone for the study. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Details available at the SHOOK Research website. SHOOK is a registered trademark of SHOOK Research, LLC.

³2026 Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams" list. Opinions provided by SHOOK* Research, LLC and is based on in-person, virtual and telephone due-diligence meetings and a ranking algorithm that measure best practices, client retention, industry experience, credentials, compliance records, firm nominations, assets under management and Firm-generated revenue (investment performance is not a criterion because client objectives and risk tolerance vary). SHOOK's rankings are available for client evaluation only, are not indicative of future performance and do not represent any one client's experience and available for investor help in evaluating the right financial advisor and not an endorsement of the advisor. Compensation was not received from anyone for the rankings study. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Details available at the SHOOK Research website. SHOOK is a registered trademark of SHOOK Research, LLC.

⁴2026 Forbes "America's Top Women Wealth Advisors" list. Opinions provided by SHOOK® Research, LLC and is based on in-person, virtual and telephone due-diligence meetings that measure best practices, client retention, industry experience, credentials, compliance records, firm nominations, assets under management and Firm-generated revenue (investment performance is not a criterion). SHOOK's rankings are available for client evaluation only, are not indicative of future performance and do not represent any one client's experience and available for investor help in evaluating the right financial advisor and should not be considered an endorsement of the advisor. Compensation was not received from anyone for the study. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Details available at the SHOOK Research website. SHOOK is a registered trademark of SHOOK Research, LLC.

⁵2026 Forbes "Top Women Wealth Advisors Best-in-State" list. Opinions provided by SHOOK® Research, LLC and is based on in-person, virtual and telephone due-diligence meetings that measure best practices, client retention, industry experience, credentials, compliance records, firm nominations, assets under management and Firm-generated revenue (investment performance is not a criterion). SHOOK's rankings are available for client evaluation only, are not indicative of future performance and do not represent any one client's experience and available for investor help in evaluating the right financial advisor and should not be considered an endorsement of the advisor. Compensation was not received from anyone for the study. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Details available at the SHOOK Research website. SHOOK is a registered trademark of SHOOK Research, LLC.

⁶2026 Financial Planning's "Top 40 Brokers Under 40" list is compiled using data solicited from advisors' employers. Opinions provided by Financial Planning considered advisors under 40 years old who work at an employee brokerage firm. Primary ranking is based on trailing 12-month production for each advisor. Financial Planning is a national publication serving the wealth management industry and retail brokers working in the employee channel for wirehouses and regional broker-dealers. Financial Planning's rankings do not reflect all client experiences, endorse any advisor, indicate future performance or future success and are available for client evaluation only. Compensation was not received from anyone for the study. Financial Planning is a trademark of Arizent. All rights reserved.  

⁷2026 Barron's "Top Financial Advisors" list. Opinions are Barron's, who evaluated advisors with a minimum of seven years financial services experience and employed at their current firm for at least one year. Ranking spots determined by each state's population and wealth. Other quantitative and qualitative measures include assets under management, revenues generated for the firm, quality of practice, regulatory records, internal company documents, and 100-plus points of advisor-provided data. Rankings do not reflect any one client's experience, endorse any advisor and do not guarantee future investment success. Compensation was not received from anyone for the study. Barron's is a trademark of Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All rights reserved.

Important Disclosures
Investment products:

Investing involves risk. There is always the potential of losing money when you invest in securities. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Asset allocation, rebalancing and diversification do not guarantee against risk in broadly declining markets.

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.

This material is not intended as a recommendation, offer or solicitation for the purchase or sale of any security or investment strategy. Merrill offers a broad range of brokerage, investment advisory (including financial planning) and other services. Additional information is available in our Client Relationship Summary (PDF).

This material does not take into account a client's particular investment objectives, financial situations, or needs and is not intended as a recommendation, offer, or solicitation for the purchase or sale of any security or investment strategy. Merrill offers a broad range of brokerage, investment advisory (including financial planning) and other services. There are important differences between brokerage and investment advisory services, including the type of advice and assistance provided, the fees charged, and the rights and obligations of the parties. It is important to understand the differences, particularly when determining which service or services to select. For more information about these services and their differences, speak with your Merrill financial advisor.

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The Chief Investment Office (CIO) provides thought leadership on wealth management, investment strategy and global markets; portfolio management solutions; due diligence; and solutions oversight and data analytics. CIO viewpoints are developed for Bank of America Private Bank, a division of Bank of America, N.A., ("Bank of America") and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated ("MLPF&S" or "Merrill"), a registered broker-dealer, registered investment adviser and a wholly owned subsidiary of Bank of America Corporation.

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