Merrill Lynch Advisors Recognized by Barron's Magazine

Recently, several wealth advisors in the Private Banking and Investments Group at Merrill Lynch in Atlanta were recognized in Barron’s “America’s Top 1,200 Financial Advisors: 2016 State-by-State” list. The rankings are based on assets under management, revenues generated by advisors for their firms, and the quality of the advisors’ practices.

Of the recognized advisors are Ron Hughes, Jay Jowers, Bert Ponder, David Higgins and Rod Westmoreland.

• Ron Hughes holds two degrees in finance, graduating magna cum laude from Auburn University and earning an MBA with Distinction from Emory University. Hughes joined Merrill Lynch in February of 2000 and prior to building the first fully accredited Private Banking and Investment Group team in the Southeast Region, he spent seven years at Goldman Sachs advising entrepreneurs experiencing significant liquidity events. Prior to Goldman, Ron worked in mergers and acquisitions for an investment partnership, focusing on consolidation among wireless communication properties.

• Jay Jowers earned a bachelor’s degree from Auburn University and has spent his entire career at Merrill Lynch, joining the firm in 1986. A member of Ponder, Higgins, Jowers & Associates, a wealth management team within the Private Banking and Investment Group at Merrill Lynch, he focuses on the needs of ultra-affluent individuals and families, helping them implement customized strategies to grow, preserve, and pass on their wealth. Along with his partners and team, he prioritizes client interests, directing thoughtful initiatives to advance multiple goals and streamline the complexities of significant wealth.

• Bert Ponder is a graduate of Washington & Lee University and has been with Merrill Lynch since 1983. In his role with Ponder, Higgins, Jowers & Associates, he helps client develop holistic financial strategies designed to help them manage their wealth and address philanthropic and wealth transfer objectives. His goal is to empower families to be successful stewards of their wealth over multiple generations. Outside of the office he is involved with several charitable organizations, including Executives for Egleston/ Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Washington and Lee University, Boy Scouts of America, Atlanta Junior Golf Association, The First Tee at East Lake and Fugees Family Inc.

• David Higgins, a graduate of Providence College, has been with Merrill Lynch since 1993 and has earned the distinguished certification of Private Wealth Advisor. He serves as a trainer for Merrill Lynch’s professional development program for new financial advisors, is a member of Merrill’s ‘Circle of Champions’ and has served on the Merrill Lynch Advisory Council to Management.

• Rod Westmoreland, a Georgia Institute of Technology alumnus, is a 37-year veteran at Merrill Lynch. He and his team provide sophisticated financial advice to ultra-high net worth investors and families with a focus on total portfolio strategies including investment policy, wealth transfer, asset allocation and manager selection. Additionally, the Westmoreland Group has years of experience in the areas of portfolio management, trust services and diversification strategies.