Merrill Lynch Financial Advisor Elliott Kugel, who works in the Bridgewater office, has been nationally recognized among the top advisors by Barron's magazine (for the sixth year) and Financial Times (for the second year).

Merrill Lynch Financial Advisor Elliott Kugel has been nationally recognized as a top advisor by Financial Times in its annual “Top 400 Financial Advisors” list published in March, following his recognition on Barron’s magazine in its annual “America’s Top 1,200 Advisors: State-by-State” list published in February.

In total, 293 Merrill Lynch advisors are included on Barron’s “America’s Top 1,200 Advisors: State-by-State” list this year. Advisors considered for the ranking have a minimum of seven years’ financial services experience and have been employed at their current firm for at least one year. Quantitative and qualitative measures used to determine the advisor rankings include: client assets, return on assets, client satisfaction/retention, compliance records, and community involvement, among others. Barron’s does not receive compensation from advisors, participating firms and their affiliates, or the media in exchange for rankings.

The Financial Times Top 400 Financial Advisors (FT 400) is an independent listing produced by the Financial Times. The FT 400 is based on data gathered from firms and verified by broker-dealer home offices, regulatory disclosures, and the FT’s research. The listing reflects each advisor’s performance in six primary areas, including assets under management, asset growth, compliance record, experience, credentials and accessibility as identified by the FT.

“Elliott’s inclusion on Barron’s annual ‘America’s Top 1,200 Advisors: State-by-State’ list demonstrates his commitment to providing clients a personalized and holistic financial approach to help them pursue personal goals. This recognition is well-deserved, and we are proud to support Elliott with the strength of the firm’s resources as he continues to offer insightful guidance to clients,” said Keith Henry, director.

Kugel resides in Skillman, N.J., and has been a part of Merrill Lynch’s Bridgewater office for 23 years.