Barry Smith

Robert Firth is a Private Wealth Advisor with Merrill Private Wealth Management. He leads Team RJF, a wealth management team that serves a select group of entrepreneurs, executives, and family offices. In his role, he directs macro-economic analysis, asset allocation, structured products analysis, and estate planning services, focusing on portfolio strategy and developing practical strategies tailored to the realities faced by business owners and executives. Firth has been in financial services since 1995. Before joining Merrill in 2008, he was National Sales Manager at Neuberger Berman and began his career with Sanford C. Bernstein. His prior experience includes owning and operating a technology firm, providing him with firsthand insight into business ownership. Over his career, he has participated in over 200 business sale transactions, offering guidance during significant financial crossroads while being attentive to clients’ family, personal, professional, and philanthropic priorities. He holds the Certified Private Wealth Advisor® designation and is a qualified Portfolio Manager, able to build and manage personalized investment strategies. Firth earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Stanford University and a Master of Business Administration from Duke University. His professional designations include Certified Private Wealth Advisor (CPWA) and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). Outside of work, he enjoys golfing, hiking, and traveling, and he is a former board member of the Lamplighter School in Dallas.

Scott Mercier is the Resident Director and Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill Lynch. He has been in the financial services industry since 2000 and joined Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in 2012. Scott focuses on developing strategies and recommendations for successful individuals, families, and businesses to help them meet their short- and long-term financial goals. Scott's approach to wealth management is consultative, objective, and comprehensive, emphasizing the efficient allocation of client resources. His analysis includes both sides of the balance sheet: assets and liabilities. He has expertise in family wealth management strategies, services for endowments, foundations, and non-profits, personal retirement planning, portfolio management services, small business strategies, socially responsible and ESG investing, sports and entertainment, and retirement income. Scott grew up in Telluride, Colorado, and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of California at Berkeley in 1990. He also holds a Master's degree from Harvard University Extension. He holds several professional designations including CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, Certified Private Wealth Advisor®, CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR, Personal Investment Advisor, and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor. Before his financial career, Scott was a professional cyclist from 1993 to 1997. He was a member of the 1992 U.S. Olympic Cycling Team in Barcelona, Spain, and raced with the US Postal Services Cycling Team. He has been recognized by the United States Anti-Doping Authority for his career as a clean athlete. Scott is a published author and has served as chair of the Community Hospital Board of Trustees and as a board member of Roaring Fork Cycling. He also writes a cycling column for the Aspen Times and has addressed military academy cadets on topics such as moral courage and integrity. Scott enjoys reading, writing, cycling, mountain biking, and skiing. He and his wife, Mandie, live in Basalt.

David Finby is a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management and a partner at The CBC Group. He has been in the financial services industry since 1995 and has worked with Merrill since that time. David’s professional focus includes corporate retirement plans, executive compensation, deferred compensation, equity compensation planning, and family wealth management strategies. He employs a planning-based approach to help clients define and achieve their financial goals. David holds several professional designations, including Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA®), Certified 401(k) Professional (C(k)P®), Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), Retirement Benefits Consultant (RBC), and Sports & Entertainment (SE) certifications. He earned his bachelor’s degree with a double major in accounting and finance from the University of South Carolina. David began his career in audit at Arthur Young (now Ernst & Young) before serving as a divisional controller for southeastern companies. He is actively involved in his community, serving on the Board of Directors for the Ronald McDonald House of Charlotte and participating with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. David is married to his wife, Sherry, with whom he has three children. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his family and engaging in fitness activities.