Carolyn Ottenbreit

Advisor at Merrill

Updated today
Merrill logo

Firm

Merrill

Location

Sparta, NJ 07871

Credentials

Series 63, Series 65

Industry experience

39 years

About

Carolyn Ottenbreit is a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill’s Sparta, New Jersey office. She is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional who works with a select group of affluent clients, including current and retired corporate executives and professionals. Carolyn helps clients manage various aspects of their finances and investments, providing services such as retirement planning, estate planning, tax minimization strategies, and portfolio management. She collaborates with a team of Merrill and Bank of America specialists, as well as clients’ tax and legal advisors, to deliver comprehensive financial solutions.

Carolyn graduated from Princeton University with a bachelor's degree in Philosophy and holds a Master of Business Administration degree with a concentration in Finance from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. She joined Merrill in 1986, transitioning from corporate finance to the Private Client Group in 1996. Her expertise focuses on family wealth management, philanthropic planning, retirement income, and supporting women and wealth.

Outside of her professional work, Carolyn has been involved in community organizations, serving as past chairperson of The SCARC Foundation, Inc. in Augusta, New Jersey, and as past president of the Newton Rotary Club in Newton, New Jersey. Her personal interests include cooking, reading, and traveling.

Client services

Portfolio management Pension consulting Selection of other advisers Educational seminars or workshops
Performance measurement reports, allocation modeling, ips, research reports and services, see schedule d

Expertise

Wealth management General retirement planning Retirement income strategy General estate planning guidance Charitable giving & philanthropy

Occupation focus

Executive

Demographic focus

Women Professionals

Work history

Bank of America, N.A.

2011 - Present (15 years)

Merrill Lynch, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INCORPORATED

1986 - Present (40 years)

Disclosures

Exclamation point means they have disclosures of this type. Check mark means no disclosures of this type were found.

Business activities & affiliations

Tom V

CFP®

Randolph, NJ

Vetter Planning

Thomas Vetter is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®) and the founder of Vetter Planning. He chose to establish Vetter Planning because of his desire to help individuals and small businesses develop financial plans that are designed to achieve their goals. It was founded upon principles that place the utmost value on its clients’ financial goals and objectives. It is in the business of building long-term, solid relationships that are based upon trust and quality client service. Since 2002, Tom has been providing financial planning and investment advice. He graduated from Siena College in Loudonville, NY with a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance. Prior to founding Vetter Planning, he was a Senior Financial Analyst for Guardian Life and an Investment Analyst for NYC Housing Development Corporation. Tom resides in Randolph, New Jersey with his wife, Jennifer, son Gavin, and daughters, Abigail and Claire. His interests include volunteering, coaching youth sports, golf, and mountain biking.

General retirement planning General tax planning Gen X (Born 1965-1980)

Steve K

CFP®

Towaco, NJ

Freedom Found Financial

Steven Kampschmidt is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional dedicated to assisting individuals and families in their pursuit of financial freedom. After establishing a practice within Merrill Lynch, he had an increasing desire to service his clients in a way that was unavailable at almost all other firms within the industry. It was at this point that he opted to create something new, and thus Freedom Found Financial was born. Steven also has his MBA in finance and economics from the Rochester Institute of Technology. He currently resides in Boonton, NJ with his wife Jessica, his two daughters Adeline and Evelyn, as well as his two dogs Meadow and Summer. He enjoys spending time with his family and friends. He also uses his free time training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, playing beach volleyball down the shore, and snowboarding during the winter months.

Executive Intergenerational Families Parents Baby Boomers (Born 1946-1964)

Thomas D

Series 63, Series 66

Branchville, NJ

Edward Jones

Retirement income strategy Equity Recipients (RS/RSU, SOP, ESPP) Wealth management Inheritance planning General estate planning guidance Executive

Richard E

Series 63, Series 65

Hopatcong, NJ

Merrill

Richard Ehrlich is a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He has over four decades of experience in investment management, serving high-net-worth families since 1977 and institutional clients since 1982, with combined investable assets exceeding $3 billion. Richard specializes in wealth management strategies that utilize sophisticated techniques aimed at increasing returns while reducing risk. In addition to his advisory role, Richard contributes to the development of the team's thought leadership on financial strategy and macroeconomic outlook. He is adept at translating complex Wall Street research into clear insights that inform portfolio decisions. Prior to joining Merrill Lynch, he was Senior Vice President of the high-net-worth division at a major investment bank, where he developed and marketed the firm's first billion-dollar investment management product. Richard has also been a keynote speaker at the Merrill Princeton Campus for Wealth Planning and Asset Allocation Modeling, appeared on financial television programs, and co-authored multiple books. Richard earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from Syracuse University in 1977 and holds the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation.

Wealth management Active portfolio management

Scott T

Series 66

Boonton, NJ

Fidelity

Scott Tolochko is an Investment Consultant at Fidelity Investments since 2025. In this role, he focuses on financial planning, working closely with clients to develop personalized strategies that address their unique financial situations and goals. Scott's professional experience includes positions as a Financial Representative at Fidelity Investments from 2024 to 2025, a Wealth Advisor at Money at Work, LLC from 2023 to 2024, and a Financial Advisor Intern at Campania Wealth Management in 2022. His background reflects a progression of roles in financial advisory and investment consulting. Outside of his professional work, Scott has interests in fitness, golf, and soccer.

Wealth management Passive / index investing Active portfolio management

Lawrence S

Series 63, Series 66

Kinnelon, NJ

Merrill

Lawrence Sailer is a Senior Vice President and Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in Wayne, New Jersey. With 44 years of experience at Merrill Lynch, he specializes in college education planning, managing new wealth, and retirement income strategies. His approach focuses on developing personalized financial plans that reflect clients’ unique goals and priorities, aiming to simplify the complexities of investing. Lawrence holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Jacksonville University and is a Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). He resides in Kinnelon, New Jersey with his wife, Leslie. Outside of his professional work, Lawrence enjoys golfing, spending time with his family, traveling, and is actively involved in his church community.

College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.) Retirement income strategy Wealth management
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