Ryan Kowadla

Kevin O'Connor is a Senior Resident Director at Merrill, serving in a dual role as both a Financial Advisor and a leader in the Syracuse local market. He joined Merrill in 1993 and was appointed Resident Director for the Syracuse office in 2004. In his leadership capacity, Kevin provides training and coaching to Financial Advisors and Client Associates while focusing on growing the office through recruitment and development of talent. With more than 30 years of experience, Kevin and his team apply a Goals Based Approach to Wealth Management, emphasizing clear and regular communication to help clients understand and prioritize their financial goals. His expertise spans areas such as college education planning, divorce transition planning, family wealth management strategies, services for endowments, foundations, and non-profits, personal retirement planning, portfolio management services, and retirement income. Kevin holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Le Moyne College. He earned the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor™ (CRPC™) designation from the College for Financial Planning and is a Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor® (CPFA®) professional. He resides in Syracuse with his wife Michelle and their two sons. Kevin is involved with various boards in the local community and enjoys golf, skiing, and traveling with his family.

Julia Georges is a Financial Solutions Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. In her role, she works closely with clients to understand their priorities and develop strategies aimed at achieving their short-, mid-, and long-term financial goals. She provides guidance on a range of financial topics including general investing, retirement planning, and saving for unexpected events, and connects clients with Bank of America specialists for banking, credit, home financing, and small business solutions. Julia holds the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation and earned a Bachelor's Degree from the State University of New York System. She emphasizes a client-centered approach, taking time to learn what matters most to each individual and their family in order to create tailored financial strategies. Throughout the relationship, she offers ongoing advice and support as clients' needs evolve.

Samantha Jebbett is a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, where she has been part of a team of four advisors since 2015. She specializes in financial planning aimed at helping clients achieve their financial goals throughout their careers and into retirement. Her approach focuses on addressing the complexities of investing with simplicity and transparency, tailoring personalized strategies that consider clients’ unique ambitions and priorities. Samantha’s areas of expertise include college education planning, family wealth management strategies, personal retirement planning, women and wealth, tax minimization, and retirement income. She collaborates closely with CPAs and attorneys to provide seamless service to her clients. Samantha holds the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation and earned her bachelor’s degree from Syracuse University. Originally from Rochester, NY, Samantha now resides in Fairmount, New York. Outside of her professional responsibilities, she enjoys hiking, rock climbing, cooking, reading, traveling, and spending time with her family.