Thomas Fuest

Prior to founding Sherwood Financial Management, I spent my career at a local wealth management firm for 24+ years working with clients as they near retirement. As a fee-only advisor, I cultivate long-term relationships advising individuals, spouses, partners, and extended families on personal financial planning, investment management and wealth accumulation strategies, and guiding them through their retirement years. By educating, providing perspective, and maintaining investment discipline, I strive to help you maximize your resources, identify those areas that may deserve additional attention, and encourage you to pursue the things you enjoy. I live in Clarence with my husband and our children - two maturing, young men - one in college and the other in high school. We share an interest in I am currently a member of three leading organizations in the financial planning industry, XYPN, NAPFA, and the FPA. XYPN - XY Planning Network, a leading organization of fee-only advisors who go above and beyond to serve you and don't sell product. National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA) is a committed group of fee-only, fiduciary financial advisors who continuously strive to provide financial planning services to their clients with excellence. Financial Planning Association (FPA) the leading membership organization for CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professionals and those engaged in the financial planning process. I serve on the local FPA of WNY chapter’s board to help guide the chapter and the program committee to help deliver stimulating and relevant content to our membership.

Blake Dougherty is a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in Williamsville, New York. Since joining the firm in 2015, he has focused on understanding the priorities of individuals, families, and businesses to provide personalized attention and customized investment management strategies. Blake leverages the investment capabilities of Merrill Lynch Wealth Management alongside the banking resources of Bank of America to support clients in addressing various aspects of their financial lives. Blake works closely with clients to identify key goals such as education funding, tax minimization, retirement planning, and wealth preservation. His expertise encompasses corporate benefits, executive compensation, family wealth management, liquidity management, and retirement income strategies, among other areas. His approach involves crafting disciplined strategies aimed at helping clients build, manage, and preserve wealth for current and future generations. Blake earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from Bentley University in Waltham, Massachusetts, where he also played Division I Ice Hockey for four years. He holds professional designations including CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Benefits Consultant (RBC). Outside of his professional life, Blake enjoys football, golfing, ice hockey, watching movies, and practicing yoga.

Kristin Marusza is a Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. She has been in the financial services industry since 1991 and joined Merrill in 2006. Kristin focuses on developing strategies for high net worth individuals, their families, and their businesses to help them meet their short and long term financial goals. As a qualified Portfolio Manager, Kristin provides traditional advice and guidance while also building and managing personalized or defined investment strategies. These strategies may include individual stocks and bonds, Merrill Lynch Wealth Management model portfolios, and third-party investment strategies. When servicing clients through the firm's Investment Advisory Program, she may manage her strategies on a discretionary basis. Kristin holds a Bachelor of Science degree in marketing and a Master of Business Administration, both from Canisius College. She has earned several professional designations, including CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (CFP), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). She is involved in professional organizations such as the Merrill Lynch Women's Exchange and New York State Women Inc., Buffalo Niagara. Kristin is committed to community involvement and spends time volunteering with organizations in the communities she serves.

Matthew Gorton is a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. Since joining Merrill Lynch in 2011, he has focused on working with executives and business owners to address their unique financial goals and needs. Matthew collaborates closely with clients and their other advisors to coordinate financial, legal, and tax-related decisions. His areas of expertise include college education planning, family wealth management strategies, legacy planning, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, portfolio management services, socially responsible and values-based investing, and services for endowments, foundations, and non-profits. Matthew holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from Wayne State University and maintains professional designations including CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (CFP), CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), Retirement Benefits Consultant (RBC), and Sports & Entertainment (SE).