Jeramy Woods

Paul Biafore is the Senior Resident Director at Merrill, where he provides personalized wealth management strategies tailored to clients' individual goals and aspirations. He works closely with clients to develop flexible financial plans that adapt to changing market conditions, offering access to Merrill's investment insights and Bank of America's banking and lending solutions. His client focus areas include college education planning, family wealth management, legacy planning, philanthropic planning, retirement income, and services for endowments, foundations, and non-profits. With a background that includes senior roles in the gaming industry and experience as a college basketball manager, Paul serves a diverse client base that includes C-suite executives, professional and college basketball coaches, retirees, and non-profit organizations. He collaborates with clients' CPAs, estate and tax attorneys to provide comprehensive strategies that address managing risk, creating legacies, and helping clients pursue long-term financial goals. As a qualified Portfolio Manager, he builds and manages customized investment strategies, which may include individual securities, Merrill model portfolios, and third-party strategies, sometimes managing portfolios on a discretionary basis. Paul earned a bachelor's degree in Business Management from the University of Nevada-Las Vegas, where he served as Senior Student Manager for the men's basketball team that won the 1990 NCAA Championship. He was honored as the 2011 Lee Business School Alumnus of the Year at UNLV. Additionally, Paul holds the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC) and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designations. He supports community organizations such as the National Youth Sports Organization and the UNLV College of Business. Outside of work, his interests include basketball, golfing, music, traveling, and spending time with his family.

Mark Ventresco is a Managing Director and Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He has more than 30 years of experience advising business owners, executives, retirees, and multi-generational families on significant financial decisions such as transferring or selling a business, optimizing executive compensation, tax-minimization strategies, and legacy planning. Mark and his team focus on providing a customized and coordinated approach that addresses the complexities of significant wealth, allowing clients to concentrate on their personal and professional priorities. Mark has worked in financial services since 1993 and joined Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in 2013. He holds an M.B.A. in business management from Pepperdine University, where his capstone project focused on transition planning for privately held business owners. His professional designations include Certified Financial Planner (CFP), Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA), and Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA). He is also a member of the Graziadio Alumni Network and the Pepperdine University Alumni Association. Outside of his professional role, Mark enjoys renovating homes, classic cars, and rock and roll. He and his wife Amy have one daughter, Lauren.

Jose Castruita is a Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, specializing in personalized money management strategies. He focuses on areas such as family wealth management strategies, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, small business strategies, and retirement income. Jose holds a Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation and completed a non-accredited certificate program at Riverside City College. Fluent in English and Spanish, he emphasizes understanding clients' personal priorities to create financial approaches tailored to their unique goals and life circumstances. Outside of his professional role, Jose enjoys baseball, cooking, golfing, and softball.

Kent Baker is a Senior Financial Advisor and Managing Director at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He has been with Merrill Lynch since 1985, bringing extensive experience to his role in helping clients manage their wealth. Kent focuses on developing personalized wealth management strategies tailored to individual financial goals and market conditions, utilizing resources from Merrill and Bank of America to offer investment insights and banking solutions. Kent holds the professional designation of Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). He earned his High School Diploma from Shawnee Mission Northwest. Beyond his professional work, Kent is involved in his community through participation with Blue Valley Rec Youth Baseball, Shawnee Community Services, and the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection.

Trent Gneiting is a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, where he joined the team in 2018. In his role, Trent focuses on serving a diverse client base that includes corporate executives, business owners, and individuals in the sports and entertainment industries. His areas of expertise encompass equity compensation strategies, portfolio management, retirement planning, concentrated stock strategies, and trust and estate planning services. Trent leverages his experience to develop tailored financial strategies that address the unique needs of his clients. Trent holds a Bachelor's degree in Economics, with a minor in Business Management, from Brigham Young University. Prior to his current position, he worked as a Research Analyst for Merrill Bateman Associates – Economic Consulting Group and completed internships with Transamerica and Stanford University's Wharton College Clean Energy Project. He holds professional designations as a Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) and as a Sports & Entertainment Accredited Wealth Management Advisor (SE-AWMA). Outside of work, Trent enjoys spending time with his wife, Rachael, and their two children. His personal interests include a variety of sports such as basketball, volleyball, football, and skiing, as well as outdoor activities like hiking. Trent is involved in professional and community organizations including the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, BYU, Habitat for Humanity, and served on the Italy Milan LDS Mission.

Heather Djan is a Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. She provides guidance tailored to clients' unique ambitions, focusing on areas such as college education planning, legacy planning, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, women and wealth, and retirement income. Heather began her financial services career with UBS in New York City in 2007. In 2010, she joined Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in Northshore, Long Island, and transferred to Las Vegas in 2014. She holds a Bachelor's Degree from SUNY Old Westbury and has earned multiple professional designations, including Accredited Wealth Management Advisor (AWMA), CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (CFP), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). Originally from New York, Heather has lived in Las Vegas for the past nine years. She spends much of her time with her family, exploring local dining, entertainment, hiking trails, and supporting new businesses. Her personal interests include antiquing, dancing, drawing/sketching, interior decorating, music, photography, sewing, traveling, and woodworking.