James Willis

William Baxley is a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He collaborates with a select group of families and businesses to develop and implement strategies that manage wealth effectively, focusing on asset and liability management. William’s approach emphasizes clear communication and individualized wealth management plans that support clients’ retirement goals and income needs. William began his career in financial services with SunTrust Bank, where he completed the Executive Management Program and worked as a commercial lending officer. He joined Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in 1997. He earned a Bachelor's degree in Economics from Vanderbilt University and completed a year of study at the London School of Economics. William holds multiple professional designations, including CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®), Certified Investment Management Analyst® (CIMA®), CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Benefits Consultant (RBC). In addition to his professional work, William is involved in his community, volunteering with Upward Bound and Vine Ingle Little League and serving on the Board of Trustees at Stratford Academy. He resides in Macon with his wife, Karen, and their children. His personal interests include fishing, golfing, and hiking.

Dianne Niblett is a Private Wealth Advisor at Merrill Private Wealth Management. She leverages extensive experience in banking and wealth management to help clients simplify their financial lives through investment advice and comprehensive planning guidance. Dianne focuses on building long-term relationships with clients and their families, providing service that emphasizes both asset management and liability management. Her expertise includes securities-based lending, residential and commercial financing, as well as custom and structured lending solutions for ultra-high-net-worth clients offered through Bank of America. Dianne earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from Auburn University, after attending both the University of Florida and Auburn University. She was born and raised in Tampa Bay and currently lives there with her wife. Dianne is actively involved in her community, serving on the Board of Directors of the Tampa Bay Chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, an organization important to her as a parent of a child with type one diabetes.

Kevin Frounfelker serves as the Resident Director of Merrill’s Macon office and is a Senior Vice President and Wealth Management Advisor with the Frounfelker and Maley Group. As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional, he provides comprehensive wealth management planning for individuals and families, focusing on goals-based strategies. He also leads efforts in managing 401(k) plans through Merrill’s Fiduciary Advisory Services Platform, offering clients investment policy development, fiduciary services, participant education, plan design consulting, benchmarking, and investment menu review. Kevin holds the Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor® and Retirement Benefits Consultant designations, complementing his CFP® certification. His educational background includes an Associate's Degree from Middle Georgia State University and a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Georgia. Prior to college, he completed his high school education at Beavercreek High School. His professional experience encompasses corporate executive services, family wealth management, defined benefit and contribution plan consulting, employee financial health, personal retirement planning, and portfolio management. Beyond his professional role, Kevin is active in community and leadership activities. He is a current member and past president of the Macon North Rotary Club, participated in the 2018 Leadership Macon Class, and has served as a board advisor for United in Pink and an alumni board member at Middle Georgia State University. His personal interests include spending time with his wife and two daughters, mentoring, cycling, running, swimming, yoga, and CrossFit.

Jackson Evans is a Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He transitioned from a career in the banking industry to focus on helping individuals and families pursue their financial goals and dreams. Jackson utilizes Merrill’s investment insights along with access to Bank of America’s banking services to develop comprehensive financial strategies tailored to clients' unique needs. His expertise includes retirement planning, lifetime cash flow analysis, risk tolerance assessment, and wealth planning services, integrating credit, lending, and banking solutions through Bank of America. Jackson’s client focus areas include college education planning, defined benefit plans, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, portfolio management, and small business strategies. Jackson holds a Business degree with a major in Management from Georgia Southern University. He is involved in his community through participation with Habitat For Humanity of Macon, Georgia, supporting efforts to build safe and affordable homes in the local area. Outside of work, he enjoys boating, camping, golfing, hiking, music, and spending time with his family.

Brandy Otterbacher Ragan is a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. She focuses on helping clients develop personalized financial strategies tailored to their long-term goals, drawing on her understanding of each client's full financial picture. Her areas of expertise include legacy planning, liquidity management, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, portfolio management services, and retirement income. Brandy has been in the financial services industry since 2008. A Toledo native, she earned both her bachelor's degree and her Master of Business Administration from the University of Toledo. She adheres to the Merrill tradition of community involvement and dedicates time to volunteering with local organizations. Outside of her professional work, Brandy enjoys golfing, rock climbing, and running.