James Bradford

James Adams is the Senior Resident Director at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He has been a financial advisor with Merrill for the past 27 years, helping clients achieve their individualized financial goals. Based in the Augusta, GA area, James and his team coordinate the financial affairs of individuals across the United States. His areas of expertise include college education planning, legacy planning, liquidity management, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, portfolio management services, tax minimization, retirement income, and serving clients in sports and entertainment. James holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina System and a Master’s degree from the University of South Carolina System. He is also a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (CFP) and a Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). James and his wife Claudia live in Aiken, South Carolina. Outside of work, he enjoys biking, boating, and golfing. He is also involved in the community as a board member of the United Way of the CSRA.

Brent Hardy is a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He joined Merrill Lynch in 2008 and has over 15 years of experience in the financial services industry. Brent is a Portfolio Manager who manages personalized or defined investment strategies that may include individual stocks and bonds, Merrill model portfolios, and third-party investment strategies. Brent focuses on a select group of clients, assisting them with all aspects of their financial lives. His areas of expertise include college education planning, divorce transition planning, family wealth management strategies, legacy planning, liquidity management, philanthropic planning, portfolio management services, socially responsible and values-based investing, tax minimization, and retirement income. He collaborates with the team of Financial Advisors at VCH & Associates to design and implement customized wealth management strategies aimed at accumulating and preserving wealth while managing investment risk. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Business Management from the University of North Carolina Greensboro and is a graduate of the U.S. Army Intelligence School. Brent also holds the professional designations of Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA) and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). He relocated to Augusta, GA from Spartanburg, SC in 2013. Outside of his professional work, Brent's personal interests include golfing, hunting, and traveling.