Carlos Benites

Joshua Richardson is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® (CFP®) professional dedicated to helping individuals, families, and business owners bring clarity and confidence to their financial lives. His approach blends advanced planning knowledge with a practical perspective shaped by his early career in small business finance. Working alongside entrepreneurs taught him that financial decisions are never made in isolation—cash flow, investments, taxes, and long-term goals are all interconnected. That experience instilled in him a big-picture view that he now applies to every client relationship. In his advisory work, Joshua focuses on guiding clients through the complexities of financial planning in a way that feels approachable and actionable. He believes the best plans are those that not only look good on paper but also work in the real world, adapting to life’s changes. Whether it’s structuring a retirement plan, developing a tax-efficient investment strategy, or helping a family prepare for major life transitions, Joshua works to simplify complexity and provide a clear path forward. Joshua has a special appreciation for clients whose financial lives are more involved—such as professionals balancing career and family goals, or small business owners navigating the overlap between personal wealth and business success. His ability to translate complex strategies into straightforward, step-by-step plans allows clients to focus on what matters most to them, while knowing the financial details are well-managed. At the heart of Joshua’s philosophy is a commitment to client-centered advice. He acts as a fiduciary at all times, putting his clients’ best interests first. His goal is simple: to help people plan, invest, and prosper with clarity and confidence, knowing they have a trusted partner guiding them each step of the way.

Keith Meeker is a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. In his role, he focuses on providing clients with personalized wealth management strategies that are flexible to adapt to changing market conditions and aligned with their individual goals and priorities. Keith leverages investment insights from Merrill and the banking and lending solutions of Bank of America to address the comprehensive financial needs of his clients. Keith’s expertise covers a broad range of client focus areas including college education planning, divorce transition planning, family wealth management strategies, services for endowments, foundations, and non-profits, legacy planning, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, small business strategies, individual and corporate investment strategies, and retirement income. He emphasizes understanding his clients’ full financial picture and life priorities to collaboratively create customized plans. Keith holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Rider University and professional designations including Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC) and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). He is actively involved in his community, volunteering as a coach for MVGSA softball and TLL baseball. Outside of work, Keith enjoys baseball, billiards, football, skiing, softball, spending time with his family, traveling, and watching movies.

Dannielle Thomas serves as a Financial Solutions Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. In her role, she collaborates with clients to develop strategies aligned with their short-, mid-, and long-term financial goals. She provides guidance on investing, retirement planning, and contingency savings and connects clients with Bank of America specialists for additional services including banking, credit, home financing, and small business solutions. Dannielle holds the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation and completed her high school education at Etiwanda High School. Her approach focuses on understanding the priorities of clients and their families to create tailored financial strategies.

Shirley Thompson is a Senior Vice President and Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in Temecula, California. She brings over 15 years of experience in the financial services industry, specializing in helping clients achieve their financial goals through collaboration with CPAs and attorneys. Shirley is a qualified Senior Portfolio Advisor who provides traditional advice and manages custom investment strategies, leveraging a broad selection of Merrill Lynch model portfolios and third-party strategies. In her role, she may also manage investment advisory program strategies on a discretionary basis. Shirley holds a Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC) designation, along with Series 7 and 66 FINRA registrations and an Insurance License. She has completed coursework including Fundamentals of Investments and Process and Environment from The American College. Her academic credentials include a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration with dual emphases in Finance and Management Information Systems from the University of California, Riverside, and an MBA with a focus on Finance from California State University, Long Beach. In addition to her professional career, Shirley is involved in community organizations such as the Chinese Bible Church of Temecula Valley and the French Valley Baseball Softball Association. She also participates actively with Best Buddies, a nonprofit supporting friendships for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Shirley enjoys traveling and baseball, having visited all but four baseball stadiums in the United States. She resides in Murrieta, California, with her husband Robert, a licensed attorney and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, and their four children.