Joel Carignan

Sukhvinder Thiara is a Wealth Management Advisor based in the Stockton, California Merrill Lynch Wealth Management office. He joined Merrill Lynch in 2011 and specializes in developing financial strategies and recommendations for high-net-worth individuals, their families, and businesses to support their short- and long-term financial goals. Sukhvinder’s approach to wealth management is consultative and objective, involving thorough review of clients’ financial situations and preferences, tailored asset allocation recommendations, and ongoing discussions covering investments, retirement planning, philanthropy, and estate planning in collaboration with clients’ advisors. Sukhvinder holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ designation and is registered with FINRA Series 7 and Series 66. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Biological Sciences from the University of California, Davis in 1996 and a Master of Business Administration in Finance from California State University, Hayward in 2003. In addition to English, he is fluent in Spanish and Punjabi. Outside of his professional work, Sukhvinder is involved in coaching youth sports in Lodi, California. He lives in Lodi with his wife, Arvinder, and their two children.

Philip Benson is a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He has been with Merrill since January 1987 and has held leadership roles including managing the Stockton, CA office for 24 years and serving as Senior Resident Director of the 101 California Street office in San Francisco. Since June 2018, he has focused on client service and leadership of The BWS Group in Stockton, dedicating his efforts to wealth management strategies that address clients' concerns about financial security. Mr. Benson’s expertise encompasses the implementation of coordinated strategies for the accumulation, preservation, use, and transfer of wealth. He holds several professional designations including CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (CFP), Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA), CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural and Managerial Economics from the University of California, Davis. Beyond his financial career, Mr. Benson umpired major college baseball games across the United States until his retirement in 2013, including being selected as one of eight umpires to work the 2012 Division I College World Series. He resides in Walnut Grove, California with his wife, Stacy Ann Enos, and has one son, Patrick, who is also a Merrill Financial Advisor.

Leonardo Resendiz is a Financial Solutions Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. In his role, he works closely with clients to understand their financial priorities and develop strategies aimed at achieving their short-, mid-, and long-term goals. His services encompass a broad range of financial planning needs, including general investing, retirement planning, and preparing for unforeseen expenses. Leonardo also facilitates access to Bank of America specialists for banking, credit, home financing, and small business solutions. Leonardo holds professional designations as a Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC) and as a Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). He earned his high school diploma from Weston Ranch High School and an associate's degree from San Joaquin Delta College. Through ongoing dialogue with clients, he provides tailored advice and guidance that adapts as their financial circumstances evolve.