Lauren Burton

Troy Braga is the Resident Director and Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill Lynch. He joined Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in 2014 following twelve years of experience in diverse corporate finance roles. Troy's expertise encompasses a wide spectrum of financial planning and advisory services, including corporate executive services, family wealth management strategies, legacy planning, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, philanthropic planning, portfolio management, small business strategies, individual and corporate investment strategy, and tax minimization. His focus is on helping affluent individuals, retirees, and business owners navigate the complexities of their financial lives through personalized, tax-efficient strategies aimed at growing and preserving wealth. Troy holds a Bachelor’s degree in Finance and Human Resources Management from the University of Idaho and an M.B.A. from Washington State University. He is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP), Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Benefits Consultant (RBC). While Troy is a Certified Public Accountant, he does not provide tax advice in his current role. Beyond his professional commitments, Troy is actively involved in his community as a member of the Innovia Foundation Kootenai County Leadership Council, Kootenai Health Foundation, and The Salvation Army Kroc Center Board. He enjoys spending time outdoors pursuing activities such as basketball, biking, camping, fishing, hiking, running—including marathons—skiing, and traveling, often with his family.

Mark Easterday is a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, where he has been serving clients since May 1997. His professional expertise centers on retirement planning, college education planning, estate issues, insurance, and managing significant liquidity events such as business sales, inheritances, or concentrated stock transactions. Mark also specializes in working with clients who have irregular income sources—including contract workers, real estate investors, and commission-based professionals—helping them budget, save, and invest toward financial independence. He provides personalized financial strategies tailored to individual client needs and works with clients across multiple states. Mark holds the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor™ (CRPC™) designation through the College for Financial Planning Institutes Corp., and has additional professional designations including CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business-Finance from the University of Southern California and is a Past-Chairman of the USC Marshall School of Business Alumni Association. Outside of his advisory role, Mark has interests in golf, fitness, horseback riding, and music. He has a history of involvement with military-focused community activities, working closely with Navy SEALS and local veterans' groups to provide children exposure to military heroes. Mark lives in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho with his wife, Cherice, and enjoys rodeo activities such as team roping and barrel racing.