Lawrence Shields

Thomas Leonard is a Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. With a 30-year career in the financial markets, he has led Institutional Sales teams for several major global financial firms and guided sophisticated investors through significant market events including the 1987 Stock Market Crash, the ERM Currency Crisis, the Dot-Com Stock Crisis, 9/11, and the 2008 Great Financial Crisis. This extensive experience has equipped him with practical knowledge to help individual investors navigate financial uncertainty. Thomas specializes in a broad range of client focus areas such as college education planning, employee benefits planning, family wealth management strategies, personal retirement planning, portfolio management services, small business strategies, special needs planning, and retirement income. He and his team adopt a consultative approach to develop customized financial strategies tailored to each client’s unique goals. As an active manager, Thomas is adept at adjusting clients’ portfolios to shifting market conditions, emphasizing organization and planning as keys to successful investing. He holds a Bachelor’s degree from Fairfield University and a Master of Business Administration from Fordham University, and he holds the Professional Investment Advisor (PIA) designation. Thomas participates in community service through involvement with the American Cancer Society. In addition to his professional interests, he enjoys golfing, traveling, yoga, and spending time with his wife and four daughters.

Kevin Dehler is a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He has been in the financial services industry since 1987 and joined Merrill Lynch in 2012. Kevin focuses on developing strategies and advice for individuals, their families, and their businesses by understanding their short- and long-term financial objectives. He holds the Wealth Management Advisor designation and is a Sports & Entertainment Accredited Wealth Management Advisor™, reflecting his experience working with clients in the sports and entertainment industry. Kevin is a graduate of Archbishop Molloy High School and St. John's University, where he earned a bachelor's degree in Finance. Prior to joining Merrill Lynch, he was a Senior Vice President in Capital Markets and managed a multi-asset investment team. His client focus areas include college education planning, divorce transition planning, family wealth management strategies, personal retirement planning, and socially responsible investing. He and his wife, Kristen, live in Sag Harbor with their two children and are active in the community, supporting Hampton's Community Outreach, the Southampton Business Advisory Council, Sag Harbor Youth Basketball, and Sag Harbor Little League. Kevin also holds a United States Coast Guard Captain's license and has coached various sports over the past eight years.

Harry Hackett is a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, where he has provided financial advisory services since 1995. He succeeded his father's practice and has extensive experience working with families to help them achieve their financial and lifestyle goals. His areas of expertise include college education planning, liquidity management, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, portfolio management services, small business strategies, individual and corporate investment strategy, tax minimization, and retirement income. Harry also offers Trust and Estate services, cash flow creation analysis, and access to Bank of America's banking and lending services. Harry holds the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC®) designation as well as the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) credential. He earned a bachelor's degree from Hamilton College. In addition to his professional commitments, Harry is a member of the Masonic Order and is involved in community activities, including participation in the Bridgehampton Half Marathon. He lives in Bridgehampton with his wife Louise and their three children.

Jacob Eckart is a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, where he and his team have been serving clients since 2008. With a career in the investment community beginning in 1983, Jacob brings extensive experience in portfolio management and financial advisory services. He is qualified as a Portfolio Manager and provides clients with personalized strategies that may include individual stocks and bonds, Merrill model portfolios, and third-party investment strategies. In the firm's Investment Advisory Program, he may manage strategies on a discretionary basis. Jacob's areas of expertise include family wealth management strategies, legacy planning, liquidity management, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, portfolio management services, small business strategies, socially responsible and ESG investing, tax minimization, and retirement income. He holds the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC) designation. Jacob graduated from Westhampton Beach High School and earned an Associate's Degree from Suffolk County Community College. Outside of his professional work, Jacob enjoys boating, fishing, golfing, and music.

Michael Lagnese is a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, bringing over seven years of experience in providing financial guidance to clients. He and his team employ a Goals-Based Wealth Management approach that places client priorities at the center of the wealth planning process. Leveraging the global resources of Merrill Lynch, Michael assists clients in identifying and prioritizing key financial objectives such as college education funding, retirement income planning, health care cost coverage, and family wealth preservation. Michael’s expertise encompasses a broad range of client focus areas, including personal retirement planning, portfolio management, employee and corporate benefits, as well as strategies tailored for small business owners and the LGBT community. He holds the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation and completed his high school education at Hicksville High School, followed by an Associate's Degree from Nassau Community College. In addition to his professional activities, Michael is involved with the community organization Long Island Cares. His personal interests include biking, chess, cooking, golfing, and yoga.

Anthony Addison is a Senior Financial Advisor and Managing Director within the Merrill Lynch Wealth Management Group. With a professional focus on wealth management and asset management for high net worth clients, Anthony and his team have provided financial guidance since 1997 to affluent families and corporations. They take a holistic approach by reviewing clients' assets, debts, risk tolerance, time horizons, liquidity needs, and overall investment goals to tailor customized wealth management plans. Anthony also collaborates closely with clients' attorneys and CPAs to align financial strategies comprehensively. His expertise encompasses goals-based wealth management, retirement planning and distribution options from employer-sponsored plans, estate planning services, hedge fund lending, and managing concentrated stock positions with tax-efficient stock option exercises. Anthony advises on a broad range of client focus areas including college education planning, family wealth management strategies, liquidity management, small business strategies, and tax minimization. He holds the Professional Investment Advisor (PIA) designation and earned a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Vermont. In addition to his professional pursuits, Anthony participates in community activities consistent with Merrill’s tradition of service. Outside of work, he enjoys biking, cooking, hiking, hunting, and spending time with his family. He emphasizes developing personalized financial strategies tailored to his clients’ long-term goals and treats his clients with a family-oriented approach.