Damian Palfini

Scott Macdonald is a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management and the founder and leader of the firm's Special Needs Team. Since joining Merrill Lynch in 1987, he has dedicated his career to providing financial advice and guidance specifically tailored to disabled, special-needs, and elder-abuse victims and their families. His team focuses on complex wealth planning and investment management for Special Needs Trusts, court-supervised trusts, conservatorships, and guardianships, working closely with attorneys, caregivers, trustees, fiduciaries, and benefits counselors to address the unique short- and long-term financial needs of society’s most vulnerable populations. Scott holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics with honors from the California State University system. He is a Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) and a Senior Portfolio Manager, managing discretionary investment strategies that may include individualized stocks and bonds as well as various model portfolios and third-party strategies. His expertise includes California Probate Code restrictions, the Uniform Prudent Investor Act, and National Guardianship Standards. Scott has been recognized with Merrill Lynch’s David Brady Community Service Award and has been named to Forbes’ "Best-in-State Wealth Advisors" list for multiple consecutive years from 2020 through 2025. Active in his community, Scott is a member of the Rotary Club of Tahoe Incline and involved with the Society for disAbilities. He lives in Incline Village, Nevada, with his wife Meredith and their four children. Outside of his professional work, he enjoys boating, fishing, hiking, skiing, and spending time with his family.

Ralph Agostini is a Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management who works primarily with small business owners and entrepreneurs. He focuses on helping clients preserve and grow retirement savings, manage personal and business assets, and establish strong succession plans to ensure financial independence and a secure retirement. His approach begins with a realistic assessment of each client's unique situation, taking into account their life, business, and family circumstances to develop a tailored financial roadmap. Ralph holds a Bachelor's and a Master's degree from The City College of New York and is a Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). Beyond his professional work, he is a member of the League To Save Lake Tahoe and supports community organizations including the ASPCA and Keep Tahoe Blue. In his personal time, Ralph enjoys antiquing, various sports, hiking, music, reading, skiing, spending time with family, and traveling.

Brett Malamet is a Wealth Management Advisor and the founder and leader of The Malamet Group at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. Since 2002, he has provided customized wealth management advice with a focus on delivering personal attention to high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals. Brett directs asset allocation, sector diversification, and security and fund selection within his team. He specializes in addressing the investment needs of ultra-affluent clients by considering their risk tolerance, timelines, lifestyle requirements, and long-term goals. His expertise spans diverse markets and multiple asset classes, including domestic and international markets and traditional alternative instruments. Brett also serves as the lead advisor for a select group of families and integrates proprietary research and Merrill economic forecasts to inform his market outlook. Brett earned a bachelor's degree in finance from the University of Nevada, Reno, and holds the Certified Portfolio Manager designation from the Academy of Certified Portfolio Managers at Columbia University School of Finance. He is a qualified Senior Portfolio Manager with the ability to manage discretionary personalized or defined strategies, incorporating individual stocks and bonds, Merrill Lynch Wealth Management model portfolios, and third-party investment strategies. His background includes experience at Bank of America, providing him with a comprehensive perspective on client needs to coordinate the firm's resources to benefit clients and their families holistically. A native of San Francisco, Brett has lived in Northern Nevada for over thirty years and primarily works out of the North Lake Tahoe area. He spends his free time engaged in biking, golfing, hiking, music, photography, and traveling. His client focus areas include family wealth management strategies, legacy and liquidity planning, retirement income, portfolio management services, and small business strategies.

Mary Spence is a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. She focuses on providing comprehensive financial advice, integrating debt and asset management to help clients achieve their long-term goals. Her expertise includes home and custom lending, risk management involving life insurance and long-term care, as well as liquidity event planning. Mary's client focus areas include college education planning, liquidity management, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, socially responsible and values-based investing, women and wealth, and tax minimization. She is committed to understanding all aspects of her clients' financial lives to build personalized strategies. She holds a bachelor's degree in business administration with a concentration in finance from the University of Richmond. Mary has earned several professional designations, including CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®), Certified Private Wealth Advisor® (CPWA®), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). In her personal time, she enjoys cooking, hiking, rock climbing, skiing, traveling, and practicing yoga.

Peter Kong is a Private Wealth Advisor and Managing Director with Merrill Private Wealth Management. He has over 26 years of experience advising wealthy families and individuals, specializing in strategies for entrepreneurs with concentrated equity positions. His expertise includes tax-efficient diversification, asset allocation, and capital preservation. Prior to joining Merrill, Peter practiced corporate tax law and estate planning, worked at Montgomery Securities starting in 1996, and later formed a partnership at Thomas Weisel Partners. He subsequently helped build the high-net-worth presence on the West Coast for Barclays Wealth Americas before joining Merrill as a managing director. Peter holds a bachelor's degree from Dartmouth College, graduating Cum Laude in 1989, and a Juris Doctor from Georgetown University Law Center, earned in 1993. He is a member of the California Bar Association and has been recognized by Forbes on their "Best-in-State Wealth Advisors" list multiple times, including 2019, 2020, and 2023. Outside of his professional career, Peter has competed in domestic and international tennis tournaments and maintains interests in adventure sports, cooking, fishing, golfing, hunting, music, reading, traveling, and watching movies.