Michael Mattes

Shelterbelt Advisors serves the sustainable food and farm community with personalized advice, planning and education. We are committed to the stewards of the earth – the farmers, food entrepreneurs, and the good folks who support that work – because we share in their vision of abundance, diversity, and regeneration. Who Are You? You are stewarding creation on your land and in your work. You are nourishing your community and feeding your family. You are spreading the seeds of your wealth. Who Are We? A financial planning and tax firm that can help you build real wealth from agriculture and food systems work, make smart money choices that support your values, and transform your wealth into a force for good. What Is real financial planning? It is.. Personal: Made just for you and your journey. Interpersonal: Open and honest for those you show up for. Community: Invites, includes and invests in people. System: Rooted and returned in multiple forms. Michael Grady Robertson is a Certified Financial Planner® Certificant and tax professional. He has been a farmer for twenty years. He lives in the Hudson Valley of New York on a fiber-focused sheep farm. His most recent vacation was to delightfully charming All Things Oz Museum in Chittenango, New York.

I work with women who feel unseen by traditional financial service providers, and are tired of being talked at instead of spoken to. This includes women breadwinners, who want to be sure they're doing all they can with their money to secure the future; and women who feel like they should be able to create a financial plan but aren't sure where to start. Outside of financial planning, I serve on the board of a non-profit affordable housing network in the metro New York area, am active in my local Rotary Club, and am slowly learning how to build a garden that is friendly to pollinators and unappealing to rabbits. My journey has included life and work in India, Vietnam and other places, an MBA from Cornell University, several years on a trading floor right out of college and stops along the way that contribute to the life experience that I bring to each of you.

Donald Bell is a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He collaborates closely with clients to develop personalized financial strategies aimed at pursuing long-term goals. His approach integrates flexibility to adapt to evolving market conditions, leveraging investment insights from Merrill along with banking and lending solutions provided by Bank of America. Donald holds the professional designations of Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). He completed his high school education at Saugerties Central. In addition to his advisory work, he is engaged in community service through volunteer activities, reflecting the Merrill tradition of local participation.

Melanie Hammond is a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, specializing in delivering personalized wealth management strategies tailored to individual client goals. With over 15 years of client-focused experience, she emphasizes purposeful and personal attention to help clients pursue long-term financial objectives, including areas such as college education planning, divorce transition planning, family wealth management, retirement income, and socially responsible investing. Melanie holds professional designations as a Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC) and a Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). She graduated from Kingston High School and is an active member of the philanthropic educational organization PEO. Melanie’s commitment to her clients is complemented by her involvement in community initiatives, reflecting the Merrill tradition of service. Outside of her professional duties, Melanie engages in various personal interests, including boxing, cooking, hiking, music, reading, running, skiing, traveling, writing, and spending time with her family. As a native of upstate New York, she appreciates the diversity of her community and strives to contribute positively to both her clients and the region she calls home.