Financial advisors in San Francisco for Equity-Based Compensation

Tayo Ogundiya is Vice President and Executive Planning Consultant at Fidelity Investments, where he has been serving since 2020. In this role, he partners with clients to develop comprehensive long-term financial plans and detailed investment strategies that incorporate workplace benefits and equity compensation. He emphasizes establishing long-term relationships based on trust and reliability to help clients work toward their financial goals. Tayo has been with Fidelity Investments since 2010, holding various roles including Relationship Manager, Financial Consultant, Service and Trading Manager, and High Net Worth Supervisor. He holds a California Insurance License. Outside of his professional responsibilities, Tayo enjoys concerts, hiking, movies, music, and writing.

Timothy Walker is a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He joined Venture Services Group in June 2016, where he manages the development, implementation, and execution of 10b5-1 plans. Additionally, he supports the team with the stock distribution process and the settlement of restricted stock transactions. Before joining Venture Services Group, Tim worked with the Bank of America Institutional Retirement Executive Services Team, assisting corporate executives and directors in managing their company stock holdings. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance and Computer Information Systems from Rider University and has earned the Accredited Wealth Management Advisor (AWMA) designation. In 2024, Tim was recognized on the Forbes “Best-in-State Wealth Advisors” list. He resides in New York, NY.

Thomas Catanese is a Private Wealth Advisor with Merrill Private Wealth Management. He works primarily with entrepreneurs, executives, and investors in privately held and publicly traded companies, focusing on industries such as technology and life sciences. His advisory services cover a range of areas including investments, trust and estate planning, tax minimization strategies, lending needs, equity planning, and retail banking services. Many of his clients hold positions as officers and directors of publicly traded companies or are general partners in private equity and venture capital firms. Thomas has over 30 years of experience in the financial industry. Before joining Merrill, he spent eight years with JP Morgan's Private Bank and over 10 years with Northern Trust, Fidelity Investments, and Charles Schwab. He also led corporate development for five years at Advent Software, a publicly traded fintech company. Thomas holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Vanderbilt University and has completed additional coursework in financial disciplines at the Haas business school. He holds the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) professional designation. Thomas resides in Tiburon, Marin County. He has been involved with various community organizations including JDRF, Marin Food Bank, and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. His personal interests include golfing, skiing, spending time with family, traveling, and yoga.

Kevin Fernandez is a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in San Francisco. He specializes in assisting senior executives and wealth creators with managing complex equity compensation, executive trading plans, stock options, and tax-minimization strategies. Kevin works closely with clients to develop personalized financial strategies that address both their personal and professional financial lives, aiming to uncover efficiencies across multiple contexts. Kevin holds professional designations including Accredited Portfolio Management Advisor (APMA), Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA), and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). He earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Arizona. Kevin is supported by a dedicated team focused on providing enduring guidance and personalized service to clients over the long term. Outside of his professional role, Kevin spends time with his wife, Meghan, and their children, Faye and Jack. He enjoys live music, cycling, golfing, and traveling. He is involved in community organizations such as the Noe Valley Chamber Music and The Olympic Club.

Ben Fort is a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He began his career as an intern in 1995 and has been a financial advisor since 1998. Ben focuses on financial planning and works primarily with corporate executives, entrepreneurs, and venture capitalists, helping them develop and implement strategies to align their stock options, compensation packages, and assets with their financial goals. He leads an eleven-person team that manages approximately $3.8 billion in client assets as of March 2025, maintaining a client retention rate of 99%. Ben holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP) certification, the Certified Investment Management Analyst® (CIMA®) designation from the Investments & Wealth Institute™, and the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) credential. He earned a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Tennessee. Ben and his team have received recognition on the Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Advisors" list multiple years consecutively through 2025, with their team also named to the Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams" list for three consecutive years. Residing in Mill Valley with his wife and two daughters, Ben’s personal interests include snowboarding, mountain biking, sailing, and traveling. He is involved with the Silicon Valley Community Foundation Bay Area Advisor Council and has contributed as a board member and volunteer within his community.

Justin Kroplin is a Private Wealth Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He has dedicated his entire career to the firm, focusing on providing comprehensive financial support to corporate executives, technology professionals, and families. His work often involves assisting clients who have equity compensation and stock option packages, addressing both the opportunities and risks these entail. Since 1998, Justin has combined extensive experience in complex benefits with a purpose-driven approach to help clients understand their financial choices and align their professional growth with broader life goals. His expertise includes 10b5-1 planning and lifelong wealth management, aiming to design strategies that unite clients' assets, aspirations, and values to pursue financial independence. Justin holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications from the University of Colorado. He holds the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation. He resides in San Francisco and Sonoma with his wife, Athinela, and they share interests in fitness and travel.

Adam Cline is a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in the San Francisco office. He has been in the financial services industry since 2009 and joined Merrill in 2010. Adam works with affluent clients, including many C-suite executives and serial entrepreneurs, providing holistic wealth management strategies aimed at fostering positive long-term financial outcomes for his clients and their families. Adam’s expertise spans executive compensation, equity compensation services, liquidity management, retirement planning, and wealth preservation. As a member of the Corporate Benefits Advisory Services division, he focuses on wealth enhancement, transfer, and preservation, as well as charitable gifting and personalized strategies involving family wealth growth, trust and estate planning, and business succession. He also offers services related to stock option analysis, pre-IPO planning, and specialized lending solutions. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Economics from the University of California, Berkeley, and maintains securities licenses including the Series 7 and 66 FINRA registrations. Adam is a Certified Private Wealth Advisor (CPWA) and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). Outside of his professional work, he volunteers with community organizations such as GLIDE, Habitat for Humanity, and the Sage Project. His personal interests include basketball, camping, golfing, hiking, scuba diving, surfing, swimming, yoga, traveling, and spending time with his family.

Travis Daugherty is a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, specializing in personalized wealth management strategies tailored to clients' individual goals. He assists clients in areas including college education planning, corporate executive services, equity compensation, family wealth management, liquidity management, retirement income, and tax minimization. Travis works closely with Merrill’s investment resources and Bank of America’s lending solutions to design flexible financial strategies aligned with changing market conditions. With over 25 years of experience, Travis has developed expertise in restricted stock sales, 10B5-1 plans, cashless option exercises, fixed income and equity trades, 529 plans, and large block equity transactions. He collaborates directly with trading desks to execute taxable and tax-exempt fixed income trades, equity and option trades, restricted stock trades, and corporate transactions. He holds the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation and earned a Bachelor’s Degree from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Travis follows Merrill’s tradition of community involvement by volunteering with local organizations. Outside of work, he enjoys activities such as baseball, football, golfing, hiking, running, skiing, swimming, tennis, traveling, and spending time with his family.

Valerie Garcia Houts is a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. She has been with the Venture Services Group since 1999, initially joining when the team was part of Robertson Stephens. Valerie oversees domestic and foreign equity distributions, 10b5-1 plan development and implementation, and regulatory matters pertinent to the business. Her experience spans over two decades in restricted stock strategy and trading. Prior to her current role, Valerie spent six years at Montgomery Securities in the Private Client Department, where she managed restricted stock transactions, diversification and hedging strategies, and comprehensive asset management for high-net-worth individuals and foundations. Valerie holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from the University of California at Irvine and an MBA from the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley. She also holds the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) professional designation. In addition to her professional work, Valerie serves on the Board of Trustees for Project Glimmer, a nonprofit focused on empowering young women, and Compass Family Services, which provides human services to low-income and homeless families in the San Francisco Bay Area. She is active in leadership at St. Ignatius Church in San Francisco. Valerie lives in San Francisco with her husband and their three daughters.

Damian Hedley is a Private Wealth Manager with Merrill Private Wealth Management. He advises a select group of ultra-high-net-worth individuals and families, providing coordination and leadership across various aspects of their wealth management. Damian’s expertise includes advising business owners, particularly those considering an exit or who have monetized their businesses. He also works with C-suite executives, assisting with compensation optimization, managing concentrated and restricted stock strategies, and planning for intergenerational wealth transfer.