Courtney Duncan

Steve has always felt that his role as an advisor should exclusively be to serve those who have put their trust in him and to do it to the best of his abilities, by any means necessary. So, he decided to take a step that many advisors are increasingly considering: 1. Transitioning to a fee-only model. 2. Requiring that all clients are always served in a fiduciary capacity. 3. Taking ownership and control of his practice. He believes this approach realigns his incentives with his clients' best interests and empowers him to develop financial plans free from undue influence. In his free time, Steve also serves on the board of the Societa Da Vinci, a local non-profit focused on providing educational grants and supporting cultural events around Italian heritage. Steve is also an avid traveler and hiker. One of his life’s goals is to visit all 63 US national parks among various other outdoor adventures like shark diving.

Kathleen Hawkins is a Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. With a career in financial services dating back to 1998, she specializes in developing long-term relationships with clients to help them navigate investment needs through various life changes. Her expertise includes financial strategies focused on wealth accumulation, funding education, retirement planning, philanthropic support, and intergenerational asset transfer. Kathleen holds a Bachelor of Science in finance from the University of Delaware and a Master of Business Administration from Drexel University. She carries professional designations including CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® (CFP), CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Benefits Consultant (RBC). Before joining Merrill Lynch in 2004, she gained experience at JP Morgan and served as Executive Director of the Eastern Pennsylvania and Peninsula-Delaware United Methodist Foundation. She is involved in several non-profit organizations such as the Cen-Del Foundation and serves as a Trustee of the University of Delaware. Kathleen lives in Smyrna, Delaware with her husband and son. Outside of work, she enjoys cooking, gardening, and spending time with her family.

Nicholas Alexander is a Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He has been with the firm since 2015 and focuses on goal-based planning and comprehensive investment advice for families and small businesses. His expertise includes divorce transition planning, family wealth management strategies, portfolio management services, and retirement income. Nicholas holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®) certification, the Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA®) designation, and is a Retirement Benefits Consultant. He also holds Series 7 and 66 FINRA registrations and has licenses in Delaware life and health insurance. Nicholas earned a Bachelor's degree in Finance from the University of Delaware in 2006. He volunteers for the Delaware Financial Literacy Institute and serves on the board of directors for "Arise," a non-profit organization. He is a member of Grace Presbyterian Church in Dover, Delaware, and is involved with the Delmarva Sportsman Association and the Southern Delaware Jeep Club. Nicholas lives in Hartly, Delaware with his wife and four children. His personal interests include camping, golfing, and hunting.