Kaitlyn Cruse

Advisor at Merrill

Updated today
Merrill logo

Firm

Merrill

Location

Quechee, VT

Credentials

Series 63, Series 66

Industry experience

17 years

About

Kaitlyn M. Cruse is a Senior Vice President and Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, where she also serves as a Portfolio Manager and holds the Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor designation. She began her career at Merrill in 2008 in Boston, MA, working with ultra-high net worth individuals at Merrill Private Wealth Management Group. Since relocating to San Diego, CA in 2016, Kaitlyn has focused on developing personalized wealth plans in collaboration with estate attorneys, tax preparers, and other specialists to meet her clients' specific needs and goals.

Kaitlyn holds the Certified Investment Management Analyst® certification, the Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor® designation, and Merrill’s Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor title. She is also licensed in California for Life, Accident & Health insurance and holds FINRA Series 7, 63, 65, and 66 registrations. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Bryant University with a focus in Financial Services and a minor in Communications, including study abroad at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia.

Outside of her professional work, Kaitlyn is involved with Merrill Women's Exchange and the National Association for Women Business Owners (NAWBO). She enjoys skiing, Pilates, traveling, cooking, and spending time with her family. Kaitlyn resides primarily in Carlsbad, CA with her husband, two young children, and rescue dog, and they also spend time at their home in Vermont.

Client services

Portfolio management Pension consulting Selection of other advisers Educational seminars or workshops
Performance measurement reports, allocation modeling, ips, research reports and services, see schedule d

Expertise

Retirement income strategy Income planning Tax-loss harvesting Wealth management Inheritance planning

Demographic focus

Women Professionals Values-based investing SRI/ESG (Socially Responsible Investing/Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance)

Work history

Bank Of America, N.A.

2010 - Present (16 years)

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated

2009 - Present (17 years)

Disclosures

Exclamation point means they have disclosures of this type. Check mark means no disclosures of this type were found.

Business activities & affiliations

Sally B

CFP®, ChFC®

Hanover, NH

SJ Boyle Wealth Planning, LLC

We help you write your own Smart Plan. A Smart Plan is your ongoing work in progress to get you where you want to go financially. We want to be your partner to make the job easier and more efficient. We will help develop your Smart Plan, coordinate it with your other advisors, and assure that it stays on track. We’re not afraid to challenge conventional wisdom about investing and preserving wealth. We utilize all available resources in pursuit of your goals with confidence and calm. At the end of the day, this effort is committed to you. It's about planning your voyage with purpose and intent, charting a course for an enviable outcome.

General retirement planning Divorced Women Women's Finance Baby Boomers (Born 1946-1964)

Sheldon S

Series 66

Hanover, NH

Merrill

Sheldon Stansfield is a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, specializing in personalized wealth management strategies. He collaborates closely with clients to develop financial plans tailored to their individual goals, drawing on Merrill's investment insights and leveraging the resources of Bank of America to provide comprehensive banking and lending solutions. Sheldon’s approach integrates a full understanding of each client's financial picture to navigate changing market conditions effectively. With extensive experience in areas such as education planning, family wealth management, legacy planning, socially responsible investing, and tax minimization, Sheldon and The SWP Group offer clients access to a global network of specialists and in-house managed investment portfolios. The group’s collective expertise spans over 60 years, emphasizing integrity and thoughtful leadership to support clients’ long-term financial objectives. Sheldon holds the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation and earned a Bachelor's Degree from Trinity College as well as a High School Diploma from Kimball Union Academy. Outside of his professional role, Sheldon participates actively in community organizations including Kimball Union Academy, Opera North, The Howe Library, and Willing Hands. He also pursues a range of personal interests such as adventure sports, biking, hiking, skiing, ice hockey, music, swimming, tennis, and spending time with his family. Fluent in English and Chinese, Sheldon continues to prioritize building strong client relationships through personalized service and community engagement.

Wealth management ESG / Sustainable investing General retirement planning Retirement income strategy Charitable giving & philanthropy

Lucy W

Series 66

Hanover, NH

Merrill

Lucy Wagner is a Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management and a member of the SWP Group, a team with 75 years of combined industry experience. She began her career at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management as an intern and joined the firm full-time in 2007. Lucy has worked in various roles including as a Registered Client Associate and within the Practice Management Consulting Group, focusing on strategies to help advisors deliver consistent client experiences and support practice growth. Her work also includes involvement in campus recruitment, diversity initiatives, client acquisition, and coaching the next generation of Merrill advisors. Lucy holds a Bachelor's Degree from Wagner College and has earned professional designations including CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). She works with multigenerational families and business owners to develop personalized financial strategies, emphasizing trust, personalized investment management, fee transparency, and proactive communication. Her client focus areas include Family Wealth Management Strategies, Personal Retirement Planning, Portfolio Management Services, and Women and Wealth. Lucy lives in New Hampshire where she enjoys hiking, bicycling, and being part of a tight-knit community. She is involved with professional organizations such as Thetford Academy and the Upper Valley Business Alliance, and participates in community initiatives including New York Cares, New York Says Thank You, Room to Grow, The Bowery Mission, and Thetford Academy.

Wealth management General retirement planning Retirement income strategy Women Professionals

Christopher B

Series 63, Series 66

Quechee, VT

Merrill

Christopher Bunnell is a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He has been with Merrill Lynch since 2010 and brings over 20 years of experience in the financial services industry. Christopher specializes in areas including divorce transition planning, education planning, family wealth management strategies, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, tax minimization, and retirement income. Christopher holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from the University of Vermont and earned his Master of Business Administration from Boston University. He is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional, designated by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc., and also holds the Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor® designation. Additionally, he carries the Personal Investment Advisor and Retirement Benefits Consultant professional designations. Outside of his professional role, Christopher is actively involved in organizations such as the Quechee Ski Team and The Quechee Club. He enjoys adventure sports including golfing, running, and skiing. He spends personal time with his wife, Liz, their three sons—Topher, George, and Ford—and their golden retriever, Bogey, particularly in Vermont.

Wealth management Retirement income strategy General retirement planning Charitable giving & philanthropy College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.)

Ryan L

Series 63, Series 66

Hanover, NH

Merrill

Ryan Longfield is a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He joined the firm in 2017 after a 17-year career focusing on institutional investing. Throughout his career, Ryan has lived and worked in New York, Tokyo, and London, where he developed and managed ETF, Equity Portfolio Trading, and Asset Management businesses on Wall Street. Ryan graduated from Brown University in 2000 with a degree in Economics. He holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation as well as the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) credential. His expertise covers family wealth management strategies, services for endowments, foundations, and non-profits, liquidity management, managing new wealth, portfolio management services, and values-based investing including ESG considerations. Ryan lives in Woodstock, Vermont with his wife Allison and their four children. Outside of his professional work, he is involved in the community through coaching youth ice hockey, a sport he is passionate about both as a player and mentor. He also enjoys fishing, golfing, and music.

Wealth management Active portfolio management ESG / Sustainable investing Retirement income strategy Young Families

Scott R

Series 66

White River Junction, VT

Edward Jones

Retirement income strategy Business ownership considerations Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Business exit / sale strategy General estate planning guidance Founder/Business Owner Intergenerational Families
Warmer team member

Not sure where to start?

We'll help you think it through – whether you ultimately need an advisor or not.

Call (201) 292-4557

Warmer provides personalized recommendations and introductions to independent fiduciary advisors. We do not supervise advisors, manage or hold assets, guarantee performance, or provide advice about specific investments.

Each advisor listed on our site is an independent fiduciary responsible for their own advice. Warmer may receive fees from advisors for participation or referrals; these fees are paid by advisors and do not affect the fees clients pay for advisory services.

For advisor listings, we rely on sources including public filings and data provided by advisors, and we cannot guarantee that all information is current or accurate. Please review an advisor's Form ADV and do your own diligence before entering into an advisory relationship.

By using our service, you agree to Warmer's Terms of Service and Advisory Agreement and Privacy Policy. Logos provided by Logo.dev

© 2026 Warmer Holdings Inc. ("Warmer")