William Yates
Advisor at Merrill
Updated today
Data sourced from SEC public records (and other sources when available). Some details may be added by the advisor after claiming their profile. Refreshed daily • Updated today.
About
William Yates is a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He has been in the financial services industry since 1984 and joined Merrill Lynch in 2004. In his role, he collaborates closely with clients to design long-term strategies aimed at achieving their life goals.
He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Business/Economics from the University of California, Santa Barbara, earned in 1982, and holds the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation. His consultative process customizes solutions based on each client's individual risk tolerance, time horizon, liquidity needs, investment goals, and cost considerations. His areas of focus include retirement planning, education funding, home buying, business growth, legacy building, and philanthropy.
Outside of his professional work, William Yates serves as the Chair of BACCV. He is married to Deborah and is a father and grandfather.
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
Performance measurement reports, allocation modeling, ips, research reports and services, see schedule d
Expertise
General retirement planning
College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.)
General estate planning guidance
Charitable giving & philanthropy
Work history
Bank of America, N.A.
2011 - Present (15 years)
Merrill Lynch, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INCORPORATED
2009 - Present (17 years)
Disclosures
Disclosures include customer complaints, regulatory actions, employment terminations, bankruptcies, and certain legal protections.
Exclamation point means they have disclosures of this type. Check mark means no disclosures of this type were found.
Business activities & affiliations
These affiliations may expand the services this firm offers and, in some cases, how they are compensated.
Is active or affiliated with:
Insurance agent
They sell insurance products and may earn commissions on those sales.
Broker-dealer / trader
They provide brokerage services and may earn transaction-based compensation in addition to advisory fees.
Bank
They're affiliated with a bank that may offer its own financial products and services.
Trust company
They provide trust and estate administration services, typically for separate fees.
Real estate agent
They facilitate real estate transactions and may earn commissions.
Other specialized services
They may provide services such as pension consulting or municipal advisory work, typically for separate fees.
Is not active or affiliated with:
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Fund sponsor
They manage or sponsor investment funds and may earn management or performance-based fees if clients invest in them.
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Accountant / CPA / tax prep
They offer tax and accounting services, typically for separate fees.
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Lawyer
They provide legal services, typically billed separately.
Diana B
Series 66
Watsonville, CA
Edward Jones
Lukas F
Series 66
Gilroy, CA
Edward Jones
Brandon P
Series 66
Morgan Hill, CA
Merrill
Brandon Picone is the Resident Director and Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill, specializing in working with high net worth individuals and families. He focuses on creating custom tailored, tax-efficient financial strategies that consider clients' goals, time horizons, and risk profiles. His expertise includes tax-efficient liquidity management, lending services through Bank of America, and a broad range of client focus areas such as executive compensation, family wealth management, legacy planning, and philanthropic planning. Born and raised in San Jose, Brandon earned a Bachelor's Degree in Economics from Pepperdine University, where he also played Division 1 water polo. He holds several professional designations including CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (CFP), CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), Certified Private Wealth Advisor (CPWA), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Benefits Consultant (RBC). Brandon is fluent in English and Japanese and is involved with professional organizations including CordeValle Golf Club, Pepperdine University Bay Area Alumni Chapter, Santa Clara County Estate Planning Council, and Silicon Valley Bar Association. Outside of his professional work, Brandon maintains a passion for health and fitness, enjoying activities such as weight lifting, golfing, hiking, skiing, and swimming. He is happily married with four children and values spending time with and taking care of his family. His community involvement includes participation with the Salvation Army Silicon Valley and the Valley Christian President's Business Challenge.
Ryan O
Series 63, Series 66
Aptos, CA
Edward Jones
Zachary B
CFP®, Series 63, Series 66
Scotts Valley, CA
Edward Jones
Joshua D
Series 66
Gilroy, CA
Fidelity
Joshua Denton is a Financial Consultant I with over a decade of experience in the financial industry. He has previously held roles including Senior Branch Premier Banker at Wells Fargo Bank from 2019 to 2024 and Senior Branch Leader at Wells Fargo from 2014 to 2019. His professional focus includes wealth, income, and retirement planning, as well as tax-efficient investing. Joshua holds a California Insurance License. Outside of his professional work, he spends time with his family and enjoys activities such as football, outdoor adventures, and traveling.
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