We are a flat fee financial advisory firm that provides comprehensive financial planning that connects every part of your financial life. We create a clear, actionable roadmap to: Fund College with Confidence: We’ll help you save for college, find more scholarship money and tax-efficient ways to invest so you can lower the cost of a high-quality college education. Secure Your Retirement: We'll build a solid retirement plan that won't be derailed by tuition bills, ensuring you have the freedom to enjoy your later years. Create Cohesion: We'll simplify your complex financial picture, bringing all your assets and goals into one unified strategy. It's about having a clear plan that allows you to achieve both of your most important goals without compromise.

Thomas Hammel is the Resident Director at Merrill, bringing extensive experience in wealth management since joining Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in 1993. He focuses on creating personalized wealth management strategies tailored to the unique financial situations of his clients. His areas of expertise include Corporate Executive Services, Divorce Transition Planning, Employee Benefits Planning, Family Wealth Management Strategies, Institutional and Corporate Benefit Services, and Philanthropic Planning. Mr. Hammel holds a bachelor's degree from Liberty University and is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® certificant. He also holds multiple professional designations, including Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA), Certified 401(k) Professional (CKP), CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Benefits Consultant (RBC). He serves on the Church Finance Council at Woodland Park and volunteers as an assistant wrestling coach at CCS High School. A native of Chattanooga, Mr. Hammel resides in East Brainerd with his wife and two daughters. Outside of work, he enjoys boxing, hunting, painting, reading, woodworking, and spending time with his family.

Robin Todd is a Financial Consultant at Fidelity Investments, a role held since 2015. In this capacity, Robin acts as a Certified Financial Planner, working closely with clients to develop customized financial plans tailored to their family's specific needs. Robin emphasizes collaboration and ongoing communication to build and refine financial strategies. Robin's professional experience centers on financial consulting and planning, with a focus on advocacy for clients' financial goals. Outside of work, Robin's personal interests include fitness, football, outdoor adventures, pets, running, and tennis.

Michael Von Peters is a Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He leads the Peters Group, a planning-focused advisory team he founded over twenty years ago. Michael’s approach centers on helping clients define their individual meanings of wealth and preserving family legacies by educating and encouraging values-based financial decisions. His client relationships emphasize the delivery of insight and empathy as key elements of his planning-based methodology. Michael has extensive experience guiding individuals and families through the complexities of creating, preserving, and distributing wealth. His expertise includes family wealth management strategies, legacy planning, personal retirement planning, philanthropic planning, tax minimization, and small business strategies. He collaborates closely with clients to address risk, retirement coordination, debt minimization, insurance evaluation, and estate planning, often working alongside accountants and attorneys to provide comprehensive service. Michael holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management with a minor in Economics and a concentration in Finance from Springfield College. He is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and Personal Investment Advisor. Beyond his professional work, Michael serves on the Board of Directors at United Veterans Beacon House, supporting housing initiatives for military veterans and their families.