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.