Kenneth Johnson is a Senior Resident Director and Financial Advisor at Merrill, where he focuses on client needs including college education planning, liquidity management, managing new wealth, portfolio management services, and retirement income. He began his career in the financial services industry with A.G. Edwards in 2006 before joining Merrill in 2009. In 2012, he was promoted to Resident Director. A native of Grand Junction, Colorado, Kenneth earned an Associate's Degree from New Mexico Junior College and a Bachelor of Arts in History from Mesa State College (now Colorado Mesa University), where he also played baseball. Prior to his financial career, he worked as a teacher and baseball coach at Central High School. He holds the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation. Outside of his professional role, Kenneth remains actively involved in baseball. He coaches his son Tyler’s travel baseball team, the Grand Junction Trojans, which won the Colorado State Championship in 2017. He also serves on the JUCO World Series Tournament Committee and enjoys following baseball locally with the Grand Junction Rockies and nationally with the LA Dodgers. Kenneth lives in Grand Junction with his wife Kelly and their two sons, Tyler and Cameron.

Kyrstie Wootten is a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. She specializes in developing and executing customized financial strategies tailored to the personal goals of high-net-worth individuals and their families. Kyrstie’s expertise spans a comprehensive range of financial areas including taxes, real estate, generational wealth, estate planning strategies, investments, entrepreneurship, and insurance, allowing her to address the multifaceted nature of wealth management effectively. Kyrstie earned her Bachelor's degree from Colorado Mesa University and completed her Master's degree in financial planning at the College for Financial Planning in 2023. She holds several professional designations including CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP), CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), Chartered SRI Counselor (CSRIC), and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). Since obtaining her CFP® certification in 2020, Kyrstie has demonstrated a commitment to providing thorough and personalized guidance, leveraging the research resources provided through Merrill to help clients navigate investment decisions. Based in Grand Junction, Colorado, Kyrstie lives with her husband, a firefighter since 2000, and their two children. She is active in her community through involvement with the Western Slope Pickleball Club. Outside of her professional work, Kyrstie enjoys cooking, hiking, pickleball, and running. Her approach to advising is focused on connecting all aspects of clients’ financial lives to prioritize and pursue the goals that matter most to them.

Elise Ariana Anderson is a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. She has been working in financial services since 2013 and brings a comprehensive understanding of wealth management that considers the multiple factors impacting a client’s financial life. Elise focuses on creating tailored financial strategies by thoroughly understanding her clients' goals, risk tolerance, time horizon, liquidity needs, and investment objectives. Her expertise includes family wealth management, LGBT wealth planning, personal retirement planning, philanthropic and socially responsible investing, small business strategies, and women and wealth. Elise holds the Accredited Portfolio Management Advisor (APMA) and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designations. She earned her bachelor's degree from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. As a fifth-generation Coloradoan, she maintains strong ties to her community through involvement with organizations such as the Grand Junction Symphony Orchestra, Colorado West Estate Planning Council, Delta Egyptian Theater, Grand Junction Symphony Guild, St. Mary’s Foundation Estate Planning Council, and Support-A-Soldier. Outside of her professional commitments, Elise enjoys antiquing, camping, hiking, music, reading, running, traveling, watching movies, writing, and yoga.