Hi, I’m Justin. I am the founder of Wealth Mode Financial Planning. My team and I have a primary focus in helping those with over $100,000 in federal student loans create a plan to minimize loan payments and save taxes – without sacrificing meaningful goals like buying a home, starting a family, or saving for retirement. Our clients with high student loan debt: – Usually 30-35 years old – Graduated in the last 5 years – $250,000 in average household student loans – $200,000 to $250,000 in annual household income – Want to buy a home and start a family within the next few years - Are or plan on being a business or practice owner in the future We'll help you examine all your options – 10-year standard plan, refinancing, the Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) plans like IBR/PAYE/SAVE, and Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF). For married couples both working, you need to look at whether you should file your taxes Married Filing Separately. From there, we can identify how you can save the most money in paying off your loans while still saving enough money toward other goals. We’ll teach you everything you need to know about setting up the right investment portfolio for you, and which accounts you should be using. Then, we'll set you up with an easy-to-follow budget and cash flow system that will make it all happen. Last of all, let’s make sure you’re protected with the proper life insurance, disability insurance, and estate planning documents you need. Many of our student loan clients have a spouse/partner with equity compensation (ISO's, non-qualified stock options, RSU's, ESPP's, etc.), and we've become quite adept at strategic planning for that as well. We place a heavy emphasis on tax planning and prepare our clients' tax returns as well if they would like. Our clients include physicians, dentists, chiropractors, lawyers, and veterinarians - really, any high-student loan debt trade or profession. Our clients live across 25+ U.S. states in all four time zones, and some countries internationally. I love what I do, and how it helps my clients focus on enjoying their lives and careers instead of worrying about debt or money. _ _ Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my wife and best friend AnnAlyse, our 4-year old daughter, and our newborn son (as of spring 2025). We love traveling, attending concerts and musicals, jigsaw puzzling, and anything else we can do with our kids.

Jason Pierce is a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, serving as a partner of a wealth management group in the Philadelphia area. Since joining Merrill Lynch in 2014, he has worked with affluent individuals and families to address their financial goals and streamline their wealth management services through a planning-based, process-oriented approach. Jason focuses on family wealth management strategies, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, portfolio management services, and small business strategies. Jason holds a Bachelor's degree from the University of Scranton and has earned several professional designations, including Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (CFP®), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Sports & Entertainment Accredited Wealth Management Advisor (SE-AWMA). His expertise spans wealth management, investment analysis, and estate planning strategies, with an emphasis on simplifying clients’ lives so they can focus on what matters most. He prioritizes building long-term client relationships, offering tailored guidance for changing market conditions and life stages. Outside of his professional work, Jason is involved in the Chestnut Hill Community Association. He lives in Philadelphia with his wife, Ellen, and their children. His personal interests include adventure sports, basketball, golfing, racquetball, and tennis. He also coaches basketball for high school and grade school teams, sharing his passion for sports with younger generations.

L Morgan Daines is a Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, a role he has held since 2002. He provides investment advice and guidance to high-net-worth individuals and families, with a focus on financial and estate planning strategies, investment management, and tax-aware investing. Morgan primarily works with business owners, corporate executives, and professionals across the United States, constructing and reviewing diversified portfolios that include equities, fixed income, structured investments, hedge funds, and private equity partnerships. Prior to joining Merrill, Morgan served as a Vice President at Goldman Sachs and as an associate at JPMorgan’s Private Bank, advising wealthy families, individuals, and institutions. He holds a Master's and a Bachelor's degree from Brigham Young University and has earned professional designations as a Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA) and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). Morgan is bilingual in English and Spanish. Outside of his professional career, Morgan enjoys biking, fishing, music, skiing, and spending time with his family. He emphasizes building lasting relationships with a limited number of clients and collaborates closely with clients’ attorneys and tax professionals to develop customized, goals-based financial strategies.

Austin Taylor is a Private Wealth Advisor with the Taylor Group at Merrill Private Wealth Management. He works closely with ultra-high-net-worth individuals and families, guiding them through complex wealth decisions and purposeful planning to help them prepare for future opportunities. His expertise includes pre-transaction analysis, business structuring, tax-sensitive investing, wealth transfer, charitable giving, and managing family-wealth dynamics, with particular experience working with business owners and founders of venture-capital-backed companies. Before joining Merrill Private Wealth Management, Austin spent over a decade at J.P. Morgan Private Bank as a Vice President and Private Banker, where he led initiatives focused on the Technology sector in Utah and Idaho. He holds a Bachelor's Degree from Brigham Young University and has earned the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation. Austin and his wife, Jessica, reside in Lehi, Utah, with their four children and are active in their church. Outside of work, he enjoys outdoor activities such as golfing, hiking, camping, and snowmobiling.

Jeffry Roundy is a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, where he has been serving clients since 1995. Prior to joining Merrill Lynch, he worked as a CPA for Ernst & Young in New York City. Jeff brings a comprehensive, goals-based approach to financial advising, leveraging his background in accounting and his understanding of financial markets to provide tailored guidance. He serves as a peer mentor within the firm, advising other advisors on best practices. Jeff holds several professional designations including CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® (CFP®), Certified Investment Management Analyst® (CIMA®), CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Benefits Consultant (RBC). He earned a bachelor's degree from Brigham Young University and is affiliated with both the Marriott School of Management and the BYU School of Accountancy. Over the years, Jeff has been recognized multiple times on Barron’s list of America’s Top 1,200 Financial Advisors and Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Advisors list. In addition to his professional work, Jeff is an active member of the Salt Lake Rotary Club and contributes to the community through involvement with Junior Achievement of Utah, where he participates in educational and mentorship activities in Title 1 schools. He is also an avid runner and triathlete, having competed in Ironman triathlons and the Wasatch 100 Mile Endurance Run. Jeff and his wife Cindy reside in the Bountiful area with their six children. *Jeff does not provide tax advice in his current role at Merrill Lynch.*

Morgan Swalberg is a Wealth Management Advisor with The Van Wagoner Group at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. She joined Merrill Lynch in 2012 and provides tailored financial strategies and investment guidance to individuals and families. Morgan works closely with clients to identify their financial goals and develop measurable steps to achieve them, with areas of focus including retirement planning, family wealth management, legacy planning, portfolio diversification, and wealth transfer strategies. She also oversees the team’s insurance strategies and helps clients access lending opportunities through Bank of America. Morgan holds multiple professional designations, including CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® (CFP), Certified Investment Management Analyst® (CIMA), Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA), and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). She earned both her Bachelor's and Master's degrees from the University of Utah in Business and Finance, respectively. Committed to lifelong learning, Morgan continues to deepen her expertise through ongoing education and research. Active in her community, Morgan volunteers with several women’s organizations and serves on the Salt Lake Community College Leadership Council. She and her husband Robert are parents to two daughters and enjoy spending time together exploring outdoor activities in Utah, traveling, and engaging in family-centered pursuits.

Daniel Van Wagoner is a Private Wealth Advisor with The Van Wagoner Group at Merrill Private Wealth Management. He provides leadership, strategy, and guidance to an accomplished clientele focused on growing and stewarding their wealth effectively. Daniel applies extensive knowledge of the capital markets combined with his background in accounting to help clients streamline the complexities of significant wealth through a tax-sensitive framework tailored to their individual circumstances. Daniel joined Merrill in 2015 and became a member of The Van Wagoner Group in 2017. Prior to this, he worked at PricewaterhouseCoopers. He holds a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Accountancy from Brigham Young University. Daniel has earned the Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA) and Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst® (CAIA) designations and is a member of the Salt Lake City CFA Society. His expertise spans areas including corporate executive services, equity compensation, family wealth management, legacy planning, and alternative investments such as private equity, venture capital, hedge funds, and real estate. Outside of his professional role, Daniel enjoys spending time outdoors with his wife Sarah and daughter, including skiing and traveling, with a particular interest in Northern Europe, where he lived for several years and speaks Norwegian. He competes professionally in mountain biking and has represented the United States multiple times at the Marathon Mountain Biking World Championships. Daniel also has an interest in food and fine cheese.

Chris Sercu is a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, where he has been employed since June 2012. He co-manages the Venture Services Group Trading team, overseeing fund-level liquidation, distribution trading for institutional limited partners, and derivatives and structured products. Chris also contributes to 10b5-1 plan development and implementation, client research, market analysis, and leads quantitative and data analytics efforts within the team. Chris earned a Bachelor’s degree in economics, accounting, and finance from Claremont McKenna College, part of the Claremont Consortium of Colleges. He holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation as well as the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) credential. His professional experience includes internships with FSI Capital in New York and Merrill Fixed Income Sales and Trading. Chris has been recognized in Forbes’ "Best-in-State Next Generation Wealth Advisors" list in 2023 and the "Best-in-State Wealth Advisors" list in 2024.

Paul Tallent is a Financial Solutions Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. In his role, he works directly with clients to define their financial goals and develop portfolio strategies tailored to their individual needs. Paul provides ongoing advice and adjusts strategies as clients’ circumstances evolve, assisting with various financial priorities including investing, retirement planning, and preparing for unexpected events. Paul holds a Bachelor's Degree from Utah Valley University and holds several professional designations, including Accredited Wealth Management Advisor (AWMA), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). His approach centers on understanding what matters most to clients and their families to create a comprehensive plan for pursuing their financial objectives. Outside of his professional duties, Paul is involved with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

John Van Wagoner is a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. In his role, he provides personalized wealth management strategies aiming to help clients pursue their long-term financial goals. He emphasizes a comprehensive approach that begins with understanding each client's unique needs and objectives. Leveraging the investment insights of Merrill Lynch and the banking and lending solutions of Bank of America, he addresses various aspects of clients’ financial lives. John holds several professional designations, including CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (CFP), CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), Chartered Retirement Plans Specialist (CRPS), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA), and Sports & Entertainment Accredited Wealth Management Advisor (SE-AWMA). His educational background includes a High School Diploma from Sleepy Hollow High School, a Bachelor's Degree and a Master’s Degree from Pace University, as well as an Accredited Certificate Program from the State University of New York System. Committed to the tradition of community involvement upheld by Merrill, John actively volunteers with local organizations. This participation reflects his dedication to the communities he serves.