Since arriving at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in 1999, Aashish has earned widespread recognition – from the firm and the industry – that reflects his rare combination of accomplishments and abilities.
Just two years after joining Merrill as a financial advisor, Aashish was also tasked with training and mentoring fellow advisors. Additionally, he accepted an invitation to serve on the firm’s national diversity and inclusion counsel – all before founding The AHM Wealth Management Group.
On a daily basis, Aashish manages the team, and client relationships. He is also the Senior Portfolio Manager for each of the group’s clients and for other Merrill advisors who have requested his assistance.
Aashish's enthusiasm for wealth management has been showcased through his notable appearances and features in esteemed publications such as Forbes, Barron's, Wall Street Journal, Virginia Business, CovaBiz, as well as on numerous NBC news affiliates across the country, reaching audiences through television.
Recognitions include:
2023
- Forbes List “Best-in-State Wealth Advisors” as the #1 rated Advisor at Merrill in the State of Virginia and ranked as a top 5 advisor of all firms in Virginia – South (published on April 4, 2023. Rankings based on data as of June 30, 2022.)
- Barron’s list of “Top 1,200 Financial Advisors” as the #2 rated Advisor at Merrill in the State of Virginia and ranked in the top 25 advisors of all firms in the state of Virginia (published on March, 2023. Rankings based on data as of September 30, 2022.)
2022
- Forbes List “Best-in-State Wealth Advisors” as the #1 rated Advisor at Merrill in the State of Virginia and ranked as a top 5 advisor of all firms in Virginia – South (published on April, 2022. Rankings based on data as of June 30, 2021.)
- Barron’s list of “Top 1,200 Financial Advisors” as the #1 rated Advisor at Merrill in the State of Virginia and ranked in the top 25 advisors of all firms in the state of Virginia (published on March, 2022. Rankings based on data as of September 30, 2021.)
2021
- Forbes List “Best-in-State Wealth Advisors” as the #1 rated Advisor at Merrill in the State of Virginia and ranked as a top 5 advisor of all firms in Virginia – South (published on February 11, 2021. Rankings based on data as of June 30, 2020.)
- Barron’s list of “Top 1,200 Financial Advisors” as the #1 rated Advisor at Merrill in the State of Virginia and ranked in the top 25 advisors of all firms in the state of Virginia (published on March 12, 2021. Rankings based on data as of September 30, 2020.)
2020
- Forbes List “Best-in-State Wealth Advisors” as the #1 rated Merrill Financial Advisor and top 5 of all advisors in “Virginia – South” (published on January 16, 2020. Rankings based on data as of June 30, 2019.)
- Barron’s list of “Top 1,200 Financial Advisors” across America and representing the top 30 advisors across all firms in the state of Virginia (published on March 13, 2020. Rankings based on data as of September 30, 2019.)
- Recognized in Barron’s and Forbes as one of the top 2 Advisors at Merrill in the State of Virginia
2019
- Forbes List “Best-in-State Wealth Advisors” ranked as the #1 rated Merrill advisor in the state of Virginia for total clients asset entrusted under management· (published on February 20, 2019. Rankings based on data as of June 30, 2018.)
2018
- Forbes List of “Best-in-State Wealth Advisors,” ranking # 3 among Merrill Financial Advisors in the State of Virginia (published on February 15, 2018. Rankings based on data as of June 30, 2017.)
Charters and Certifications:
- The Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA®) designation from the CFA Institute
- The Certified Investment Manager Analyst® (CIMA®) designation sponsored by the Investments & Wealth Institute™ at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania
- The Certified Private Wealth Advisor® (CPWA®) designation sponsored by the Investments & Wealth Institute™ at the Booth School of Business, University of Chicago. The firm’s Senior Portfolio Manager designation – allowing Aashish to help clients pursue their objectives by managing on a discretionary basis his own Personalized or Defined Strategies, which may incorporate individual stocks and bonds, Merrill Lynch Wealth Management model portfolios, and third-party investment strategies. A Senior Portfolio Manager may make their strategies available to clients working with other Merrill Advisors
- As a Merrill Retirement Benefits Consultant (RBC), and a Defined Contribution Investment Consultant (DCIC), Aashish is one of a select group of highly qualified and credentialed Merrill advisors who can work with institutions to develop and serve corporate defined contribution retirement plans. To this end, Aashish and the team will work to create a plan designed to drive employee engagement and positive participant behavior. This entails specific consultation with investment committees to provide access to Merrill's Investment Policy Statement Service
Aashish witnessed “The American Dream” unfold by watching his mother succeed, driven by virtue of a strong persistence and the willingness to make great personal sacrifice. She emigrated from Bombay, India to New York at the age of 23 with little money. Eventually, she moved to Tennessee, and worked more than 70 hours a week. Her dedication was rewarded with the opportunity to become the owner of two small pharmacies which she has since sold.
Her hard work and diligence allowed Aashish to attend The Peddie School, a college prep boarding school in Hightstown, New Jersey. With his interest in wealth management sparked at an early age, Aashish grew fascinated by how businesses functioned and flourished; and before long, Aashish invested where he saw opportunity. Following his passion, Aashish earned a Bachelor's degree in Finance with a concentration in Portfolio Management from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia.
Having lived in and loved Virginia for more than 25 years, Aashish and his wife, Sherri Nelson, an attorney, enjoy a balance of work and play that helps makes life fulfilling and complete. When not caring for clients and seeking investment opportunities, Aashish enjoys playing golf, reading, biking, skiing, and more than anything – time with family and friends.
*Defined Contribution Investment Consulting (DCIC) is an investment advisory program sponsored by Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith (also referred to as “MPLFS” or “Merrill”).
*A Senior Portfolio Manager can help clients pursue their objectives by managing on a discretionary basis his own Personalized or Defined Strategies, which may incorporate individual stocks and bonds, Merrill Lynch Wealth Management model portfolios, and third-party investment strategies. A Senior Portfolio Manager may make their strategies available to clients working with other Merrill Advisors.
*Source: The Forbes “Best-in-State Wealth Advisors” list, published annually Jan - April. Rankings based on data as of June 30 of prior year.
Data provided by SHOOK® Research, LLC. Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Advisors ranking was developed by SHOOK Research and is based on in-person, virtual, and telephone due diligence meetings to measure best practices; also considered are: client retention, industry experience, credentials, review of compliance records, firm nominations; and quantitative criteria, such as: assets under management and revenue generated for their firms. Investment performance is not a criterion because client objectives and risk tolerances vary, and advisors rarely have audited performance reports. SHOOK’s research and rankings provide opinions intended to help investors choose the right financial advisor and are not indicative of future performance or representative of any one client’s experience. Past performance is not an indication of future results. Neither Forbes nor SHOOK Research receive compensation in exchange for placement on the ranking. For more information, please see www.SHOOKresearch.com. SHOOK is a registered trademark of SHOOK Research, LLC.
*Source: The Barron’s “Top 1,200 Financial Advisors: State-by-State” list, published annually in Feb-March. Rankings based on data as of September 30 of prior year.
The Barron’s “Top 1,200 Financial Advisors” ranking considered advisors with a minimum of seven years financial services experience and who have been employed at their current firm for at least one year. This is a list of the top advisors in each state, with the number of ranking spots determined by each state’s population and wealth. Other quantitative and qualitative measures include assets under management, revenues generated by advisors for their firms, and the quality of the advisors’ practices, regulatory records, internal company documents, and 100-plus points of data provided by the advisors themselves. Rankings and recognition from Barron’s are no guarantee of future investment success and do not ensure that a current or prospective client will experience a higher level of performance results, and such rankings should not be construed as an endorsement of the advisor. Barron’s is a trademark of Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All rights reserved.
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