Our Philosophy

We believe your unique goals should be at the center of all of your financial decisions and form the foundation of your financial strategy. Because significant wealth requires customized goals-based financial strategies, we believe in building lasting relationships with a limited number of clients, taking the time to understand your most important priorities for today, tomorrow and your long-term future. Our philosophy celebrates collaboration. Working with a team of specialists, we draw on the resources and insights of a global financial institution to create strategies that reflect your aspirations for yourself and current and future generations of your family. Finally, we believe that while significant wealth brings complex challenges, our experience, passion and perspectives can help you simplify your life.

Corporate Executives

We understand the complexities that come with your executive position and the extreme demands on your time. We can help you develop a customized strategy that your finances and compensation require. We can help with risk management strategies for your concentrated stock position while navigating complex SEC rules, trading restrictions and reporting requirements. If you’ve just been promoted and would like help evaluating your new compensation plan, or if you’re looking to develop a long-term financial strategy for you and your family — designed to enable you to live life as you want it, with reliable access to cash — we can help simplify your financial life, as well as develop new strategies as your career and goals evolve.

Family Offices

As private wealth advisors with Merrill Private Wealth Management, we work with prominent families to help them manage the ongoing complexities they face. Our deep experience with family offices enables us to tailor a range of services to help meet your specific needs. We can provide access to Merrill for investment and wealth management strategies, and to Bank of America for governance, asset custody and administration, as well as assisting in the financial education of younger family members. In working with you to create and implement plans reflecting your specific intentions, our goal is to help your family enterprise succeed, and that your knowledge and values are passed along to the next generation. Together, we will focus on strategies that recognize the unique nature of your family’s mission, history and goals.

Our team focuses on providing private wealth services to entrepreneurs, business owners, corporate executives and their families. A particular strength is our experience in helping numerous families navigate a path from a concentrated stock or wealth position to a diversified and well managed portfolio that prioritizes financial security.

We have extensive experience in these key financial disciplines and practices:

• Portfolio management
• Third party investment management consulting
• Concentrated stock risk management
• Customized market linked investments
• Lending services through Bank of America, N.A.
• Philanthropic giving
• Retirement planning
• Alternative investment strategies
• Wealth transfer and structuring strategies
• Access to Merrill thought leadership and exclusive conferences

*Some or all alternative investments may not be in the best interests for certain investors. Certain alternative investments carry significant risk and are not subject to the same regulatory oversight as mutual funds and other traditional investments. For these reasons, access to alternative investments may be limited to investors who are designated as sophisticated, high-net-worth investors.

The Bhatia Group Difference

The Bhatia Group offers a broad spectrum of investment management services, and wealth management planning to a limited number of high-net-worth clients, including corporate executives, company founders, individuals and families, and family offices. We strive to provide our clientele with valuable insights by drawing on our collective experience and skills, as well as the deep intellectual property and global resources of Merrill Private Wealth Management.  We also offer access to a wide range of banking services through Bank of America, N.A. 

For more than 30 years, Private Wealth Advisor and Managing Director Raj Bhatia has helped guide individuals and families through the process of acquiring, growing and preserving assets, and passing on wealth. He leads the team in offering clients customized, tax-efficient financial strategies, and serves as a trusted advisor, offering advice and guidance to clients overseeing multi-generational family assets.

"We take care to listen intently to every individual, every family. We can then draw upon the deep resources and exceptionally talented people of Merrill to offer recommendations tailored to each client.

– Raj Bhatia, CIMA®
MANAGING DIRECTOR
PRIVATE WEALTH ADVISOR
SENIOR PORTFOLIO MANAGER


Merrill Private Wealth Management

Merrill offers a broad range of brokerage, investment advisory and other services, including insurance and investment analytics. Our advisors are available to work closely with the clients' other trusted advisors, including accountants and attorneys. We can provide access to trust and philanthropic planning services through Bank of America specialists.

*Global Institutional Consulting is part of the Global Wealth & Investment Management business of BofA Corp. Global Institutional Consultants mentioned herein are registered representatives with Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (also referred to as “MLPF&S“ or “Merrill”) and may assist you with investment products and services. The nature and degree of advice and assistance provided, the fees charged, and clients’ rights and Merrill’s obligations will differ depending upon the products and services actually provided. Banking activities may be performed by wholly owned banking affiliates of BofA Corp., including Bank of America, N.A., Member FDIC. Brokerage and investment advisory services are provided by wholly owned non-bank affiliates of BofA Corp., including Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (also referred to as “MLPF&S” or “Merrill”), a registered broker-dealer and investment adviser and Member SIPC.

*Merrill, its affiliates, and financial advisors do not provide legal, tax, or accounting advice. You should consult your legal and/or tax advisors before making any financial decisions.

Digital Capability Resources

In a fast-paced and constantly changing world, convenient secure access to your information is more important than ever. The Bhatia Group is proud to offer our clients access to Merrill’s suite of cutting edge digital tools and capabilities. Below, are 10 top digital resources we offer clients, in our approach to the new digital world:

1. Authorize Account Access (3rd Party)

2. Digital Welcome Kit 

3. e-Signature

4. Go Paperless with Online Delivery

5. Merrill Website Overview

6. Mobile Check Deposit

   • Mobile Enrollment

7. My Financial Picture

8. MyMerrill Mobile App

9. Sending Documents to Your Advisor

10. Secure Inbox

What We Do

We begin our relationship with new clients by conducting a private briefing meeting, in which we listen to your financial needs and goals.   We then introduce you to our team, and to the appropriate banking, trust, and philanthropic specialists at Merrill and Bank of America to help you meet those objectives.

Your goals, your passions, and your vision are the building blocks of a customized wealth strategy that drives the construction of a globally diversified, tax-aware portfolio. We carefully analyze your risk tolerances, your cash flow needs, and the time horizon that could affect your finances.

Our services and experience extend beyond traditional investment management. Clients also rely on us for concentrated stock management, trust and philanthropic services, and lending solutions offered by Bank of America, N.A.

We will meet regularly with you and your family to discuss the financial markets and your portfolios. We will encourage you to share with us anything new in your life. Through these discussions, we continue to learn about your evolving priorities, concerns and desires, helping us to continually improve the services we provide.



*Trust, fiduciary, and investment management services are provided by Bank of America, N.A., Member FDIC, and wholly owned subsidiary of Bank of America Corporation (“BofA Corp.”), and its agents.

 

Why Hire Us

• We work for you. You can leverage our team's experience and our Firm's resources, so that you can focus on pursuing your objectives and fulfilling your mission.
• We listen. Effective communication requires listening, and we find that being good listeners is repaid by the trust and confidence you place in us. We work hard to be your first call when you seek advice and guidance, or informed opinion.
• We learn. Lifelong learning is a hallmark of our team. Several of our team members hold several advanced degrees and investment credentials. We constantly seek to improve our understanding of markets and the issues that our clients face. We read, attend conferences and seek the insights of leading professionals to better serve our clients.

For each client, we customize our services based upon their personal objectives, as well as their varying attitudes towards risk.

We help clients articulate and prioritize specific goals and then advise them on how best to achieve them. These goals may be to provide for a secure retirement, purchase a vacation property, finance the education of grandchildren, or establish a charitable foundation. Identifying and prioritizing these goals greatly increases the probability of success in achieving them.

Global Resources

Investing in an increasingly interconnected world requires deep global research capabilities. Clients require both macroeconomic perspectives, as well as robust investment manager research to implement both short- and long-term strategic goals and tactical portfolio adjustments.

The Bhatia Group draws upon the intellectual capital, robust due diligence and world-class research capabilities of BofA Global Research*.

Manager Selection and Due Diligence

Due diligence is rooted in the Merrill culture and history. The Investment Solutions Group(ISG) of GWIM is responsible for due diligence reviews, portfolio construction strategies, ongoing performance measurement and diagnostic analysis. This team is designed to help institutional clients select the best possible asset managers and related portfolio services. The due diligence analysts work in teams defined by asset class and investment style and use an eight-factor quantitative and qualitative model to conduct rigorous reviews.

Investment Research

BofA Global Research is a renowned, highly respected organization focusing on three main disciplines:

• Global Macro Research offers in-depth analysis of critical global issues and provides economic insights for more than 60 economies, addressing economics, currencies, commodities, interest rates, derivatives and equities.
• Global Credit Research encompasses high-grade fixed income securities, high-yield debt, credit derivatives, mortgages and structured finance, convertible debt, municipal bonds and indexes.
• Global Equity Research analysts conduct fundamental analysis on companies globally, providing institutional and retail clients with industry-specific and in-depth research and analysis.

*Some or all alternative investments may not be in the best interests for certain investors. Certain alternative investments carry significant risk and are not subject to the same regulatory oversight as mutual funds and other traditional investments. For these reasons, access to alternative investments may be limited to investors who are designated as sophisticated, high-net-worth investors.

*Global Institutional Consulting is part of the Global Wealth & Investment Management business of BofA Corp. Institutional Investments & Philanthropic Solutions (“II&PS”) is part of Bank of America Private Bank, a division of Bank of America, N.A., Member FDIC, and a wholly owned subsidiary of BofA Corp. Trust and fiduciary services and other banking products are provided by wholly owned banking affiliates of BofA Corp., including Bank of America, N.A. Global Institutional Consultants mentioned herein are registered representatives with Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (also referred to as “MLPF&S” or “Merrill”) and may assist you with investment products and services. The nature and degree of advice and assistance provided, the fees charged, and clients’ rights and Merrill’s obligations will differ depending upon the products and services actually provided. Banking activities may be performed by wholly owned banking affiliates of BofA Corp., including Bank of America, N.A., Member FDIC. Brokerage and investment advisory services are provided by wholly owned non-bank affiliates of BofA Corp., including Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (also referred to as “MLPF&S” or “Merrill”), a registered broker-dealer and investment adviser and Member SIPC.

*Institutional Investor magazine announced BofA Global Research as one of the Top Global Research Firms in 2022 based on surveys held throughout the year. The magazine creates rankings of the top research analysts in a wide variety of specializations, drawn from the choices of portfolio managers and other investment professionals at more than 1,000 firms. BofA Global Research is research produced by BofA Securities, Inc (“BofAS”) and/or one or more of its affiliates. BofAS is a registered broker-dealer, Member SIPC, and wholly owned subsidiary of Bank of America Corporation. Learn more about the methodology at Institutional Investor. Rankings and recognition from Institutional Investor 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.

 *Any information presented in connection with BofA Global Research is general in nature and is not intended to provide personal investment advice. The information does not take into account the specific investment objectives, financial situation and particular needs of any specific person who may receive it. Investors should understand that statements regarding future prospects may not be realized. BofA Global Research is research produced by BofA Securities, Inc. (“BofAS”) and/or one or more of its affiliates. BofAS is a registered broker-dealer, Member SIPC, and wholly owned subsidiary of Bank of America Corporation. BofA Global Research does and seeks to do business with companies covered in its research reports. As a result, investors should be aware that the firm may have a conflict of interest that could affect the objectivity of this report. Investors should consider this report as only a single factor in making their investment decision.

*The Chief Investment Office (CIO) provides thought leadership on wealth management, investment strategy and global markets; portfolio management solutions; due diligence; and solutions oversight and data analytics. CIO viewpoints are developed for Bank of America Private Bank, a division of Bank of America, N.A., (“Bank of America”) and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (“MLPF&S” or “Merrill”), a registered broker-dealer, registered investment adviser and a wholly owned subsidiary of Bank of America Corporation.

About GIC

Bank of America Global Institutional Consulting draws upon a powerhouse of sophisticated investment consulting capabilities, resident in a firm rich with global financial solutions and capabilities. Our rigorously trained Global Institutional Consultants subscribe to a philosophy that reaches beyond the investments and is designed to help organizations ultimately redefine success, manage risk and focus on the real goal—the ability to fulfill their mission.

Global Institutional Consulting provides a full suite of investment solutions including portfolio strategies, investment consulting services, retirement solutions and institutional philanthropic management to clients, ranging from family offices to nonprofit organizations to retirement systems.

The Power of the Right Organization Drawing on the global expertise and singular focus, Bank of America Global Institutional Consulting at the firm dates back 40 years which makes us one of the country's largest and oldest institutional consulting firms. You can count on thoughtful, independent and research-driven advice delivered with your interest at its core.

We draw upon the full resources of the Investment Management and Guidance (IMG) group, which includes professionals that drive investment consulting research. Our research efforts are also supported by BofA Global Research, which has been ranked as the # 1 Top Global Research Firm by Institutional Investor.*

We also leverage Merrill's Alternative Investments Group, which has one of the largest and longest standing alternative investment capabilities in the industry. With over 100 professionals in several offices around the globe, the group provides clients with sourcing, due diligence, selection, implementation and tracking.

The Power of the Right Consultant Understanding the enduring value of a relationship based on trust, we are dedicated to serving the needs of institutional clients and providing them with guidance to help navigate the complex institutional market while addressing their financial objectives and goals. We bring a coordinated team of consulting professionals with deep backgrounds in finance and investments.

The Power of the Right Approach Mobilizing all that Merrill can do for you, our institutional consultants offer an innovative, robust, and customized suite of investment solutions and strategies for institutional clients—capitalizing on our global scale to stay abreast of changing market conditions. The result is a dynamic investment portfolio that is timely and timeless—reflective of the daily conditions of the marketplace, yet grounded in sound market fundamentals. We have been leaders in advocating open architecture investment solutions for institutions, solutions that are rooted in deep analysis and the extensive resources of a global firm. We provide institutional investors with innovative strategies tailored to their distinct financial goals.

Global Institutional Consulting Capabilities

1. Strategic planning and the development of effective investment governance structures
2. Spending policy analysis
3. Asset / liability modeling
4. Investment Policy Statement (IPS) development or refinement
5. Strategy implementation

• Strategic asset allocation studies, including alternative asset classes
• Portfolio construction
• Investment manager search / selection
• Due diligence, both quantitative and qualitative
• Performance tracking
• Manager performance analysis, attribution analysis
• Portfolio risk studies and market risk evaluations
• Presentations and briefings to oversight committees

6. Board and committee education

• Global investments and markets
• Best practices

7. BofA Global Research, as well as third-party research
8. Donor development and fund-raising
9. Support requests from auditors and examiners
10. Trust and custody arrangements

*Solutions are based upon the client’s risk tolerance, time horizon, liquidity needs, overall investment goals and the costs associated with the recommendation.

*Global Institutional Consulting is part of the Global Wealth & Investment Management business of BofA Corp. Institutional Investments & Philanthropic Solutions (“II&PS”) is part of Bank of America Private Bank, a division of Bank of America, N.A., Member FDIC, and a wholly owned subsidiary of BofA Corp. Trust and fiduciary services and other banking products are provided by wholly owned banking affiliates of BofA Corp., including Bank of America, N.A. Global Institutional Consultants mentioned herein are registered representatives with Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (also referred to as “MLPF&S” or “Merrill”) and may assist you with investment products and services. The nature and degree of advice and assistance provided, the fees charged, and clients’ rights and Merrill’s obligations will differ depending upon the products and services actually provided. Banking activities may be performed by wholly owned banking affiliates of BofA Corp., including Bank of America, N.A., Member FDIC. Brokerage and investment advisory services are provided by wholly owned non-bank affiliates of BofA Corp., including Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (also referred to as “MLPF&S” or “Merrill”), a registered broker-dealer and investment adviser and Member SIPC

*Any information presented in connection with BofA Global Research is general in nature and is not intended to provide personal investment advice. The information does not take into account the specific investment objectives, financial situation and particular needs of any specific person who may receive it. Investors should understand that statements regarding future prospects may not be realized. BofA Global Research is research produced by BofA Securities, Inc. (“BofAS”) and/or one or more of its affiliates. BofAS is a registered broker-dealer, Member SIPC, and wholly owned subsidiary of Bank of America Corporation. BofA Global Research does and seeks to do business with companies covered in its research reports. As a result, investors should be aware that the firm may have a conflict of interest that could affect the objectivity of this report. Investors should consider this report as only a single factor in making their investment decision.

* Institutional Investor magazine announced BofA Global Research as one of the Top Global Research Firms in 2022 based on surveys held throughout the year. The magazine creates rankings of the top research analysts in a wide variety of specializations, drawn from the choices of portfolio managers and other investment professionals at more than 1,000 firms. BofA Global Research is research produced by BofA Securities, Inc (“BofAS”) and/or one or more of its affiliates. BofAS is a registered broker-dealer, Member SIPC, and wholly owned subsidiary of Bank of America Corporation. Learn more about the methodology at Institutional Investor. Rankings and recognition from Institutional Investor 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.

*Some or all alternative investments may not be in the best interests for certain investors. Certain alternative investments carry significant risk and are not subject to the same regulatory oversight as mutual funds and other traditional investments. For these reasons, access to alternative investments may be limited to investors who are designated as sophisticated, high-net-worth investors.

A Commitment to Service

Merrill Private Wealth Management is committed to providing a select group of clients with highly personalized one-on-one service. When you work with us, our knowledgeable, rigorously trained private wealth advisors will gain a deep understanding of your goals, help you develop a multigenerational wealth strategy, and help you update your strategy as needed. We are committed to providing you access to the investment insights of Merrill and the banking convenience of Bank of America, and Merrill will continue to invest in client tools and new technology to enhance your overall experience as you and your private wealth advisor pursue what’s most important to you.