We provide customized services supported by the broad capabilities of a global institution. Working with a limited number of clients, we are able to offer you and your family personalized attention for all aspects of your financial life, now and for future family members.
Meet the Team
The private wealth advisors with Merrill Private Wealth Management are rigorously trained to help meet your specialized needs with relationships based on trust and personalized service.
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Angel Ferrer provides strategic advice and reliable leadership to a select group of ultra-high-net-worth individuals and families, helping them expedite their path to their priorities and aspirations. He appreciates the distinctive nature of significant wealth—both its opportunities and its challenges—and supports multiple generations in pursuing greater possibilities for their wealth through in-depth strategy and precise execution. The senior leader of his team, Angel oversees a highly responsive culture that looks to create an impactful experience for clients and the people and causes they value. He harnesses the collective strengths and diverse talents of his team members to deliver the robust suite of capabilities offered by Merrill Private Wealth Management.
With more than 35 years of direct experience, Angel draws on the insights he has gained from serving an elite clientele. He appreciates that client interests and needs often extend beyond the traditional confines of investing and private banking to include commercial lending, capital markets and investment banking. Drawing on a broad network of professional contacts, Angel is skilled in facilitating the connectivity that can help clients gain momentum in advancing their objectives. Formally credit trained, he combines technical knowledge with an intuitive understanding of people and their priorities. Angel prides himself on being an attentive listener, nurturing close-knit client relationships that tend to span decades, more than years.
Prior to joining Merrill Private Wealth Management, Angel spent more than 12 years at Citi Private Bank, where he was the lead relationship manager to some of the Bank’s most significant clients. His private banking career also includes tenures with Wachovia and Northern Trust, where he gained valuable knowledge of wealth structuring and institutional asset management. In 1998, Angel took a two-year hiatus from banking when he served as Director of Investor Relations for UniCapital Corporation. While at UCP, he was instrumental in executing an initial public offering, allowing the company to acquire 17 equipment-leasing companies located throughout the United States. This Wall Street exposure has provided Angel with a seasoned perspective on liquidity-event planning and execution. He began his wealth-management career in 1986 after earning his bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Miami. Angel is fluent in Spanish and English.
Angel and his wife Lynette have five children, four daughters and a son. He serves on the board of Voices for Children, a nonprofit organization that works to improve outcomes for children in foster care in Dade County. A member of the Riviera Country Club in Coral Gables, Angel enjoys playing golf and traveling in his spare time.
Michael Persinski has more than three decades of investment management experience. He is a Managing Director and Private Wealth Manager for The Ferrer, Persinski & Retana Group at Merrill Private Wealth Management. His responsibilities include creating customized asset allocation and investment portfolios for ultra-high-net-worth individuals, their private companies and foundations. Deeply experienced in multiple asset classes, Michael draws on a broad complement of investment offerings, including fixed income, global equities, private equity, real estate and hedge funds. He is also well versed in capital markets capabilities for both opportunistic investing and hedging. A former member of the Executive Committee for Investments at Citi Private Bank, Michael looks to provide a differentiated level of customization and access to the clients he serves, connecting them with investment capabilities that reflect their unique parameters and objectives.
Michael has worked in investment management since 1988. Prior to joining Merrill Private Wealth Management, he spent 18 years with Citi Private Bank, where he managed the Investment Division for the Eastern Region. While at Citi, Michael also served on the Yield Committee and was integral to the selection of private equity, real estate, and hedge fund investments for the Citi platform. In this capacity, he provided tailored investment advice and guidance to ultra-high-net-worth individuals and families, working from the Miami and Washington, D.C., offices. Earlier in his career, Michael was a Senior Portfolio Manager with NationsBank and was a member of its Global Asset Allocation Committee. Previously, he was a Partner and Senior Portfolio Manager with First Union Bank, where he was co-portfolio manager for its Model Value Portfolio.
Michael earned his M.B.A. from the University of Pittsburgh with a concentration in Investments and his bachelor’s degree in Finance from the University of Maryland. He holds the Chartered Financial Analyst® designation and is a member of the Miami CFA Society.
Michael and his wife Sharon have two adult children: a daughter, Laura, who works in global consulting, and a son, Tommy, who works in venture capital. A member of the Washington Golf and Country Club, Michael enjoys playing golf in his free time.
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Asset allocation, diversification, dollar-cost averaging and rebalancing do not ensure a profit or protect against loss in declining markets. Rebalancing may pose a tax event.
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.
Eugenio Retana provides leadership, advice and continuity to ultra-high-net-worth individuals and families, helping them accomplish more with their wealth. He has spent his entire career focused on the needs of an elite clientele, with particular depth catering to multi-generational families with cross-border wealth. For these clients, Eugenio offers the acumen and insight he has gained from unwinding the intricacies that substantial wealth can entail. He supports domestic and global clients in their efforts to preserve dynastic wealth, combining thoughtful strategy with precise implementation.
Wealth creators look to Eugenio to help them grow, steward and transfer their wealth more efficiently. He develops deep relationships with clients, sometimes spanning four generations within a single family. Detail oriented, Eugenio stays closely apprised of the opportunities and challenges that domestic and international clients can encounter, clarifying the intersection of their personal and professional finances. His areas of focus include planning, investment management, capital markets, trust and estate planning services, and access to global banking and customized lending through Bank of America.
Committed to each client’s well-being, Eugenio often becomes a trusted member of a family’s inner circle, deeply knowledgeable about their distinctive situations. That familiarity, he believes, allows him to serve as a single source for diverse needs, drawing on the collective strengths of his team members and the refined suite of capabilities within Merrill Private Wealth Management.
Eugenio has worked in private banking since 2004. Prior to his tenure with Merrill, he spent more than 16 years with Citi Private Bank, ultimately serving as a Banker to the Ultra-High-Net-Worth segment. Earlier in his career, Eugenio worked closely with Citi Private Bank’s largest Latin American families from Mexico and South America, providing them with multi-jurisdictional investment and credit solutions. He earned his M.B.A. and his bachelor’s degree in finance from Florida International University and is fluent in Spanish and English.
Eugenio and his wife Rebecca have three daughters. When they are not out enjoying Miami's sun and sea, Eugenio spends his time restoring classic cars with his father.
Nancy Castillo works closely with ultra-high-net-worth clients and their families to help identify their wealth-management needs and interests and facilitate those capabilities, enterprise wide. Closely attuned to the distinctive priorities of an accomplished clientele, Nancy serves as a reliable resource and dedicated problem-solver. With more than three decades of experience in investments and private banking, she offers the knowledge and insight that stem from immersion in her field. Her ability to anticipate next steps and follow through with timely action has cemented her value to clients and team members alike.
Nancy strives to create a preeminent experience for the team’s clientele, overseeing the smooth transition of new accounts, as well as account administration and team operations. She is skilled in spearheading effective collaboration with internal and external providers to advance steady momentum on shared initiatives. Intellectually curious, Nancy prides herself on tracking down potential solutions for an array of client needs, gratified to make clients’ financial lives simpler and easier.
Nancy has extensive wealth management experience. In 2003, she joined Citigroup Private Bank in Miami, where she served as an Assistant Vice President, initially with the Venezuelan Team and later with the Mexico Team. Six years later, in 2009, she moved to Credit Suisse Securities as an Assistant Vice President, responsible for connecting ultra-high-net-worth clients to a suite of investment capabilities across asset classes and instruments. In 2016, Nancy joined Morgan Stanley, where she focused on account administration and investment operations, serving as a liaison to clients’ trust companies, corporate service providers, accountants and attorneys. Prior to joining Merrill, Nancy was a Vice President and Associate Banker with Citigroup Private Bank, where she focused on deepening client relationships, streamlining the client experience, and resolving complex inquiries.
Nancy earned her B.S. in Finance and International Business from the Stern School of Business at New York University. Earlier in her career, she spent several years working in New York City in leveraged buyout financing. She is fluent in both Spanish and English.
Nancy lives in a three-generation household in Miami with her mother, daughter and son.
Yarely Barba works closely with high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals and families to address their administrative, operational, and service needs, striving to deliver the highest level of responsiveness and care. A warm and inviting presence, Yarely enjoys developing one-on-one relationships with clients, demonstrating her sincere interest in their well-being. With more than two decades of experience serving an elite clientele, Yarely is closely attuned to the distinctive needs and priorities of accomplished families. She brings positivity and efficiency to her role, eager to make clients’ lives as convenient as possible.
As a key point of client contact, Yarely has a number of responsibilities within the team. She facilitates the client onboarding process, addresses account administrative needs, oversees banking transfers, and is a reassuring voice for a variety of day-to-day inquiries. A deft problem solver, Yarely is persistent in pursuing the swift resolution of client questions. She also spearheads effective communication with her team members, sustaining a high-performing culture that looks to exceed expectations.
Yarely began her wealth management career with Merrill in 1998 as a Marketing Assistant for the Merrill Private Finance Team. Four years later, she transitioned to the Client Associate role at the firm. From 2003 – 2006, Yarely held a comparable position with Wachovia Wealth Management, where she met Angel Ferrer, forming an enduring professional relationship. Since then, Yarely has worked as a Client Associate for an international wealth management team, gaining a strong understanding of cross-border wealth needs. Her prior firms include Morgan Stanley and Jefferies. Yarely is fluent in Spanish and English.
Born in Cuba, Yarely came to Miami as an infant and has lived her entire life in the city. She is the proud mother and grandmother of two children and three grandchildren. In her free time, she enjoys exercising and boating.
*Banking products and services provided by Bank of America, N.A.
Jonathan began his career in 2014 as an Investment Analyst with Merrill’s Private Banking Investment Group. Five years later, he transitioned to an associate banker role at J.P. Morgan Private Bank, where he focused on developing strong, meaningful relationships with clients, as well as supporting all facets of their financial goals, from wealth planning, banking, investments and lending. Jonathan rejoined Merrill Private Wealth Management in 2022 and focuses on delivering the firm’s portfolio management, lending and wealth planning services to high-net-worth clients in the U.S. He assists the investment team with overall financial strategy and portfolio implementation. Jonathan is responsible for performing investment research, as well as leading efforts in the preparation of investment reports and analytics.
Jonathan works closely with the executive team in the development and maintenance of the underlying portfolio management infrastructure, as well as leveraging the firm’s technology to help craft and implement customized wealth management strategies for clients. Jonathan received his Bachelor of Science in economics and finance at Bentley University, as well as a masters in business administration at IE Business School in Madrid, Spain.
Strategies designed to help you achieve your goals
As a client of Merrill Private Wealth Management, you have access to services and resources ordinarily reserved for the world’s largest institutions. We work with individuals, families spanning multiple generations, business owners and executives. Using a goals-based wealth management approach, we put our clients at the center of every personalized strategy.
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.
Philosophy
We believe the best financial approach is the one that helps you pursue your goals. That's why, from the start, we talk about your aspirations and encourage you to ask questions about issues that matter most to you. Worried about managing future health care expenses? College on the horizon? Considering the sale of a business or purchase of a home? Preparing to pass your wealth to future generations? With access to the investment insights of Merrill and the banking convenience of Bank of America, we will work with you to develop an approach designed to help address your financial needs.
For clients of substantial means, Merrill Private Wealth Management provides an experience that is both powerful and personal. We are dedicated to helping you pursue your goals for today while developing an approach designed to support your family members for the years to come.
Your private wealth advisor and team of specialists work with a limited number of clients, enabling them to focus their time, training and passion on helping you simplify your personal and business finances and prepare your next generation.
Boutique-like service with the access to the investment resources of Merrill and banking convenience of Bank of America
We combine the personalized attention and feel of a smaller firm with the power and insights of a global financial institution, creating financial strategies tailored to your unique situation.
A relentless commitment to transparency and customized strategies
As our client, know we are working in your best interests, providing goals-based financial strategies designed to anticipate and help meet your evolving financial needs.
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