The Grala Kingshott Group provides comprehensive wealth management strategies to its clients, and acts as a conduit to the rest of the broader Bank of America platform including business banking, commercial banking, and investment banking services. By helping define objectives and streamline decision making, the Grala Kingshott Group’s mission is to allow our clients to sleep well at night knowing their financial lives are in order.
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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Nicholas Grala is a Managing Director, Private Wealth Advisor, and co-founder of the Grala Kingshott Group at Merrill Private Wealth Management in New York. Nic provides focused attention and customized advice to a select group of ultra-high-net-worth executives, multi-generational families, and institutions. He is skilled in unwinding the complexities that significant wealth can entail, helping clients enact an intentional approach to pursuing their unique vision.
Nic grounds his work in the unique circumstances of each relationship. His areas of focus include wealth transfer, pre- and post-transaction planning, retirement strategies, executive compensation, tax-sensitive investing, and access to customized lending through Bank of America. Nic recognizes that all wealth is ultimately personal. He looks to enhance the opportunities and outcomes for the clients he serves, supporting them in their evolution as capable and informed stewards.
Nic has worked in wealth management since 2007 and has spent his entire career addressing the needs of ultra-high-net-worth clients. Prior to joining Merrill, he spent thirteen years with J.P. Morgan, where he ultimately served as Executive Director and Market Team Lead. Nic is a former board member and treasurer of Neighbors Together and the 123 East 88th St. Co-op.
He earned his M.B.A. from Columbia Business School and his B.A. in Business from The Pennsylvania State University. He currently resides in Manhattan with his wife and son.
An endurance fitness enthusiast, Nic has completed twelve Ironman triathlons and is a two-time participant in the Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii. In his free time, he also enjoys skiing, hiking, and golfing.
*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.
Jason Kingshott is a Senior Vice President, Private Wealth Manager, and co-founder of the Grala Kingshott Group at Merrill Private Wealth Management in New York. Jason leads the design and development of the team’s investment approach, customizing that approach to a small group of ultra-high-net-worth clients. He manages both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolios designed to reflect each client’s unique objectives, risk tolerance, time horizon, tax situation, and lifestyle needs. In rapidly shifting market, economic, geopolitical, and legislative environments, Jason believes that “alpha” is generated by the thoughtful integration of a client’s goals with the dynamic investment toolkit available through Merrill.
Jason has extensive experience building portfolios around a concentrated position or private business, and managing the specialized considerations of financial services professionals, entrepreneurs, and multi-generational families. His areas of focus include tax-sensitive investing, alternative investment analysis and selection, and executive compensation.
Jason has worked in wealth management since 2011. Prior to joining Merrill, he spent nine years with J.P. Morgan, ultimately serving as an Investment Specialist. He earned his B.A. in Finance Magna Cum Laude from Washington State University and holds the Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA®) designation.
In his free time, Jason volunteers leading a team of 16 mentors and 8 mentees for Minds Matter, a nonprofit organization that helps low-income, high performing area high school students navigate the college readiness, application, financial aid, and selection process over a three-year horizon. Jason has spent significant time volunteering with the organization since 2016. He is also an avid golfer and outdoors enthusiast.
*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.
*A 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 model portfolios, and third-party investment strategies.
*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.
Karla Rojas is a Registered Private Wealth Client Associate, and has spent the past 7 years within Merrill Private Wealth Management. Prior to her time in financial services, Karla spent several years in the healthcare industry.
In her role, Karla is primarily responsible for the day-to-day servicing and operational requirements of all of the Grala Kingshott Group’s clients. Karla’s white glove approach is meant to serve the unique needs of each of our clients, on their terms. Our clients appreciate Karla’s responsiveness, attention to detail, and persistent approach to ensuring that each client is satisfied that the Merrill PWM experience has been delivered to the highest standards.
In her free time, Karla is passionate about animals, especially her miniature poodle Snowie. She also spends time volunteering at PAWS animal shelter. She also enjoys snowboarding, and traveling. Karla graduated from Sacred Heart University with a degree in finance in 2018.
Tom Curran is a Private Wealth Investment Management Specialist, and has spent the past 2 years within Merrill Private Wealth Management. Tom has worked in financial services since he graduated from Penn State University in 2019.
In his role as a Private Wealth Investment Management Specialist, Tom supports the trading and portfolio re-balancing of the Grala Kingshott Group’s clients. Additionally, Tom helped design and implement the Group’s performance reporting approach, including the creation of balance sheets and asset allocations for both investment and trusts and estates purposes. Prior to joining the Grala Kingshott Group, Tom worked within Vanguard’s Investment Services group, helping retail clients with trading requests and investment guidance through the Covid 19 market selloff.
In his free time, Tom enjoys staying active through hiking, golfing, playing basketball, and lifting weights. He also enjoys traveling, and watching Penn State Football. Tom is a native of NY, having grown up in Hopewell Junction.
*Asset allocation does not ensure a profit or protect against loss in declining markets.
Taylor Ferry is a Private Wealth Client Associate, who joined Merrill Private Wealth Management in March of 2022. Prior to joining Merrill, Taylor worked at Dentsu Inc., an international advertising and public relations agency, on the Anheuser Busch Ad Sales Investment Team. Prior to Dentsu, Taylor was a D1 lacrosse player at Villanova University, where she graduated with a degree in Advertising and Public Relations.
In addition to her current position, Taylor worked at Merrill Private Wealth Management in 2018 as a summer intern for the Hunter-McCormack Group in Philadelphia. Taylor loves developing client relationships, understanding, and servicing clients needs in an effort to help them achieve their financial goals. Taylor is very excited to continue developing her career at Merrill for years to come!
The following specialists do not make securities recommendations. Please contact your Merrill Private Wealth Advisor if you have questions about how a specialist might be able to assist you.
Clauter Charleston
Alternative Investments Regional Specialist
Bank of America, N.A.
Dina Friedman
Private Wealth Strategist
Merrill
John Grassia
Senior Structured Credit Executive
Bank of America, N.A.
Recognition
Merrill is proud of our advisors who’ve received recognition from financial industry publications or directly from Bank of America Corporation. We believe they are setting the standard for exemplary client service.
Nic Grala
Forbes "Top Next-Generation Wealth Advisors Best-in-State" 2023 Published on August 8, 2023. Rankings based on data as of March 31, 2023.*
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.
Team founders Nic Grala and Jason Kingshott have spent their entire careers addressing the needs of ultra-high-net-worth clients. They are intimately attuned to the needs of the clients they serve.
An incomplete list of services they provide include the following:
Tax and fee-sensitive investment management, including both public and private offerings.
Customized portfolio design, including building around concentrated positions.
Wealth-transfer strategies that align a family’s interests and intentions with evolving tax legislation.
Next-generation stewardship initiatives that are designed to promote the continuity of family wealth and facilitate positive family dynamics.
Collaborating with external tax and legal advisors, as well as in-house specialists, to ensure a consistent and holistic approach to each client’s financial picture.
The team believes humility and integrity underpins every aspect of the work they do with their clients. These values are deeply embedded in daily decision making, their collective work ethic, and service model.
Nic and Jason hold the team to high standards so that clients can rely on consistency and diligence, not for a single generation, but for decades to come.
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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