Matt is a seasoned, global financial professional, with over 30 years of capital markets experience. He is a conscientious and trusted private wealth advisor, helping successful clients across their Family, Business and Wealth needs. He is a Managing Director and Private Wealth Advisor at Merrill.  Matt has been recognized on Forbes “Best-in-State Wealth Advisors” list in 2022 (Published on April 7, 2022)*  and Barron’s America’s Top 1200 Advisors: State-by-State list in 2023 (Published on March 10, 2023. Rankings based on data as of September 30, 2022).**

During his professional career, Matt has participated in the full spectrum of capital markets activities, including advising companies, institutional investors, and individuals, while working as an investment banker, institutional equity salesperson, investor relations officer, wealth management leader, and private banker. He has advised on hundreds of liquidity events including M&A transactions, recapitalizations, and public equity offerings.

In addition to Matt’s deep professional experience in the financial sector, he is also able to see things from a client’s perspective, given firsthand experience watching his family’s business grow from start-up stage through an Initial Public Offering, along the way facing and participating in critical family, wealth, estate planning, philanthropic, corporate, and investment banking decisions. As a result, Matt is able to sit on the same side of the table with clients as a trusted advisor.

Prior to joining Merrill, Matt was a Managing Director of UBS, with senior leadership assignments in the US, Switzerland, and Hong Kong. Matt managed the Greater China ultra-high-net-worth private banking effort, a business which serviced individuals with a minimum net worth of $50 million. He was a member of the Global Ultra High Net Worth Management Committee, and Head of Enterprise Client Coverage for Greater China. Prior to moving to Hong Kong, Matt was the Global Head of Investor Relations, based in Zurich, Switzerland, where he worked directly with the executive management team, and served as UBS’ primary spokesperson to investors. He served on UBS’ Group Disclosure Committee, Chief Communications Committee, and Senior Leadership Council.

Matt graduated with a B.S. in Commerce (“With Distinction”) from the University of Virginia’s McIntire School of Commerce, and later earned an M.B.A. (“With Honors”) from the University of Texas at Austin. He was awarded the Certified Private Wealth Advisor (CPWA®) designation by the Investments & Wealth Institute™ (The Institute) after successfully completing course work in advanced wealth management strategies at The University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

Outside of work, Matt enjoys spending time with his wife and two children, and participating in a wide range of community activities. He has served on a variety of boards and committees including, Harpeth Hall School, UVA McIntire School of Commerce, The Land Trust for Tennessee, United Way U.S. Council on Tocqueville, The Legion Fund - 5th Special Forces Group and Alive Hospice. Matt is a Graduate of Leadership Nashville.

*Source: The Forbes “Best-in-State Wealth Advisors” list, published on April 7, 2022. Rankings based on data as of June 30, 2021.
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 on March 11, 2022. Rankings based on data as of September 30, 2021.
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.

Shane Dempster started with Merrill in 2021, and has joined the Miller Group as a Wealth Management Specialist.   Shane has over seven years of financial industry experience, the last five with a top team in Morgan Stanley’s Private Wealth Management group, based in Los Angeles, where he collaborated with team members to execute equity and fixed income trades, conduct investment research, manage alternative investment portfolios, and more broadly assist ultra-high net worth individuals, trusts, and institutions across the spectrum of their needs.  Shane earned a B.S. degree in Finance with a specialization in Alternative Investments from Fordham University. 

Shane recently relocated to Nashville with his girlfriend Annie and his German Short Haired Pointer puppy, Bogey.   He and Annie are eager to immerse themselves in the Nashville community and support various charitable organizations.


*Some or all alternative investment programs may not be in the best interest of certain investors. No assurance can be given that any alternative investment’s investment objectives will be achieved.

Joseph Deery started with Merrill in 2012, and has joined the Miller Group as a Private Wealth Client Associate.  Joe has nine years of financial industry experience working internally within various Merrill operation departments. The past five years Joe has been a Relationship Partner providing white glove service and technical support for 12 – 14 of Merrill’s top Private Wealth Advisors, including the Miller Group.  In this role, Joe provided excellent client service to the financial advisors he supported by building strong relationships within the teams, and being a trusted contact to resolve highly complex issues.  Joe has vast knowledge of Merrill’s products and services, in addition to an extensive internal network, that is used to quickly identify time sensitive and critical issues, escalate, and most importantly resolve.  

Joe has earned a B.S degree in Finance with a specialization in Accounting from East Stroudsburg University.