As a team with multigenerational family members, we understand what it takes to manage significant wealth for individual and family finances that span generations. Working with a limited number of clients, we help bring you an insightful perspective, personalized attention and boutique-like service.
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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John Shuhda is a co-founder and leader of The Shuhda Group, a wealth management team within Merrill Private Wealth Management. John works with a select group of ultra-affluent individuals, families, and institutions to develop integrated strategies to advance their long-term goals. He directs client outreach and focuses on portfolio strategy for the group. John has significant experience in the equity, fixed income, and foreign exchange markets. He is skilled in developing diversified investment portfolios that seek to optimize returns, balancing liquidity, transparency, volatility, tax, and fee considerations. Barron’s named John one of the Top 100 Financial Advisors in America in 2011 and 2012(Published annually Mar – April. Rankings based on data as of December 31 of prior year).*
John began his wealth management career in 1992 at Salomon Brothers, where he was a Vice President. He has taken on increasing responsibilities in investment management, serving as a Principal at Robertson Stephens and Director at Deutsche Bank and Credit Suisse. In 2012, John moved with his team to Merrill Private Wealth Management.
John earned his B.A. in Economics from Hobart College and his M.B.A. from Indiana University. He is a frequent speaker on investment management, including the Barron’s conference for Top Advisors in 2012.
John served as Chairman of the Finance and Investment Committees for Town School for Boys in San Francisco. John currently serves as a trustee for Xavier High School in New York City. In his free time, he enjoys playing golf, spending time with his family, seeing live music, and playing guitar.
*Source: The Barron’s “Top 100 Financial Advisors” list, published annually Mar – April. Rankings based on data as of December 31 of prior year.
The Barron’s “Top 100 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. Quantitative and qualitative measures used to determine the advisor rankings include: client assets, return on assets, client satisfaction/retention, compliance records, and community involvement, among others. Rankings are based on the opinions of Barron’s and not representative nor indicative of any one client’s experience, future performance, or investment outcome and should not be construed as an endorsement of the advisor. Barron’s does not receive compensation from advisors, participating firms and their affiliates, or the media in exchange for rankings. 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.
**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.
***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.
Josh brings clients and the team a rare combination of capital markets, investment banking and wealth management experience – gained over more than 20 years.
Today, he delivers the team’s family office approach to clients with significant wealth and expectations – individuals with complex financial needs and a high degree of financial success. They include founders, partners, entrepreneurs and executives in technology, med-tech and energy technology, real estate developers, private equity principals, and generations of wealthy families.
“With our ability to serve a limited circle of families, I can spend considerable time helping each client identify goals and prioritize next steps,” Josh points out. “In tune with our clients, we place a strong emphasis on intergenerational and philanthropic planning, tax-minimization and estate planning strategies, and liability management.”
Given Josh’s strong background in banking and capital markets, he offers uncommon insights and perspectives to clients’ financial strategy and portfolio design. Preferring to listen (more than talk) and encouraging clients to explain their situations and ambitions, Josh is able to help craft purposeful strategies – whether clients want to transfer wealth to their children, pursue a new venture, or both.
“It’s fulfilling to help clients ‘do well by doing good’ – as the expression goes. Many show interest in ESG investments, for example, or creating a foundation. I admire clients for their drive and values. Being their ‘first call’ for any financial need is a source of pride,” Josh says.
Prior to joining Merrill, Josh worked in private wealth management at Morgan Stanley and Robert W. Baird & Co. in San Francisco. Before that, he spent 17 years in investment banking and capital markets. In his most recent banking role, Josh was a vice president and founding member of Robert W. Baird’s Energy Technology Investment Banking Group in San Francisco – working on debt and equity strategies and M&A advisory transactions. Previous to that, he was vice president in investment banking for SGC, Inc. – working with clean technology and water utility companies.
Earlier in his career, Josh worked at Deutsche Bank in New York in capital markets and private placements on fixed income transactions in various industries, including energy and electric utilities. He began his career at Bank of America Securities, as an analyst in capital markets – developing his analytical skills by structuring, arranging and distributing public and private bond transactions.
A lifetime learner, Josh holds the Certified Private Wealth Advisor (CPWA®) designation and the Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA®) designation. Both designation programs are administered by the Investments & Wealth Institute and taught in conjunction with The University of Chicago Booth School of Business. He also holds a place in his heart for martial arts, yoga, snowboarding and international travel. Josh graduated from the Indiana University Kelley School of Business, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance and International Studies.
*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.
*Impact investing and/or Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) managers may take into consideration factors beyond traditional financial information to select securities, which could result in relative investment performance deviating from other strategies or broad market benchmarks, depending on whether such sectors or investments are in or out of favor in the market. Further, ESG strategies may rely on certain values based criteria to eliminate exposures found in similar strategies or broad market benchmarks, which could also result in relative investment performance deviating.
Raquel Austin joined The Shuhda Group in February 2017 in the capacity of Senior Private Wealth Associate, providing practice management support, and also supporting business and market analytics for the team and their clients. Raquel oversees all team operations including sales and trading and reporting.
Prior to joining The Shuhda Group, Raquel was a Senior Private Wealth Associate at Merrill Private Wealth Management, focusing on fixed income and equity trading and daily operational needs of the team’s most valued clients. Prior to joining Merrill in 2008, Raquel was a Sales Associate at Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management. She was hired as the Managing Director’s assistant in 2000 and since then has developed her deep understanding of the markets.
Though Raquel has called San Francisco home since 1998, Raquel is a Bay Area native. In her spare time, Raquel loves to travel, see live music and stays active in various sport activities.
Mike Randall joined The Shuhda Group in October 2021 in the capacity of Private Wealth Client Associate, providing practice management support, and supporting business and market analytics for the team and their clients. Mike oversees all team operations and supports Raquel with sales, trading, and reporting.
Prior to joining The Shuhda Group, Mike was a Senior Client Associate at J.P. Morgan Securities focusing on daily operational needs of the team’s most valued clients. Mike was a Client Relationship Manager at J.P. Morgan Clearing Corp from 2008-2018 managing broker dealer firms at senior levels by delivering comprehensive solutions composed of products, services, and technologies. Drove high client satisfaction levels by consistently providing prompt service and resolving complex issues. Prior to that Mike spent 13 years managing client relationships for full-service investment, broker dealer clearing and asset management firms.
Mike is a 4th generation San Franciscan and currently lives in Marin County. In his spare time, Mike loves to play and watch sports, cooking and grilling, being at Lake Tahoe, and spending time with the family.
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.
Matthew Wesley
Wealth Strategist
Merrill
Bren A Johnson
Division Structured Credit Executive
Bank of America, N.A.
Paul Stauffer
Wealth Strategist
Merrill
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.
John Shuhda
Forbes “Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams” 2023 Published on January 12, 2023. Rankings based on data as of March 31, 2022.*
Joshua Fiedler
Forbes “Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams” 2023 Published on January 12, 2023. Rankings based on data as of March 31, 2022.*
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.
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.
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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