Your journey requires customized strategies tailored to your unique goals and priorities. We serve a limited number of individuals and families, allowing us to offer personalized, boutique-like services to help you simplify your life and pursue what’s important to you.
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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Reed Smith is a co-founder and leader of Smith Warren and Associates, a wealth management team that provides intensive outreach and strategy to an elite group of families throughout the Southwest. Reed and his team are privileged to work with clients who have attained extraordinary success, typically through their own ingenuity and applied effort. Reed looks to serve these clients and their families with the same caliber of insight and care that the clients apply to their own business affairs. Attuned to the distinctive needs that significant wealth can pose, Reed directs a team of professionals, each of whom provides a niche strategy or service to the team’s ultra-affluent clientele.
Reed leads the team’s outreach, and enjoys his role in distilling client priorities, issues, and concerns. Fundamentally, Reed sees himself as a problem solver. He and his team continually push themselves to design smart and practical responses to client needs. At the core of his client approach is a desire to treat clients as he would wish to be treated: strategies and offerings that are forward-thinking and fee sensitive, customized offerings that unify multiple goals, and a service model focused on deeds –not words.
A career-long professional at Merrill, Reed joined the firm in 1993. He has been a member of Merrill Private Wealth Management since its inception 2001. Reed has garnered a number of national accolades. Barron’s named him one of “America’s Top 1,200 Advisors” from 2011-2022(Published annually in February-March. Rankings based on data as of September 30 of prior year). The Financial Times recognized him as one of the “Top 400 Financial Advisors” in 2013-2016(Published annually Mar – April. Rankings based on data as of June 30 of prior year). Reed frequently serves as a commentator on wealth management issues for local media, including the Houston Business Journal and KPRC-TV (NBC) in Houston.
Reed earned his B.A. from The University of St. Thomas with concentrations in both Economics and Business. He is an active supporter of local charities. Reed lives with his wife Betty Ann in the Champions area of Houston. ________________________________________
*Source: The Barron’s “Top 1,200 Financial Advisors: State-by-State” list, published annually in February-March. Rankings based on data as of September 30 of prior year.
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. Years prior to 2014, this Barron’s list consisted of 1,000 advisors.
**Source: Financial Times “400 Top Financial Advisers” list, published annually Mar - April. Rankings based on data as of June 30 of prior year.
The Financial Times “400 Top Financial Advisers” (FT 400) list is an independent listing produced annually by Ignites Research, a division of Money-Media, Inc., on behalf of the Financial Times. The FT 400 is based on data gathered from advisers, broker-dealer home offices, regulatory disclosures, and the FT’s research. The listing reflects each adviser’s status in six primary areas: assets under management (AUM), asset growth, compliance record, experience, credentials and online accessibility. This award does not evaluate the quality of services provided to clients and is not indicative of this adviser’s future performance. Neither the brokerages nor the advisers pay a fee to the Financial Times in exchange for inclusion in the FT 400. Rankings and recognition from the Financial Times 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 adviser. All rights reserved.
Champ Warren is a Private Wealth Advisor and senior partner on one of the largest Private Wealth Management teams in the Southwest region of Merrill. Champ has thirty-three years of experience, twenty-nine with Merrill, focusing on wealth management, corporate finance and business succession planning. He has been recognized by Forbes Best-in-state Wealth Advisors in 2018-2022(Published annually Jan – April. Rankings based on data as of June 30 of prior year), Barron’s Top 1200 Financial Advisors in 2011-2022(Published annually in February-March. Rankings based on data as of September 30 of prior year), and The Financial Times Top 400 Financial Advisors in 2017(Published on March 30, 2017. Rankings based on data as of June 30, 2016). Prior to joining the Merrill Private Wealth Management, he co-managed the firm’s Business Finance Group in Houston. Prior to joining Merrill, Champ worked as a banker in the Middle Market Lending Group of First City Bank (now JP Morgan Chase). He graduated from The University of Texas at Austin with a BBA in Finance.
Awards and Distinctions:
• Barron’s Top 50 Private Wealth Advisory Teams – Made the inaugural list in 2019 and the only team from Texas to receive this distinction (Published on April 17. 2019. Rankings based on data as of December 31, 2018)
• 2017 Bank of America Global Diversity and Inclusion Award Winner – Recognized by the Chairman of Bank of America for his community service
Community Service:
• Southside Place Volunteer Fire Department – Served as Assistant Fire Chief for sixteen years
• Strake Jesuit College Preparatory – Foundation Board Member, providing scholarships to low income high school students
• KIPP Texas Public Schools – Board Member, providing children from low income communities with a free, open-enrollment, college preparatory education so they can lead a more fulfilling life
• Cristo Rey Jesuit College Preparatory – Financial Sponsor and Mentor for the Student Work Study Program which enables low income high school students to pay for their own tuition • Kickstart Kids – Board Member, teaching character and life changing values through karate to underserved high school children so they avoid lure of drugs and gangs • 8 Million Stories – Board Member, providing non-violent, previously incarcerated youth with a second chance on life by helping them receive a GED, trade certifications, and a meaningful job • Pro-Unitas – Advisory Board Member, connecting underserved high school children and their families with non-profit resources • Elliott Chandler Foundation – Advisory Board Member, providing college scholarships to underserved high school students • CareerSpring – Board Member, helping to inform, advise, and place first generation college graduates with high quality employment to unlock their true potential
Disclosures: *Source: The Forbes “Best-in-State Wealth Advisors” list, published annually Jan - April. Rankings based on data as of June 30 of prior year.
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: Financial Times “400 Top Financial Advisers” list, published on March 30, 2017. Rankings based on data as of June 30, 2016. The Financial Times “400 Top Financial Advisers” (FT 400) is an independent listing produced by the Financial Times. The FT 400 is based on data gathered from firms and verified by broker-dealer home offices, regulatory disclosures, and the FT’s research. The listing reflects each adviser’s performance in six primary areas, including assets under management, asset growth, compliance record, experience, credentials and accessibility as identified by the FT. Neither the brokerages nor the advisers pay a fee to the Financial Times in exchange for inclusion in the FT 400. The ranking or ratings shown here may not be representative of all client experiences because they reflect an average or sampling of the client experiences. These rankings or ratings are not indicative of any future performance or investment outcome. *Source: The Barron’s “Top 1,200 Financial Advisors: State-by-State” list, published annually in February-March. Rankings based on data as of September 30 of prior year. 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. Years prior to 2014, this Barron’s list consisted of 1,000 advisors. *Source: The Barron’s “Top 50 Private Wealth Management Teams” list, published on April 17. 2019. Rankings based on data as of December 31, 2018. This first-ever ranking of wealth advisory teams that specialize in serving individuals and families was published with the Barron’s “Top 100 Financial Advisors” 2019 list. The teams are ranked on a variety of factors, including their size and shape, the regulatory records and credentials of their members and the resources they have at their disposal to serve their client bases. Advisors considered for the “Top 50 Private Wealth Advisory Teams” list ranking have a minimum of seven years of financial services experience and 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. Barron’s does not receive compensation from Advisors, participating firms and their affiliates, or the media in exchange for rankings. Barron’s is a trademark of Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All rights reserved. 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. The Bank of America Global D&I Award is an internal annual program recognizing individuals who help make Bank of America a diverse and inclusive place to work where all employees have the opportunity to succeed. The employee must have at least six months tenure and be a full- or part-time employee who works 20 or more hours per week. Ranking and recognition 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. *The Bank of America Global D&I Award is an internal annual program recognizing individuals who help make Bank of America a diverse and inclusive place to work where all employees have the opportunity to succeed. The employee must have at least six months tenure and be a full- or part-time employee who works 20 or more hours per week.
Barry Goldblatt has worked in financial services since 1986. He has significant experience in commodities and structured products as a trader, division head, and managing director for banks and exchanges. Most recently, Barry was Managing Director of Citigroup Global Commodities, where he was the Head of Americas Institutional Sales. While at Citigroup, he was also responsible for driving the collaboration between the commodities unit and the private bank. Previously, Barry spent a year with the CME Group, where he was Global Head of Commodities, Energy, and Metals business. From 1997 – 2009, Barry worked at Merrill Lynch Commodities/Koch Industries, where he was a Managing Director.
Within Smith Warren and Associates, Barry works closely with ultra-high-net-worth clients, including executives, entrepreneurs and families. He recognizes that affluent clients have similar resources, concerns, and priorities as institutional investors. Barry applies the knowledge and experience he has gained in serving institutional clients to offer the rigorous analysis, thoughtful strategy, and customized service that significant wealth warrants. Barry’s decades of experience in trading and monitoring the energy markets enable him to develop hedging strategies, investment approaches, and risk management techniques that are infused with a nuanced understanding of these markets and a long-term perspective.
Barry earned his B.A. in History from Binghamton University and his M.B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Barry and his wife Cindy live in Bellaire, Texas, with their two children. _______________________
*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.
Duke Jones is an experienced and accomplished financial analyst and portfolio manager. He began his career as a Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in 1986. Nine years later, he moved to Frost National Bank, where he was ultimately named Vice President and Portfolio Manager. He served as Chair of the firm’s Investment Strategy Committee, overseeing the efforts of 28 portfolio managers and analysts, including 11 CFA charterholders. In this position, Duke directed asset allocation and equity selection. Under his tenure, investment performance ranking improved from the 75th percentile to the top quartile.
Duke has also served as a hedge fund manager and quantitative analyst providing research and historical model back-testing and investment consulting to family offices and corporations. During this time, Duke developed a proprietary sector and industry classification pyramid which generates quantitative rankings of sector and industry constituents that are useful in portfolio management and risk modeling.
From 2004 – 2009, Duke worked as a Vice President – Portfolio Manager for BlackRock in the Private Investors division. He partnered exclusively with Merrill Financial Advisors to provide customized investment solutions for high net worth and institutional investors, directing asset allocations.
In 2010, Duke joined Merrill Private Wealth Management, where he directs financial research and portfolio allocations for Smith Warren and Associates.
Duke holds the Chartered Market Technician (CMT®) designation, and is a member and former Director of the Market Technicians Association. He is also a member of the Houston Financial Analyst Society. Duke earned his B.A. from Austin College. He has been quoted in Barron’s, The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, and the local press.
Duke, his wife Jessica, and their three children live in Kingwood, Texas.
*CFA® and Chartered Financial Analyst® are registered trademarks by CFA Institute.
Christopher Fontenot began his financial services career in 2014. In October 2019, Christopher joined Merrill Private Wealth Management. He is primarily focused on investment implementation and trading. He recognizes that each client is unique and enjoys hearing all the exciting personal stories our clients share.
Christopher attended the Texas State University, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance. He enjoys playing the ukulele and collecting vinyl records.
Nancy Sawyer is a member of Smith Warren and Associates within Merrill Private Wealth Management. Nancy is responsible for team operations, developing the processes and structures to help advance client objectives through responsive service, seamless coordination, and dependable outreach. Goal-oriented and proactive, Nancy streamlines key functions of the client experience: communications, reporting, account administration, and investment implementation. She leverages the talents and depth of the team so that clients can better integrate the robust offerings and extensive capabilities of Merrill Private Wealth Management. In addition to overseeing team operations, Nancy also works closely with clients to address their administrative and service needs. She enjoys developing long-term relationships that attest to her deep-seated interest in the personal and financial priorities of each client and family.
Nancy began her career with Merrill in 1993 as a Client Associate in Columbia, South Carolina. Shortly thereafter, she entered the Management Training Program and became a Client Relationship Manager. She served on the management team for the Fifth Avenue Complex in New York City before relocating to Houston in 2000. A committed leader, she has taken on increasing responsibilities during her tenure with the firm, working as a Regional Client Relationship Manager and serving on several advisory committees to senior management. Her outstanding work ethic has resulted in firm-wide recognition; she is the 2014 recipient of the Service Quality Top 100 Client Associates Award. Prior to joining Merrill, she attended the University of South Carolina.
Nancy and her husband Rob have two children, Kate and Andrew. In her free time, she enjoys volunteering in the community with her son’s swim team and playing golf.
*The Top 100 Client Associates (CAs) Merrill internal Service Quality award is an annual program ranking FINRA-registered CA’s for overall client satisfaction, breadth of relationships, online delivery services and good standing with the firm.
Ellie joined Smith Warren, and Associates in March of 2020 as a Registered Private Wealth Associate, dedicated to enhancing the overall client experience. She began her financial services career with Merrill in 2011 where she served in a variety of roles, but primarily focused on assisting individual clients and businesses in holistic wealth planning strategies.
Ellie attended the University of Alabama, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance and Economics. She went on to earn a Master of Science in Personal Financial Planning from the College of Financial Planning. Ellie enjoys playing tennis, outdoor activities, and spending time with her husband Charles, and their Labradors, Bexar and Paloma.
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.
Joshua Guardado
Wealth Management Banking Specialist
Merrill
Kenneth C. Sprague
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.
Reed H. B. Smith
Barron's "Top 50 Private Wealth Management Teams" 2019 Published on April 17, 2019. Rankings based on data as of December 31, 2018.
Financial Times "400 Top Financial Advisers" 2013, 2014, and 2016 Published annually Mar - April. Rankings based on data as of June 30 of prior year.
Barron's "Top 1,200 Financial Advisors: State-by-State" 2011-2022 Published annually in February - March. Rankings based on data as of September 30 of the prior year.
Champ D. Warren, III
Barron's "Top 50 Private Wealth Management Teams" 2019 Published on April 17, 2019. Rankings based on data as of December 31, 2018.
Financial Times "400 Top Financial Advisers" 2017 Published on March 22, 2017. Rankings based on data as of June 30, 2016.
Barron's "Top 1,200 Financial Advisors: State-by-State" 2011-2022 Published annually in February - March. Rankings based on data as of September 30 of the prior year.
Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Advisors" 2018-2022 Published annually Jan- April. Rankings based on data as of June 30 of prior year.
Barry C. Goldblatt
Barron's "Top 50 Private Wealth Management Teams" 2019 Published on April 17, 2019. Rankings based on data as of December 31, 2018.
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.
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.
Smith Warren and Associates
Smith Warren and Associates is a leading wealth management team that caters to the needs of ultra-high-net worth clients. Located in Houston, we work with corporate executives, entrepreneurs, business owners, affluent families, and family offices throughout the Southwest who are drawn to our customized approach, in-depth knowledge, and ingrained service ethic. As a 13-person team, we draw upon the talents of many individuals, all focused on the same goal: delivering value to the client. Our team members are distinguished not only by their accolades and training, but also by their decades of real-life wealth management experience. We invite clients to gauge the difference that experience makes.
Estate Planning Services and Wealth Transfer
A well-crafted wealth transfer and estate plan can help you implement your vision for the future and create enduring benefits for the people and causes that matter most to you.
With a deep understanding of your goals and priorities, Smith Warren & Associates, working together with Merrill trust and insurance specialists and your estate planning attorney, can help you identify strategies to:
Provide for the people and causes that you care about.
Avoid burdening loved ones in the event of incapacity and after you are gone.
Preserve assets and see that they are distributed and used in the way you envision.
Avoid probate and the cost, time and public disclosure associated with it.
Pass on values to family members.
*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.
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.
Our Competitive Edge
Our team is distinctive in its focus and its depth. We work exclusively with an elite group of clients who encounter opportunities and complexities as a result of substantial wealth. We have built our team to respond to the particular needs of clients, from large-scale issues like portfolio management, tax minimization, and estate planning strategies, to day-to-day issues like bill paying and account organization. We relish the opportunity to streamline clients’ financial lives so that they can focus on the family and business pursuits they find most rewarding. Our wealth management process begins by identifying and understanding client desires and concerns. We then apply the full resources of our team and engage the global capabilities of Merrill Lynch to advance client interests and pursue client goals.
Our Emphasis on Risk Management
Having attained exceptional success, clients come to us to preserve and nurture their wealth. Our investment approach places a premium on the management of risk. We believe strongly in the value of diversification, enhanced through the skillful application of investment acumen and sound judgment. Our team has particular depth in investment research and analysis. We supplement the renowned research ability of Merrill Lynch with that of our internal research staff, developing customized investment portfolios that reflect client goals, timelines, lifestyle needs, and risk thresholds. We have guided a number of clients through liquidity events, and have detailed experience in pre-and-post IPO planning, concentrated stock management, and restricted stock management.
Our Offerings
Our team offers a range of strategies and services that address the financial needs and lifestyle demands of affluent clients:
*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.
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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