Marc A. Ackerman
Private Wealth Financial Advisor
Managing Director - Investments
Background and Experience
Marc focuses on advising company founders, entrepreneurs, executives, corporations, foundations, and multi-generational high-net-worth families. He is part of Wells Fargo Advisors Retirement Plan Advisor Program, which is reserved specifically for advisors who have demonstrated extensive experience in helping businesses design, build, administer, and review corporate retirement plans. Prior to joining Wells Fargo Advisors, he served as Senior Vice President and Senior Investment Management Consultant at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney. In 2019 Marc was named to Forbes’ Best-In-State Wealth Advisors list*. He is a graduate of the University of California, Santa Barbara and serves on the school's Department of Economics Board of Advisors.
Away from the Office
Marc currently serves on the Boards of Directors of the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation and of Hope Heals. He spent nearly a decade as a mentor to foster youth and helped operate a group mentoring nonprofit organization, now part of Young Life. Marc regularly speaks about investment planning and stewardship at churches, conferences, and universities.
CA Insurance License Number: oD15273. Resident State: CA
*The Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Advisors ranking algorithm is based on industry experience, interviews, compliance records, assets under management, revenue and other criteria by SHOOK Research, LLC, which does not receive compensation from the advisors or their firms in exchange for placement on a ranking. Investment performance is not a criterion.
Marco Mendoza
Private Wealth Financial Advisor
Managing Director - Investments
Marco Mendoza, Private Wealth Financial Advisor, has more than 25 years of experience in the financial services industry. Marco works with clients to design and implement customized wealth and investment plans with a focus on strategic and tactical portfolio asset allocation, risk management, and managed money strategies. He specializes in providing corporate executive services, including strategies for concentrated positions, hedging strategies, 10b5-1 plans and employee benefit packages. Marco also has a background in implementing insurance strategies to help solve issues pertaining to long-term care, tax-efficient investing, and estate preservation.
Background and Experience
Prior to joining Wells Fargo Advisors, Marco was a Senior Consultant at Accenture with the Financial Services team in Los Angeles. He worked with financial services companies to implement strategies to improve productivity and reduce costs. He also worked in the Risk Management Group at Barclays Global Investors in San Francisco, where he was responsible for designing the due diligence processes used to manage the firm’s total assets under management. Marco began his career at Wells Fargo Advisors in the Palo Alto, CA office in the heart of the Silicon Valley. He continues to work with tech, venture capital, and corporate executives to help them meet their goals with pre-transaction wealth transfer strategies while offsetting concentrated stock risk. Marco earned his BA in Business Economics from UCLA and his MBA from U.C. Berkeley’s Haas School of Business. He previously served as an officer of the Los Angeles Alumni Chapter of the Berkeley-Haas School of Business.
Away from the Office
Marco serves as a Board Member for the Fulfillment Fund in Los Angeles, which helps to make college a reality for students growing up in economically under-resourced communities. He is also actively involved in the Peninsula Education Foundation, which raises funds for the Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District to assure continued excellence in local public schools. Marco currently resides in the South Bay area of Los Angeles with his wife and two children.
CA Insurance License Number: oC55711. Resident State CA
*The Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Advisors ranking algorithm is based on industry experience, interviews, compliance records, assets under management, revenue and other criteria by SHOOK Research, LLC, which does not receive compensation from the advisors or their firms in exchange for placement on a ranking. Investment performance is not a criterion.
Francois D. Viljoen, CFA
Financial Advisor
Senior Vice President - Investment Officer
Background and Experience
Francois has focused on helping wealthy families achieve their goals during his career in the wealth management industry. Prior to joining our team in 2007, Francois held positions at The Capital Group Companies and spent five years with our team at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney. Francois holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA®) designation and is a member of the CFA Society of Los Angeles. In 2018, 2019 & 2020 he was named to Forbes’ Top Next-Generation Wealth Advisors list. He is a graduate of the University of Pretoria, South Africa, where he earned a degree in Business with a focus on Accounting.
Away from the Office
Francois played on and captained the USA National Rugby team for four years. He served on the Board of Directors of USA Rugby for five years following his playing career. Away from the office, Francois enjoys running and has completed a few marathons. He also coaches AYSO soccer and is involved at his church. He resides in Los Angeles with his wife and two children.
CA Insurance License Number: oI76530. Resident State CA
Disclosure: The Forbes America’s Top Next-Generation Wealth Advisors ranking algorithm is based on industry experience, interviews, compliance records, assets under management, revenue and other criteria by SHOOK Research, LLC, which does not receive compensation from the advisors or their firms in exchange for placement on a ranking. Investment performance is not a criterion.
Eric Zurbrugg, CFP
Financial Advisor
Vice President - Investments
Background and Experience
Eric completed a Bachelor of Arts in Economics with a minor in Business at the University of Southern California, and then began his career in financial services at Wells Fargo Bank as a personal banker. After managing branch locations in Santa Monica and Marina Del Rey, Eric became a private banker and later transitioned to Wells Fargo Advisors in 2017 as a financial advisor to follow his passion to be of service to clients. Leveraging his many years of experience, Eric works confidently to help clients with a wide spectrum of needs and goals.
Away from the Office
Eric serves as a Board Member for the USC Economics Leadership Council, which provides career guidance to students and alumnae and hosts networking events with thought leaders in the economics industry. Eric resides in Playa del Rey with his wife, son, and daughter. Away from the office, he enjoys hiking, golfing, skiing, and coaching his son’s AYSO soccer team.
CA Insurance License Number: oE87748. Resident State CA
Stephanie Hunter
Wealth Management Senior Registered Client Relationship Associate
Phone: 310.444.7630
Email: Stephanie.e.hunter@wellsfargo.com
Background and Experience
Stephanie truly cares about each client’s unique needs as she is focused on helping build strong relationships with clients and their families. She manages the responsibilities surrounding day-to-day account administration and delivers operational solutions to meet the client’s goals and objectives.
Away from the Office
Stephanie is the mother of three children and two grandchildren, Ernesto and Nevaeh. Away from the office, she enjoys going for walks, watching movies, reading, tending to home projects, and spending time with her grandkids.
Mick Meylor
Registered Client Associate
Phone: 310.444.6555
Email: mick.meylor@wellsfargo.com
Background and Experience
Mick graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara in June 2019 and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics. He was actively involved on campus, serving as a peer advisor for the UCSB Economics department and on the executive board of the student-led Investment Advisory Committee for two years.
Away from the Office
Mick prides himself on active leadership and philanthropy. While at UCSB, he was the Vice President of Programming for Sigma Phi Epsilon, where he spearheaded the chapter’s philanthropic activities and events. In his spare time, Mick enjoys traveling, surfing, golfing, photography, and attending concerts.