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Commitment

Our Services

Planning for and embarking on retirement can be both an exciting and anxious time for clients. When considering both the possibilities and risks, the importance of having a plan based on informed decisions is paramount. We believe a more comprehensive knowledge base and planning process can help make informed decisions. Solving for retirement income has more variables and potential strategies when compared to the accumulation phase that precedes retirement. We have a specific and detailed process called eMoney® that will help address your concerns and questions and will incorporate individual preferences to seek to reduce anxiety. We address Market/Return Risks, Withdrawal Rate Risk (i.e. Spending Behavior), Inflation Risk, Healthcare/Unexpected Expenses and Longevity Risk.

eMoney®
eMoney, our full-service, interactive planning tool, is designed to help align your assets to the goals you want them to fulfill. This robust technology elevates collaboration between you and our team and fosters a deep understanding of how you can reach your goals and provides you with the choices, information and action-steps that will help guide you through your journey.

WHO WE SERVE
At Merkel-Damer Financial Strategies Group of Wells Fargo Advisors, we are particularly sensitive to the needs of women, especially those in transition and the LGBTQ community. We welcome all who need a comprehensive plan for their future. Our approach focuses on understanding each client's unique goals and circumstances.  Our minimum household size is $250,000 in financial assets. In certain circumstances, there may be an exception to that minimum.

HOW WE CAN HELP
We focus in helping you navigate life's changes such as divorce, death of a loved one, job change, retirement, changing directions in mid-life, getting married, welcoming a child or grandchild to the family or taking care of aging relatives. All of these circumstances can be handled with careful planning.
  • Pre-Retirement Planning  
  • In Retirement Planning
  • Domestic Partnership Planning
  • Education Planning
  • Longevity Planning

SERVICES PROVIDED...

Strategic Planning
  • eMoney® Plan
  • Financial Strategy Action Plan or Planning for Life Plan
  • Balance Sheet Strategies
  • Pension & Social Security Strategies
  • Critical Event Strategies
  • Risk Management Strategies
  • Income Planning Strategies
  • Tax-efficient Investment Strategies
  • Domestic Partner Planning
  • Medicare Planning
  • Estate Planning Strategies
  • Veterans Benefit Analysis
Portfolio Review
  • Financial Statement Review
  • Portfolio Design
  • Rebalancing Strategies
Stage of Life Planning
  • Women in Transition
  • Education Planning
  • Retirement Planning
  • Elder Planning
  • Survivor Planning
  • Philanthropic Planning
Advice and Education
  • Financial Advice
  • Market Information
  • Client Education
  • Second Opinion for Friends & Family
  • Concierge and lifestyle services


1Based on accepted statistical methods, eMoney uses a mathematical process used to implement complex statistical methods that chart the probability of certain financial outcomes at certain times in the future. This carting is accomplished by generating hundreds of possible economic scenarios that could affect the performance of your investments. Using Monte Carlo simulation, this report uses up to 1000 scenarios to determine the probability of outcomes resulting from the asset allocation choices and underlying assumptions regarding rates of return and volatility of certain asset classes. Some of the scenarios will assume very favorable financial market returns, consistent with some of the best periods in investing history for investors. Some scenarios will conform to the worst periods in investing history. Most scenarios will fall somewhere in between.
Wells  Fargo Advisors  does  not  provide  tax  or  legal  advice.
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We believe the potential of women entrepreneurs for spurring economic growth has not been fully realized.

These numbers are staggering especially in light of the fact Women-Owned Business is one of the largest growing market segments.

:: 39.2%% of all businesses in the U.S. are women-owned1 .  Women of color account for 50% of all women-owned businesses in the U.S.2

:: Women-owned business generate $3.3 trillion in revenue and employ 12.9 million workers.1 

:: Over 1,800 new women-owned businesses are created each day in the U.S.  Women of color account for 89% of the net new women-owned businesses per day.2

:: Services (except Public Administration) is the largest category of businesses represented with nearly 28.9% of the women-owned companies classifying as this top industry.3

:: The average loan size for women-owned firms is 50% lower than male-owned.3

:: 53% of women-owned businesses are funded by personal savings.4

:: Only 2.4% of venture capital funding goes to female founders in the U.S.5

:: 31% of women business owners have school-aged children at home.6

1National Women's Business Council 2024 annual report:  By the Numbers
2American Express. 2019. State of Women-Owned Businesses Report.
3Biz2Credit. 2023. Annual Women Owned Business Study 2023.  Biz2Credit.com/Research-Reports
4QuickBooks. 2022. Special report: Access to funding remains a challenge for women-owned businesses.
5Pitchbook. 2022. The US VC Female Founds Dashboard.
6Gusto. 2021. How the Pandemic’s Childcare Crisis Impacted Women-owned Businesses and Altered their future.