Robert Waldele, a top wealth advisor at Merrill Wealth Management in New York, has built a successful team with assets totaling $5.1 billion. Waldele, a history major from Lafayette College, started his career at Merrill in fixed income marketing, eventually becoming an advisor in 1981. He formed his current team in 2001, which includes his son Bobby as one of the four senior partners. The team focuses on building strong relationships with clients, understanding that each client has unique goals that require a personalized approach.
Waldele’s team works primarily with corporate executives, hedge fund managers, and private equity managers, with a focus on the next generation as well. They have also expanded their services to clients abroad by becoming an internationally approved team at the firm. With team members who speak various languages, such as Chinese and Spanish, they are able to cater to a diverse client base. Waldele believes that the key to their competitive edge lies in their homegrown talent, as he personally trained each team member from day one, sharing his own experiences and knowledge gained over the years.
The team’s investment philosophy is based on meticulous planning and stress testing to ensure that clients’ assets are well-protected under various scenarios. They prioritize protecting clients in down markets and sticking to a well-balanced asset allocation plan. While they lean towards an equity bias for some clients, they also invest in fixed income and municipal bonds to provide stability. Looking ahead to 2024, Waldele remains optimistic about the market’s performance despite rising interest rates. His team focuses on quality dividend-paying stocks and strong companies with solid balance sheets to weather market cycles successfully.
Waldele’s best advice for navigating the unpredictable world of finance is to remain calm and avoid making emotional decisions. During times of market turbulence, it is crucial to take a step back and conduct a thorough analysis before taking any action. Instead of selling in a panic, Waldele recommends using challenging times as opportunities to buy and build a long-term investment strategy. With his wealth of experience and commitment to personalized client service, Robert Waldele and his team continue to thrive in the competitive world of wealth management.
