PROFESSIONAL PROFILE

TEAM PROFILE

The Veldheer, Long, Mackay & Bernecker Group provides wealth management services to affluent families and institutions. Based on their expertise and training, this team of advisors has been accredited and certified by Merrill Lynch as an Institutional Consulting Group to provide consulting services to:

• Foundations and Endowments
• High Net Worth Family offices
• Faith-based Organizations
• Hospitals
• Pension plans

Along with the global resources of Merrill Lynch, we are structured to provide customized consulting using an open architectural platform to help clients articulate their goals, then guide them with appropriate strategies for investments, lending, wealth transfer, and philanthropy with particular emphasis on tax minimization and wealth preservation. By formally reviewing and understanding a client’s total assets and liabilities, we are able to develop customized solutions to address their unique needs and challenges.

For our clients, we seek to have a profound impact on both their financial and personal lives. Our ultimate responsibility is to help clients achieve their aspirations for themselves, future generations, and their communities. Within that effort, we provide the personal attention and high level of service that significant wealth warrants.

TEAM MEMBERS

Each of the Wealth Management Advisors in the VLMB Group has earned his Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA®) designation from the Investment Management Consultants Association in conjunction with the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

James D. Veldheer, CIMA®, CRPC®, First Vice President-Investments -Jim has spent more than 20 years advising Merrill Lynch clients on financial, retirement, and estate planning issues. Jim concentrates on consulting to high net worth individuals, corporations and non-profits. He is a graduate of Aquinas College, attended Grand Valley State University for his graduate level studies and earned his Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA) designation through the Investment Management Consultants Association in conjunction with the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

Timothy J. Long, CIMA®, CFM, First Vice President-Investments - Tim is an Institutional Advisor and has worked with Merrill Lynch for 17 years following a prior career with Mobil Oil on the East Coast. He concentrates on the financial and estate needs of institutions and individuals with high net worth. He attended Hope College and was a Baker Scholar. Tim graduated from the University of Michigan Ross School of Business and earned his MBA Summa Cum Laude from St. John’s University in New York. He earned his CIMA designation through the Investment Management Consultants Association with the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

William S. Mackay, CIMA®, First Vice President-Investments - Bill concentrates on advising corporations, foundations, endowments, and high net worth individuals on strategies for managing their assets. Bill has worked with Merrill Lynch clients for 17 years following a prior career serving two Presidents within the U.S. Treasury in Washington, D.C. Bill graduated with honors from the University of Notre Dame and studied law at the University of Michigan. He earned his Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA) designation through the Investment Management Consultants Association in conjunction with the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

Scott D. Bernecker, CFP®, CIMA®, CFM, First Vice President-Investments - A graduate of Michigan State University, Scott joined Merrill Lynch in 1997 as a Financial Planning Specialist. He provides Total Wealth Management to individuals, families and corporate clients. In addition to his asset management skills, he specializes in financial, retirement and estate planning. He earned his Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA) designation through the Investment Management Consultants Association in conjunction with the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. His CFP® certification was awarded by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc.

David C. Whitford, CFP®, CIMA® - Dave is an Assistant Vice President with Merrill Lynch’s Global Wealth Management. He concentrates on the retirement, financial, and estate planning needs of high net worth families and individuals. He joined Merrill Lynch in 1996 after a 15 year career in television. He graduated from the Engineering College at the University of Michigan. He is a CFP certificant, a designation awarded by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. and also earned his Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA) designation through the Investment Management Consultants Association in conjunction with the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

Kurt Hazlewood, Assistant Vice President, Senior Investment Associate - Kurt joined Merrill Lynch in 1996. He is in charge of the team’s client relationship management for the private family office and institutional consulting relationships. He coordinates the group’s complex operational affairs with investment managers, outside custodians and within Merrill Lynch itself. He also assists in the management of the team’s corporate retirement plans. He graduated in 1996 with a BBA from Grand Valley State University and continued his education by earning an MBA from the same institution in 2003.

Gregory Bosch, a Registered Client Associate, joined Merrill Lynch in 2006. He focuses on assisting the team's investment professionals in meeting client needs by monitoring and researching current and potential investment options for the group. His areas of emphasis are working with high net worth families and family offices, endowments, foundations, institutes, pensions and hospitals. Greg has completed level III of the CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst). He obtained a BSE from Grand Valley State University in 1995 and a MBA from Western Michigan University in 1999.