PROFESSIONAL PROFILE

Scott MacDonald is a Vice President and Certified Special Needs Advisor. He has over 23 years of experience, joining Merrill Lynch in 1987. He was a special consultant of Special Needs Trusts: Planning, Drafting, and Administration through the California Continuing Education of the Bar and has lectured extensively for various Bar Associations, the National Guardianship Association and the Professional Fiduciary Association of California. He has been extensively involved with the Downs Syndrome Institute, Autism Speaks, Society for Handicapped Children and Adults, Parents Helping Parents, Support for Families, and the ARC of San Francisco. Scott was an honors graduate of the California State University – Chico in both Finance and Economics. Scott and his wife Meredith live in Modesto, California with their four children.

Brian Fox is a 1st Vice President-Investments, Certified Special Needs Advisor and Accredited Retirement Plan Consultant. He has more than 26 years of experience providing wealth management advice and is a recipient of the prestigious Sacramento Magazine's Five Star Advisor Award. A graduate of St. Mary's College, Brian joined Merrill Lynch in 1988. Previously, he spent 4 years with Kidder, Peabody as a Financial Advisor. He formulates investment policy for the group and manages individual and corporate relationships. He specializes in Business Financial Services, professional money management, fixed income and estate planning issues. Brian is also a Portfolio Manager in the Personal Investment Advisory Program. Brian lives in Granite Bay, California with his wife and two daughters. All are active members of Bayside Church and youth sports programs.

John Schoeppach is a Vice President, Resident Director, Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor and Accredited Retirement Plan Consultant. He has more than 18 years of experience providing financial and wealth management advice and services. A graduate of the United States Military Academy, West Point and Retired Army Lieutenant Colonel, John joined Merrill Lynch in 1991 coming from the 82nd Airborne Division. As a Portfolio Manager in the Personal Investment Advisory Program, John specializes in individual equity, option and ETF strategies, strategic wealth management and special needs planning, mortgage services, business retirement plans and financing and business development. John serves on the Folsom Rotary Foundation Board, Shoulder To Shoulder Board and the Financial Advisory Committee to the Entrepreneur’s Foundation of the Capital Region Board. John lives on a Ranch in Lincoln with his wife Anita and 2 daughters.

MERRILL LYNCH FIDUCIARY SERVICES GROUP

Our team serves many fiduciaries across California. We provide a turnkey service for professional or family fiduciaries to promote the holistic well being of the trust beneficiary or conservatee. We are proficient in the specialized legal restrictions and court accounting procedures particular to fiduciary investing. We are well versed in the Uniform Prudent Investor Act and California Probate Code.

We focus on improving the financial well being of individuals of special need regardless of their age or disability. We advocate a collaborative approach to Wealth Management by drawing upon an extensive network of multi-disciplined professionals and advocates to help our clients attain financial success. We seek to promote understanding of the special needs community and to improve the self reliance of special needs persons, their families and caregivers.

We provide a full suite of corporate trustee services through Merrill Lynch Trust Company (MLTC), one of the largest providers of trust services in the United States. MLTC can act as trustee or co-trustee to provide full trust administration and fiduciary investment management services.

Alternatively, we can provide professional or family trustees with a variety of agency services, including financial planning, principal and income accounting, bill payment, distribution and valuation assistance, charitable trust administrative services, fiduciary income tax preparation and fiduciary guidance.

To learn more about how Merrill Lynch is helping to meet the financial needs of families of children with disabilities, visit the section of TotalMerrill.com