PROFESSIONAL PROFILE

Denise Mersinger is a Vice President with over 30 years of experience in the financial services-most of it providing banking solutions to clients. Denise joined Merrill Lynch in 2001, after serving as Regional Sales manager at Bank of America for the Baltimore North Region, responsible for 41 branch offices. Today, she guides clients with their corporate retirement benfits, designs wealth management strategies, provides financial planning, investment manager selections and serves families of children with disabilities as a CSNA- Certified Special needs Advisor. She holds a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certificate, awarded by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc as well as a CRPC®-Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor. Denise graduated from University of Maryland with a Bachelor's degree in Finance. Denise lives in Westminster, MD with her husband, Eric, and her three sons, where she is very active in the community as a basketball coach for St. Johns, Chair of Carroll County Academy of Finance, AVRHOA Community Association, MBRT-Md Business Roundtable for Education and BNI-Business Networking Inc.

Denise is a partner of the Mersinger Murray Group.

For years, Mersinger Murray has delivered a broad scope of highly personalized wealth management services for what it calls affluent “down-to-earth” clients – both individuals and business owners. Today, as the team’s reputation has grown, Mersinger Murray also serves second-generation clients and colleagues, along with a number of high-net-worth foreign nationals living in the United States.

Denise, Kikko and Steve work hand-in-hand with dentists, physicians, veterinarians, psychiatrists, corporate executives, retirees, law firms and others. Together, the team answers their long-term investment needs and everyday challenges – arranging for mortgages and home equity loans, streamlining cash management, designing and administering 401 (K) plans, assisting with commercial real estate acquisitions and more.

With referrals coming from certified public accountants and others, Mersinger Murray clients include many seniors – specifically, recently divorced and widowed women who appreciate the team’s strong ability to “walk them through” next steps – prioritizing and organizing their financial lives to optimize their level of comfort and peace of mind.

To protect client assets and provide income streams in retirement, for example, “trendy” investments and their inherent risks are avoided. Instead, matters are kept simple for clients, with investments managed and explained in ways clients can understand. Utilizing the unsurpassed research and resources of Merrill Lynch, portfolios may include equities, bonds, ETFs, mutual funds and, for the most conservative investors, annuities. Frequently, a ladder of bonds is created internally, rather than have a client incur the added cost of using an outside manager.

For individuals and families – many, who’ve never had a financial advisor – Denise’s familiarity with their circumstances and her proactive work ethic are of great value. Often, she reminds clients to fund a 529 savings plan, consider a lower mortgage rate or a new bond issue, or confirms before selling a recently-downgraded stock. In turn, clients call Denise – for advice on buying vs. leasing, the affordability of a large purchase, or the best way to finance it.

For multi-national clients, Kikko provides a world of insights on: optimizing a firm’s cash management, estate questions raised by marrying Americans, corporate tax issues, and opportunities for wealth transfer by using company stock. Fluent in Japanese and conversational Mandarin, Kikko advises C-suite executives on their company’s retirement plan, for example, while Denise works with employees.

Having spent much of their careers in banking and commercial lending, the team is resourceful in accessing solutions that meet the needs of pre-retirees, retirees and business owners – on both sides of their balance sheets. In all cases, Mersinger Murray takes great pride in seeing clients meet challenges, achieve milestones and prosper.

Kikko Okajima Murray
Wealth Management Advisor, CFP®, CRPC®

Kikko has spent more than 25 years in the financial services industries of Japan, Singapore and the United States. Her diverse experiences in international banking, commercial lending and investing are of special benefit to her foreign clients.

With an extensive knowledge of corporate retirement plans and the complex issues facing international investors, Kikko specializes in tax and estate planning strategies for non-US citizens living in the United States and non-resident clients. She also serves a number of Japanese companies that, together, have offices in 12 states – administering their 401 (k) plans and handling other responsibilities.

Prior to joining Merrill Lynch, Kikko’s international banking career took her to Chemical Bank, Kokusai Securities, M&T Bank and Riggs Bank. Kikko is a graduate of Waseda University in Tokyo, where she was a player and an assistant coach for the Japan Women's National soccer team in the 1980's. Today, Kikko lives with her husband, Andy and their two children in Ruxton, where she is a soccer coach in recreational leagues and Chair of Kanagawa – Maryland Sister State Executive Committee, and on the Women’s Board of The John Hopkins Hospital.

Steve Mersinger, CSNA
Financial Advisor

A valuable asset to Mersinger Murray clients, Steve conducts research on individual investments, including equities, fixed income products, mutual funds and more. In addition to exploring market opportunities and monitoring performance, he collaborates with the team’s financial planners and recommends, for example, when a client’s positions might be adjusted.

Steve is a Certified Special Needs Advisor, enabling him to build a portfolio that fit a family’s situation. He is also proud to meet with “the next generation” of the team’s clients – to discuss the markets, ways to begin investing and solutions for meeting their financial challenges.

Steve joined Merrill Lynch after an incredible collegiate career, both academically and athletically. He graduated from York College of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with minors in Finance and Marketing. There, he played four years of lacrosse where he was a unanimous team captain selection for three straight seasons. Steve also became York College’s first All-American lacrosse player and was recognized nationally as a Scholar All-American.