PROFESSIONAL PROFILE

Vannatta Group helps people make the best decisions. We consider your whole life before making any recommendations, taking the time to fully understand who you are and what matters most to you. We initiate our planning-based discussion around your financial needs, your short and long-term objectives, your time horizons and your risk tolerance. By customizing a wealth management plan for you, we are looking to maximize your potential for achieving your financial goals. Along with our team of internal specialilst, we work closely with your other trusted advisors, including attorneys and accountants, to address tax, trust, philanthropic and estate planning issues, and truly become an essential partner.

Vannatta Group works in partnership with the MP Group, to guide business owners through all stages of the business cycle, from start-up to maturity, by providing strategies for cash management, group benefit plans, short and long term financing, and ultimately succession planning. Business owners have unique needs to defer income for themselves and their employees, and our offerings enable them to select the best combination of plans.

Paul Vannatta has been a Financial Advisor for 16 years, joining Merrill Lynch in 1997. Paul holds the designation of Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor. He graduated from Penn State University with a B.S. in Finance and studied International Business & Economics at Cologne University, Germany. Paul was recently Chair for the Susan G. Komen Lowcountry Race for the Cure. Also, he is a Advisory Board Member for the Charleston Stage Company. Paul lives in Mount Pleasant with his wife Jenn and twin children, Gianna & Anthony.

Prior to joining Merrill Lynch in 2006, Courtney Zalinski worked in Manhattan for five years, first as an Investment Banking Analyst followed by three years in Institutional Equity Research & Trading. She is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she was Captain of the Varsity Tennis Team. Courtney lives in Mount Pleasant where she still enjoys playing tennis competitively and is also an active volunteer for many organizations in the community.

Kathi McDermott has worked in the financial services industry since 1996 and joined Merrill Lynch in 1998. She has experience owning her own business and running a Non-Profit organization. Kathi handles all your administrative needs such as checking, web bill pay, wire transfers and any statement or account balance information. She will also assist you with the opening of your accounts, scheduling meetings and will be there to answer your questions. Kathi has a son Jaime who is a student at Carnegie Mellon and also has two daughters, Morgan and Amanda who live in California and Florida respectively. Kathi lives in Mt. Pleasant and volunteers with the Guardian ad Litem program and Feline Freedom Coalition which is a rescue organization for cats.

Ryan Shaw is a graduate of The College of Charleston with a B.S. in Accounting and a B.A. in Business Administration. He joined Merrill Lynch Global Wealth Management after several years of success as a Top 200 associate and President’s Club member with Prudential Financial. Ryan is a Charleston, SC native who enjoys playing competitive golf and supporting local youth soccer. He lives in and is an active member of Coosaw Creek Country Club, where Ryan serves on several committees.

Laura Brisson and Kelly King serve as the team's Wealth Management Bankers. With over 20 years of combined experience, they help our client with all of their private banking and lending needs.

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