Edythe M. De Marco | Wealth-management adviser, The De Marco Group, Merrill Lynch Bank of America
1. How does it feel to be named to the Barron’s “Top 100 Women Financial Advisers” list? As the only Rhode Island adviser on the list, I feel honored to be in such exclusive company. … I’m grateful to have built my career at Merrill Lynch, one of the greatest financial-services firms in the world, and for the support of my director, Gary Hernandez, who has been one of my biggest advocates. I also owe a lot to my talented and dedicated team and, of course, to my clients.
2. Can you tell our readers a little bit about your professional career? I grew up in Los Angeles, attended Santa Clara University, moved to Rhode Island in 1981, just after graduation, and started at Merrill Lynch that fall. … I brought on my business partner, Brendan McCarthy, in 2004, and we both earned our certified financial planner designations. Because of the success we had in helping people achieve their financial goals, our business tripled in 10 years. We now have eight people on our team and our clients have become our best advocates.
3. What makes your approach to wealth management unique? Our mission is to have a meaningful and lasting impact on the lives of the families we serve and to help them live the best life possible with the resources they have. Research tells us that many investors fall victim to their own emotions when buying and selling in both bull and bear markets, which can hinder long-term performance. We practice values and goals-based wealth management, which involves discipline, rebalancing, performance measurement, tax-efficient investing and philanthropic strategies.
4. What financial issues beyond the marketplace most interest you? How to pay for a college education is a topic of great interest to me. Families and schools could be doing a better job helping students understand the financial realities of the cost of college, the return on investment in terms of the majors they choose and the adverse impact that giant loans can have on both parents and students.
5. How are you working to solve those issues? My current focus is on helping 20-somethings make good decisions for themselves. It’s a defining decade as they decide on careers, life partners, new homes and how to make their way in the world.
