Bert joined Merrill Lynch after earning a degree from Washington & Lee University in 1983. With 36 years in the financial industry, Bert focuses on developing tailored strategies to help a select group of high-net-worth families pursue their financial & wealth management goals. Bert is one of two partners on the Ponder, Jowers& Associates team. Their team of eight experienced professionals provide financial advice and guidance to wealthy clients and their families in all areas of wealth management which include: asset management, credit and lending, trust and estate planning, and philanthropic strategies.
Bert was named to Forbes ‘”Best-in-State Wealth Advisors” list as published in the February 2019 issue of Forbes. Bert has also been named to Barron’s “Top 1,200 Financial Advisors” list from 2008 to 2019.
Bert is an active member of the Atlanta community and works with many charitable organizations including, Executives for Egleston/ Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Washington & Lee Atlanta Alumni Board and Chairman of the Annual Fund, Northside Methodist Church Finance Committee, Boy Scouts of America, Atlanta Junior Golf Association, The First Tee at East Lake, and Fugees Academy Board of Directors. In addition to Bert’s charitable works, he was the 2018 recipient of the Greater Good Award from the Georgia Planned Giving Council, which recognizes exemplary service by Georgia’s charitable advisors.
Rod is a Managing Director, Private Wealth Advisor in the Atlanta/Buckhead office. Rod has over 40 years of wealth management experience; the entire tenure with Merrill Lynch. He is focused on servicing the complete needs of current and former private business owners and their families.
Rod has built a team of over 15 professionals to offer meaningful advice in the fields of portfolio development, pre- and post- transaction advice, estate planning services, family legacy planning, philanthropic planning, and access to structured credit through Bank of America. He is a frequent guest speaker for Merrill Lynch in offices across the nation. Rod has been recognized as a top Advisor in several industry publications:
- Barron’s - #1 Advisor in Georgia for last 9 Years & national “Top 100 Financial Advisors” for last 11 years
- Forbes - Top 10 Advisor on “Top Wealth Advisors List” in 2016, 2017, 2018 & 2019
- Financial Times - “Top 400 Financial Advisors” for each of the last 5 Years
Rod serves on the board of the Atlanta Chamber Players. He fundraises for the Atlanta Boy Choir and is in the Director’s Circle at the High Museum of Art, where he is actively involved in the Annual Wine Auction. Additionally, Rod belongs to Capital City Club, Sea Island Country Club, and Atlanta Tastevin.
Rod served in the US Navy for five years as a Supply Corps Officer after graduating from the Georgia Institute of Technology on an ROTC scholarship.
Merrill Lynch Wealth Management
Merrill Lynch is a leading provider of comprehensive wealth management and investment services for individuals and businesses globally. With 14,796 financial advisors and $2.1 trillion in client balances as of December 31, 2018, it is among the largest businesses of its kind in the world. Bank of America Corporation, through its subsidiaries, specializes in goals-based wealth management, including planning for retirement, education, legacy, and other life goals through investment, cash and credit management. Within Merrill Lynch, the Private Banking and Investment Group focuses on the unique and personalized needs of wealthy individuals, families and their businesses. These clients are served by approximately 200 highly specialized private wealth advisor teams, along with experts in areas such as investment management, concentrated stock management and intergenerational wealth transfer strategies. Merrill Lynch is part of Bank of America Corporation.
