Local Merrill Lynch advisors recognized in annual rankings

Six Merrill Lynch wealth advisors based in the Chicago area were named recently as top advisors by Barron's, Financial Times and Forbes.

• Chris Garrity, Managing Director and Senior Financial Advisor, was named as a Financial Times "Top 400 Advisor" and a Barron's "Top 1,200 Financial Advisor." Garrity joined Merrill Lynch in 1985 and provides customized advice and guidance to clients related to a range of wealth management services. He received his Certified Portfolio Manager designation from the Academy of Certified Portfolio Managers through Columbia University and graduated from the University of Illinois with a BS in Finance. He lives in Lake Forest.

• John "Jack" Hammond, Managing Director and Wealth Management Advisor, was named as a Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Advisor," a Barron's "Top 1,200 Financial Advisor" and a Financial Times "Top 400 Financial Advisor." Hammond joined Merrill Lynch in 2002 and holds the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) designation and earned the Certified Financial Planner and Certified Investment Management Analyst designations. He received a bachelor's degree in finance from Fairfield University in Fairfield, Connecticut.He lives with his family in Winnetka.

• Thomas Kilborn, Managing Director and Wealth Management Advisor, was named as a Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Advisor" and a Barron's "Top 1,200 Financial Advisor." Kilbourn has been providing financial and wealth management strategies at Merrill Lynch since 1983. As The Kilborn Group's Team Leader, He earned a Bachelor's degree from Southern Methodist University. Kilborn and his wife Katy live in Winnetka with their children, Courtney, Grace and Charlie.

• Benjamin Klein, Managing Director and Wealth Management Advisor (CFP, CRPC), was named as a Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Advisor" and a Barron's "Top 1,200 Financial Advisor." He joined Merrill Lynch in 2002 and helps craft customized wealth management strategies designed to address each client's short-term needs and long-term goals. He holds the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor designation and the Certified Financial Planner certification. Klein received a bachelor's degree in communications from the University of Wisconsin at Madison. He and his wife, Michelle, and their two children make their home in the Chicagoland area.

• Steven K. Porter, Managing Director and Wealth Management Advisor, was named as a Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Advisor" and a Barron's "Top 1,200 Financial Advisor." Steve began his career with Merrill Lynch in 1982 giving him extensive experience with high-net-worth individuals, families, and businesses. Steven holds the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor designation and is a qualified Portfolio Advisor.

• Dave Sheppard, Managing Director and Wealth Management Advisor, was named as a Barron's "Top 1,200 Financial Advisor." Dave joined Merrill Lynch in 1971 and has more than four decades of experience managing portfolios and providing wealth management guidance. He holds the Certified Investment Management Analyst designation, granted by the Investments & Wealth Institute. Sheppard earned a bachelor's degree in Finance and Economics from the University of Illinois. He lives with his wife Linda in Palatine and have two grown children.