Blue Chip Branding & Headshots Client Mary Miller Fazio Featured in Brookfield Women’s Club Magazine | November 2023 | Roswell, GA

I’m excited to share the spotlight feature of client and friend Mary Miller Fazio, which appeared in the November 2023 edition of The Official Newsletter of the BCC Homeowner’s Association & Brookfield Women’s Club.

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The Entrepreneurs of Brookfield Women’s Club

The BWC’s members have many and varied talents. Some are dancers, singers,and public speakers, while others excel in using international languages,preparing gourmet dishes, creating memorable works of art, growing gorgeous flowers, playing well at sports, and maintaining rewarding, long-term friendships – to name only a handful of their abilities. And many BWC women also own their businesses. This month we’re focusing on a woman who has succeeded in financial planning.

Mary Miller Fazio, CFP®, CDFA®

Looking back on my youth, I seem to have become an entrepreneur from the start,” Mary Fazio said. “Through school and sports, I was always doing something to raise money – selling candy, submarine sandwiches, cheesecakes. I also loved the subject of math because I could arrive at a definitive answer every time. During my years at The School of Management at Boston College, my studies included accounting, finance and marketing.”*

Mary’s talent with numbers and her degree in accounting led her to Wall Street in New York City. She worked there for 25 years before moving to Roswell in 2020, during the pandemic.

“My husband’s family moved to this area in the late 1980s, and my husband, Adam, attended Wheeler High School in Marietta. His sister’s family now lives in Marietta, and his parents live in Canton, so we see each other frequently. We really love Roswell with its great schools and vibrant community.”

Mary is now a Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, where she manages her own book of business, helping individuals and families plan their financial goals. Mary explained that “starting over in a new region, at a new firm, during the pandemic was certainly a challenge. But I am surrounded with collaborative business partners and extensive resources here. Merrill is owned by Bank of America, so we can support individuals and businesses with the investment insights of Merrill and the banking convenience of Bank of America.”

Mary’s more than a quarter-century of experience in finance is supplemented with her holding the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification, and she is a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® professional.

Mary knows first-hand the importance of financial planning. “Sadly, when my parents became ill and passed in recent years after living very full lives, my knowledge and experience helped me and my two siblings plan how we were going to settle our parents’ estate, which gave us comfort through our grief,” she said. “We were able to honor our parents’ wishes and enjoy our time with them, knowing everything was in order.”

“An important part of my work is helping clients with life transitions, such as preparing for retirement or taking control of their finances after a divorce, or the death of a spouse,” Mary said. “In an emotional time, people often need a financial expert to help value an estate and to make sure everything in their financial lives is being considered.”

In some families, one person usually makes a majority of the financial decisions, and the other family members can be left without as much knowledge regarding planning and investing. “For example,” Mary said, “a $100,000 Traditional IRA and a $100,000 cash account may look equal in value. However, the IRA figure still needs to be adjusted regarding future taxes -- so the two amounts are not as equal as they may seem.”

“I enjoy seeing my clients approach the next phase of their financial lives with confidence,” she said. “Together we create a personal wealth analysis customized specifically to bring about a secure feeling regarding their finances.” That analysis includes reviewing short- and long-term goals, and if any adjustments should be considered in spending and investing behaviors to pursue those goals.

Financial planning is built on trust. “Trust takes time to earn,” Mary said. “My clients feel comfortable with me as we have open, productive conversations about money and investing. They need to be able to trust that I’m not only competent, but also will keep personal matters private. My client relationships often begin with, or result in, friendships.”

Mary networks with women at different stages of their lives through the Roswell Women’s Club, the Brookfield Women’s Club, and more broadly with the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce (GNFCC). Chosen as one of 36 professionals in this year’s “GNFCC Leadership North Fulton” Program, Mary will participate in a 10-month program in meeting leaders in government, business, and non-profit organizations to learn more about the region’s economic drivers, and will contribute her perspective on key issues.

Mary pairs her business with an active lifestyle that includes tennis and group fitness classes. And she enjoys spending time with her husband, two teenage boys, and their Labrador Retriever.

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Please note: Mary does not provide accounting services or advice in her role at Merrill. CFP Board owns the marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, and CFP® (with plaque design) in the U.S. CDFA® and Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® are trademarks of The Institute for Divorce Financial Analysts™

Investing involves risk. Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (also referred to as “MLPF&S” or “Merrill”) makes available certain investment products sponsored, managed, distributed or provided by companies that are affiliates of Bank of America Corporation (“BofA Corp.”). MLPF&S is a registered brokerdealer, registered investment adviser, Member SIPC, and a wholly owned subsidiary of BofA Corp.