A $6 Billion Merrill Wealth Manager Urges A Slow And Simple Approach

1. Meet Alyssa Moeder: A Seasoned Wealth Manager with a Passion for Precision

Alyssa Moeder is a distinguished name in the world of private wealth management, currently serving as a key figure at Merrill Private Wealth Management in New York, NY. With a career spanning over two decades, Alyssa has carved out a reputation for her meticulous approach to managing wealth. Her journey began in public accounting after graduating from Marist College, where her early exposure to financial services clients sparked her interest in the field. Over the years, she transitioned from public accounting to private banking and capital markets before joining Merrill 23 years ago. “I’ve always been a numbers person,” she reflects, attributing her love for precision as the driving force behind her successful career. Today, she leads a team of eight dedicated professionals who collectively manage $5.9 billion in custodied assets for approximately 100 client households. Among these clients, many are women and first-generation wealth creators, including business owners and corporate executives. Alyssa’s team specializes in working with multi-jurisdictional families, ensuring that their financial needs are met across diverse locations and legal frameworks.

2. Alyssa’s Competitive Edge: Simplifying Wealth Management

Alyssa Moeder’s approach to wealth management is rooted in her ability to act as a “quarterback” for her clients, coordinating seamlessly with their estate planners, attorneys, and other advisors. This holistic approach is a cornerstone of her competitive edge. “Being that quarterback and coordinating with all their other advisors—estate planners, attorneys—is one of our advantages,” she explains. Her focus on managing risk and avoiding unnecessary complexity resonates deeply with her clients. “We don’t do a lot of complicated things, which our clients appreciate,” she adds. Alyssa’s philosophy is centered on balancing potential returns with risk mitigation. “Our clients are comfortable giving up some potential upside returns in order to limit drawdowns over time,” she notes. This pragmatic approach has earned her a loyal client base, particularly among those who value stability and clarity in their financial strategies.

3. Alyssa’s Investment Philosophy: Tailored Strategies for Long-Term Success

At the heart of Alyssa’s investment approach is a commitment to preserving and growing her clients’ wealth through customized portfolios. “Many clients are looking to us to preserve the wealth they have accumulated—not hit home runs,” she remarks. Her strategies are designed with this goal in mind, prioritizing asset allocation as the primary driver of risk and return. On the equity side, Alyssa prefers separately managed accounts where it makes sense, as they allow for tax loss harvesting and tend to be more cost-effective. For fixed income, her team employs a diversified blend of Treasuries, mutual funds, and separately managed accounts to ensure a balanced approach. Alternatives are also incorporated to tap into long-term themes such as artificial intelligence (AI) and infrastructure. However, Alyssa emphasizes the importance of disciplined portfolio rebalancing to maintain alignment with client objectives. This structured yet flexible approach ensures that her clients’ investments remain resilient in evolving market conditions.

4. Alyssa’s Outlook on the Market: Optimism with a Focus on the Future

Looking ahead, Alyssa remains optimistic about the equity market’s potential, particularly in the context of her long-term perspective. “If we take a non day-to-day view, we think overall, the equity market still has the ability to provide positive returns in 2025,” she shares. She expects strong U.S. corporate earnings to persist, alongside a broadening of the market to include a wider range of companies contributing to performance. Alyssa is particularly enthusiastic about the early impact of AI innovation, which she believes will play a pivotal role in reshaping industries. She also anticipates a shift away from the market’s recent reliance on a few dominant stocks, signaling a more diversified landscape ahead. When it comes to fixed income, Alyssa points out that the past few years have marked a turning point. “The past few years have been the first time in a long time that we can say clients are getting compensated to have fixed income in their portfolios,” she observes, highlighting the renewed attractiveness of this asset class.

5. Alyssa’s Best Advice: Staying Focused on the Long Term

In a world where news cycles move at lightning speed and social media amplifies market noise, Alyssa’s advice to her clients is timeless: stay calm, stay disciplined, and keep your eyes on the horizon. “Not reacting too quickly to news and making sure you are focused on the longer term is very important, especially in this social media, easy-to-get information age,” she advises. This wisdom is born from decades of experience navigating market ups and downs. By maintaining a steady hand and avoiding impulsive decisions, Alyssa believes her clients can achieve their financial goals while weathering short-term volatility. Her emphasis on patience and persistence underscores the importance of a well-thought-out financial plan—one that is tailored to individual circumstances and designed to endure through changing times.

6. Alyssa Moeder: A Leader with a Personal Touch

Beyond her professional accomplishments, Alyssa Moeder’s success is also defined by her ability to connect with her clients on a personal level. Her dedication to understanding their unique needs, values, and aspirations is evident in the way she structures her team and approaches wealth management. Whether she’s working with multi-jurisdictional families, first-generation wealth creators, or business owners, Alyssa’s commitment to delivering personalized solutions remains unwavering. Her team’s ability to simplify complex financial decisions and provide clarity in uncertain times has earned her a reputation as a trusted partner and a leader in her field. Alyssa Moeder’s story is one of precision, prudence, and a deep commitment to her clients—a testament to the power of disciplined wealth management in achieving long-term financial success.