July 8, 2021
By Jake Martin

As two Merrill Lynch veterans left to launch their own registered investment advisory firm, the wirehouse hired a pair of JPMorgan Chase Private Client Advisors into its Accelerated Growth Program, underscoring the brokerage’s continued focus on cultivating early-career and novice brokers.

The ex-Merrill duo had managed a combined $441 million when it left the wirehouse last month to start their new firm, Kickstand Wealth Advisors, in Pittsford, New York, according to a Wednesday announcement.

The newly-minted investment advisors, Chad W. Goodchild and Jacob W. Schlict, had spent their respective 19-year and 12-year careers with Merrill and let their brokerage licenses lapse to make the June 18 move, according to registration records.

Goodchild, who ranked 99th on Forbes’ 2021 list of “Best-in-State” wealth advisors, and Schlict, who ranked 115th on Forbes’ 2019 list of “Best-in-State” next-generation advisors, did not respond to requests for comment.

“By going independent, we can choose the best options for the clients we serve and have the freedom to explore new ideas and innovations,” Schlict had said in a prepared statement.

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