A managing director of investments at Merrill Lynch, Keefe Gorman leads an experienced team of financial professionals. Demonstrating a strong work ethic at Merrill Lynch, Keefe Gorman has been recognized several times as a leading financial professional and has been named to Barron’s magazine Top 100 Advisors several times.

Once you've decided that it’s a good time to find a financial advisor, a good place to start your search is checking for specific designations and qualifications. There are three main designations that can help narrow down your search significantly: Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charter holder, Certified Financial Planner (CFP), and Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC). Additionally, check for any regulatory exams, such as Series 6 or 7 regulations, that a professional has completed along with the services they offer and how much experience they have dealing with areas specific to your situation.

After you find an advisor that meets your technical specifications, asking them about their personal approach to financial planning and the type of clients they usually help provides you with some additional background. Not every financial planner will have a philosophy that aligns with your own, nor will they always be used to working certain financial situations or asset levels. The final step to selecting an appropriate advisor is to start discussing the logistics of their services, including how your advisor will be paid and whether they offer any packages or comprehensive planning options that may better suit your needs.                             

With expertise in wealth management and financial planning, Keefe Gorman serves as a managing director with Merrill Lynch in New York. Outside of his professional endeavors at Merrill Lynch, Keefe Gorman enjoys competitive skiing and remains active with a number of related organizations, including the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA).

Among its many programs, the USSA maintains SkillsQuest, a component of the Alpine Training System (ATS) that is intended to facilitate skills development and reward junior athletes who improve in the ATS’s core areas of focus. Through the SkillsQuest journey, USSA helps skiers realize success by ensuring that they concentrate on and develop the skills necessary to become a top ski racer. The program covers a wide range of competencies and supporting activities, such as conditioning, tactics and technique, equipment preparation, racer management, and performance psychology.

USSA explains that SkillsQuest is especially effective because it incorporates specific activities designed for racers in each ATS development phase. To monitor progress, the program also includes a SkillsQuest Skiing Skills Assessment and a SkillsQuest Conditioning Assessment for the off-season.