Robert Bestwick is a highly regarded wealth manager with over four decades of experience spanning investment banking and wealth management. As a key member of one of the top wealth management teams in the U.S., Robert provides strategic financial guidance to a select group of private business owners, C-suite executives, and hedge fund and private equity partners, many of whom have entrusted him for years with their financial lives. His focus lies in organizing and optimizing clients’ wealth, particularly in preparation for liquidity events, helping to ensure seamless transitions and post-monetization strategies aligned with their long-term financial goals. Collaborating closely with Merrill’s Wealth Strategies team, he helps clients structure transactions to maximize opportunities under current gift, estate, and generation-skipping transfer tax regulations. Robert assists clients with connectivity to the Bank’s institutional services such as M&A Advisory, Capital Markets, and the Private Sales Referral Network when clients are contemplating their strategic alternatives for their business.

Before joining Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in 2015, Robert was a Director at Barclays Wealth and Investment Management for seven years. He launched his wealth management career in 2002 at Lehman Brothers Private Client Services. Prior to that, he spent over 15 years as an investment banker, focusing on M&A advisory and private placements of debt and equity across diverse industries. He led the M&A department at Mitsubishi Trust and Banking’s New York branch and was a Managing Director at Wm Sword & Company, an international investment banking firm focused on middle market private companies and M&A and private capital raises.

Robert holds the prestigious Certified Private Wealth Advisor® and Retirement Management Advisor® designations from the Investments & Wealth Institute® and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Colgate University. He also holds an MBA in Finance and International Business from Syracuse University, where he was a member of Beta Gamma Sigma, the international business honor society. Robert has also passed the Private Wealth Advisor accreditation at Merrill.

An avid outdoorsman, Robert enjoys fly fishing, cycling, hiking, and sailing. A long-time resident of Princeton, New Jersey, he is the proud father of two daughters, both University of Arizona alumni.

*Merrill, its affiliates, and financial advisors do not provide legal, tax, or accounting advice. You should consult your legal and/or tax advisors before making any financial decisions.

Investments & Wealth Institute® (the Institute) is the owner of the certification marks “RMA,” and “Retirement Management Advisor.” Use of RMA, and/or Retirement Management Advisor indicates that the user has successfully completed the Institute’s initial and ongoing credentialing requirements for investment management professionals.

Investments & Wealth Institute™ (The Institute) is the owner of the certification marks CPWA® and Certified Private Wealth Advisor®. Use of CPWA®, and/or Certified Private Wealth Advisor® signifies that the user has successfully completed the Institute’s initial and ongoing credentialing requirements for wealth advisors.

Robert Bestwick is registered to do business in AK, AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, PR, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VI, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY.