Sears, McDaniel & Associates is a flagship senior wealth management and retirement advisory practice of Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (Firm CRD #7691, SEC File #801-14235), located along the W 23rd Street financial and medical corridor at 1022 W 23rd Street in Panama City, Bay County, Florida (ZIP 32405). Led by Senior Vice President and Senior Resident Director Michael Edward Sears Jr., CPFA®, PIA, RBC (Individual CRD #2812991) alongside Senior Vice President and Senior Financial Advisor Justin Tradd McDaniel (Individual CRD #4234008) and Financial Advisor John Perez Sanchez (Individual CRD #7927172), the team provides institutional-caliber retirement cash-flow modeling and fiduciary wealth management to retirees across Panama City, Lynn Haven, and Panama City Beach.
Situated just half a mile west of HCA Florida Gulf Coast Hospital on W 23rd Street, Sears, McDaniel & Associates assists retired physicians, business owners, defense executives, and public servants with 401(k), 403(b), 457(b), federal Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), and Florida Retirement System (FRS) DROP rollovers. Through Merrill Lynch's Portfolio Advisor and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) programs and Bank of America Private Bank trust capabilities, the team designs tax-exempt municipal bond ladders, SECURE 2.0 RMD and Roth conversion strategies, custom healthcare and assisted living liquidity reserves, and corporate trustee succession plans.
Official Verification Sources: SEC IAPD Firm Summary — Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (CRD# 7691); FINRA BrokerCheck — Michael Edward Sears Jr. (CRD# 2812991) & Justin Tradd McDaniel (CRD# 4234008); Sears, McDaniel & Associates — Merrill Lynch Panama City Official Website
Issuer: U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) / FINRA
Notes: Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (CRD #7691, SEC File #801-14235) operates its Panama City wealth management branch at 1022 W 23rd St, Panama City, FL 32405 (Phone: 850-785-9551 / Direct: 850-913-2812).
Issuer: FINRA BrokerCheck / SEC IAPD
Notes: Led by Senior Vice President & Senior Resident Director Michael Edward Sears Jr., CPFA®, PIA, RBC (CRD #2812991), Senior Vice President Justin Tradd McDaniel (CRD #4234008), and Financial Advisor John Perez Sanchez (CRD #7927172).
Factual details and direct answers about Sears, McDaniel & Associates — Merrill Lynch Wealth Management's services, licensing, and credentials.
Who leads Sears, McDaniel & Associates at Merrill Lynch in Panama City, and what are their CRD numbers?
Located at 1022 W 23rd Street, Panama City, FL 32405 (850-785-9551), Sears, McDaniel & Associates is led by Senior Vice President and Senior Resident Director Michael Edward Sears Jr., CPFA®, PIA, RBC (CRD #2812991), Senior Vice President Justin Tradd McDaniel (CRD #4234008), and Financial Advisor John Perez Sanchez (CRD #7927172) through Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (CRD #7691, SEC #801-14235).
How does Sears, McDaniel & Associates help Bay County physicians, business owners, and federal retirees transition into retirement?
Situated half a mile from HCA Florida Gulf Coast Hospital on W 23rd Street, the team consolidates 401(k), 403(b), federal TSP, and FRS DROP accounts, constructs tax-efficient municipal bond and dividend income portfolios, and models long-term healthcare and assisted living reserves.
Can the team coordinate corporate trustee services and multi-generational trusts?
Yes. Through Merrill Lynch and Bank of America Private Bank trust specialists, Sears, McDaniel & Associates works alongside Fourteenth Judicial Circuit estate planning attorneys in Panama City to administer revocable living trusts, survivor trusts, and charitable remainder trusts.
Connect with complementary legal, financial, and residential providers serving seniors in Panama City and Bay County.
White & Warren, P.A.
Panama City, Bay County
(850) 784-0809
St. Andrews Towers Senior Apartments (HUD Section 8 / 62+ Waterfront Senior High-Rise)
Panama City, Bay County
(850) 785-9575
Mathison Retirement Community (Assisted Living — Limited Nursing Services [LNS] Licensed)
Panama City, Bay County
(850) 215-4663
Expert guidance, benefit eligibility rules, and state protections for older Florida residents and family caregivers.
Financial Planning for Florida Seniors →
Institutional wealth management, FRS DROP rollovers, and retirement income engineering in Panama City.
Medicare Savings Programs & IRMAA Guide in Florida →
Controlling Modified Adjusted Gross Income with municipal bond ladders and QCDs to limit IRMAA surcharges.
Florida Senior Property Tax Exemptions →
Coordinating trust titling and Bay County Property Appraiser homestead filings.
Florida Medicaid Long-Term Care Guide →
Structuring private-pay long-term care reserves and hybrid asset-based LTC protection.
CompassPoint Wealth Management Group of Raymond James (Heather McCurley Noyes, CFP® & Ashtin Noyes Johnson, CFP®)
Panama City, Bay County
Wells Fargo Advisors — Panama City Branch & Burleson Wealth Management Group (Joseph McCurley Jr., CFP® & Jared Burleson, CFP®)
Panama City, Bay County
Crowley Wealth / Centennial Financial Services — Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC (Kathleen A. Crowley, CFP®)
Panama City, Bay County
Premier Coast Advisors — Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network (Todd Zaborski, CFP®, CRPC™)
Panama City, Bay County
Disclaimer: This directory listing is for informational purposes only. Florida Senior Support does not endorse or guarantee the quality of services. Please verify information and services directly with the organization.