For the second consecutive year, Leonard resident Matt Biddinger has been recognized by Forbes magazine as one of the 500 up-and-coming wealth advisors across the county on its Top Next Generation Wealth Advisors list. Biddinger works as a private wealth manager and vice president for Merrill Lynch Wealth Management at its Troy location.

2017 marked the first year of the list, and it was started to recognize advisors who did well early in their careers through the financial crisis of the late 2000’s. Forbes created this ranking with high-performing wealth advisors born in 1980 or later.
“It feels good to be on the list,” Biddinger said, “I started in 2007 with the group I’m with now, right before things got ugly in the global economy. So I went through that just as I was getting started.”
To make the cut, these advisors must perform well in a variety of ways including leadership, ingenuity, revenue making, client service and credentials earned. Biddinger thinks he, with the help of his team, made the list because of his attention to more than just a client’s investments.
“We keep clients invested throughout the tough times,” he said. “Usually when markets are under stress is when people need us most because ditching a well-thought-out investment plan geared toward meeting their long-term goals [can be harmful]. When the markets are down and people start disrupting their portfolios – that’s when they can get hurt the most.”
To help his clients stay comfortable financially, Biddinger analyzes their portfolios, assists in making financial strategies and makes recommendations that help minimize financial risk.
Though he works with the community in Troy, Biddinger enjoys living in the Village of Leonard with his wife Amanda, 4-year-old daughter Ariana and 2-year-old son Lane. But, he and his family plan on moving so he can have a shorter commute and spend more time with his young children.
“I absolutely love Leonard and Oxford,” he said. “We’ve been there for three years, and it’s such a peaceful town.”
In the meantime, Biddinger plans to continue helping his clients create financial plans that will get them through the good times and the bad.
“What people really need is someone who will use every tool at their disposal,” he said. “We provide full-scale financial planning, not just investing. I try to have high-touch attention and service to my clients’ financial needs.”