Shirley Quackenbush, CPWA®

Shirley’s career spans over 35 years in wealth management, most recently as Managing Director at Merrill Lynch Private Wealth Management. Prior to Merrill, she was a private wealth advisor at JPMorgan and Hambrecht & Quist. Driven to exceed expectations, Shirley serves clients with an intensity that mirrors her interest in their well-being. She recognizes that significant wealth can entail both complexity and opportunity, so she and her team focus on strategies that not only provide cutting edge investment solutions but also a tax-aware focus to preserve and transfer wealth effectively. Her clients are varied in industry and geography but are generally located nearby in California so that she can meet in person as often as possible. Shirley earned a B.S. in Marketing and Finance from the California State University, Long Beach. She holds the Certified Private Wealth Advisor® (CPWA®) designation from the Investments & Wealth Institute™ (The Institute) in conjunction with The University of Chicago Booth School of Business. *Shirley was named to Forbes “Best-in-State Wealth Advisors” list* and Forbes “America’s Top Women Wealth Advisors” list** in 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021.

Shirley is a past board member of Orange County United Way and Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation and is a founding member and past chair of the United Way Women’s Philanthropy Fund. She loves her home of almost 30 years in Corona del Mar, CA yet she loves to travel with her husband, particularly to Colorado during ski season, and to sunny locales when the weather is gloomy at the beach.

*The Forbes “Best in State Wealth Advisors” and “America’s Top Women Wealth Advisors” rankings discussed above were designated in 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021 and last for a period of one year until new rankings are released. Each advisor—selected by SHOOK Research—is chosen based on an algorithm of qualitative and quantitative criteria, including: in-person interviews; industry experience; compliance records; revenue produced; and assets under management. No compensation has been provided in connection with obtaining or using this award.