JOHN SHAW

John Shaw is a is a Managing Director, a Private Wealth Advisor, and a founder of the Kong Shaw Group at Merrill Private Wealth Management in San Francisco. John provides sustained leadership, advice, and guidance to a select group of accomplished clients, overseeing multiple aspects of their financial affairs. Clients look to John for overarching strategy, as well as precise execution, leaning on the knowledge and insight he has gained from more than 25 years in investment and wealth management. He has particular depth catering to the needs of wealth creators, many of whom are technology founders and senior executives, as well as their family members.

John has earned national recognition for his work as a Financial Advisor. From 2018 – 2022, Forbes recognized him as one of the “Best in State Wealth Advisors"(Published annually Jan – April. Rankings based on data as of June 30 of prior year). John believes this accolade reflects the exceptional caliber of his team and the clients they are privileged to serve.

A veteran Advisor, John is skilled in discerning the nuances of each client’s situation, crystallizing the path forward, and presenting clear alternatives to pursue an individual’s objectives. He appreciates the value of clients’ time, marshaling resources and researching possible solutions so that clients can focus on their personal and professional priorities. John offers extensive experience in the regulatory requirements posed by Rule 144, as well as tax-minimization strategies, trust and estate planning services, customized investment management, and philanthropy. He draws upon a broad range of investment capabilities, including equities, fixed income, investment partnerships, and structured investments, offering a disciplined approach designed to help multiple generations grow, preserve, and transfer their wealth more effectively.

John has worked in investment and wealth management since 1995. He began his career at Montgomery Securities, where he spent four years before moving to Thomas Weisel Partners as a founding member of the firm. At Thomas Weisel, John and Pete Kong first began their collaboration, forming a tight-knit partnership that endures today. In 2011, John and Pete moved to Barclays Wealth Americas, where John served as a Director. He has been a member of Merrill Private Wealth Management since 2015.

John earned his B.A. in Biology, Cum Laude, from Dartmouth College and his M.B.A. from the Amos Tuck School at Dartmouth. Committed to professional excellence, he holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ CFP® certification awarded by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc., the Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA®) designation, and the Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® CDFA® certification. He continues to sharpen his craft by reading extensive research, monitoring legislative changes, and participating in industry conferences to capitalize on forward-thinking ideas for the clients he serves.

John lives in San Francisco and Park City and is married with three adult children. In his free time, he enjoys golf, skiing, and home-repair projects, applying his knack for problem-solving to his home’s plumbing and electrical work.

John Shaw is a is a Managing Director, a Private Wealth Advisor, and a founder of the Kong Shaw Group at Merrill Private Wealth Management in San Francisco. John provides sustained leadership, advice, and guidance to a select group of accomplished clients, overseeing multiple aspects of their financial affairs. Clients look to John for overarching strategy, as well as precise execution, leaning on the knowledge and insight he has gained from more than 25 years in investment and wealth management. He has particular depth catering to the needs of wealth creators, many of whom are technology founders and senior executives, as well as their family members.

John has earned national recognition for his work as a Financial Advisor. From 2018 – 2022, Forbes recognized him as one of the “Best in State Wealth Advisors"(Published annually Jan – April. Rankings based on data as of June 30 of prior year). John believes this accolade reflects the exceptional caliber of his team and the clients they are privileged to serve.

A veteran Advisor, John is skilled in discerning the nuances of each client’s situation, crystallizing the path forward, and presenting clear alternatives to pursue an individual’s objectives. He appreciates the value of clients’ time, marshaling resources and researching possible solutions so that clients can focus on their personal and professional priorities. John offers extensive experience in the regulatory requirements posed by Rule 144, as well as tax-minimization strategies, trust and estate planning services, customized investment management, and philanthropy. He draws upon a broad range of investment capabilities, including equities, fixed income, investment partnerships, and structured investments, offering a disciplined approach designed to help multiple generations grow, preserve, and transfer their wealth more effectively.

John has worked in investment and wealth management since 1995. He began his career at Montgomery Securities, where he spent four years before moving to Thomas Weisel Partners as a founding member of the firm. At Thomas Weisel, John and Pete Kong first began their collaboration, forming a tight-knit partnership that endures today. In 2011, John and Pete moved to Barclays Wealth Americas, where John served as a Director. He has been a member of Merrill Private Wealth Management since 2015.

John earned his B.A. in Biology, Cum Laude, from Dartmouth College and his M.B.A. from the Amos Tuck School at Dartmouth. Committed to professional excellence, he holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ CFP® certification awarded by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc., the Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA®) designation, and the Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® CDFA® certification. He continues to sharpen his craft by reading extensive research, monitoring legislative changes, and participating in industry conferences to capitalize on forward-thinking ideas for the clients he serves.

John lives in San Francisco and Park City and is married with three adult children. In his free time, he enjoys golf, skiing, and home-repair projects, applying his knack for problem-solving to his home’s plumbing and electrical work.