OREANDA-NEWS. November 12, 2015. Bank of America Merrill Lynch is proud to announce that Cyndi Hutchins, director of Financial Gerontology, has been named to the inaugural PBS Next Avenue’s Influencers in Aging list. To be considered for the list, individuals had to be engaged in improving the lives of older adults through their work or by example.

“We are proud of Cyndi and all of the groundbreaking work that has led her to be recognized as a leader in the field of aging,” said Andy Sieg, head of Global Wealth and Retirement Solutions at Bank of America Merrill Lynch. “The fact that someone from a financial firm is included on this list underscores the far reaching impact of an aging population and how businesses such as ours are adapting to the changing needs of clients.”

The PBS Next Avenue list includes thought leaders, executives, writers, artists, researchers, experts and others who are changing how we age and think about aging. To select the honorees, Next Avenue’s editorial team considered hundreds of people and consulted with outside advisers including experts in health, housing, work, media, philanthropy and gerontology.

In her role, Hutchins works closely with Merrill Lynch financial advisors to provide training, education, resources and one-on-one attention to engage clients on the topics of aging, longevity, retirement and later life planning. She has been involved in the development of a new approach to helping pre-retirees and retirees prepare for retirement across seven life priorities, including work, leisure, health, finance, family, giving and home. Hutchins was also central in the creation of the Merrill Lynch Longevity Training Program, developed in partnership with the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology to help Merrill Lynch financial advisors and Global Wealth and Retirement Solutions specialists better understand and address the evolving needs of the nation’s aging population and their families. This past summer, a version of the training program for human resource (HR) and benefit plan professionals was launched to drive greater awareness of the needs the nation’s aging workforce.

“I’m honored to be included on this list with distinguished leaders in many fields,” Hutchins said. “Aging is no longer about getting out of the workforce and sitting on the sidelines. Later life can be a time of reinvention and reengagement made more fulfilling with the right planning and support. I’m proud to be part of the change.”

Hutchins serves on the board of directors of the American Society on Aging, and recently participated at the 2015 White House Conference on Aging Elder Justice Forum. In addition to 30 years of experience in the financial industry, including 20 as a financial advisor, Hutchins earned a master’s in gerontology from the University of Southern California.

Merrill Lynch Global Wealth Management
Merrill Lynch Global Wealth Management is a leading provider of wealth management and investment services for individuals and businesses globally. With 14,563 Financial Advisors and approximately \\$1.9 trillion in client balances as of September 30, 2015, it is among the largest businesses of its kind in the world. Merrill Lynch Global Wealth Management specializes in goals-based wealth management, including planning for retirement, education, legacy, and other life goals through investment, cash and credit management. Within Merrill Lynch Global Wealth Management, the Private Banking and Investment Group focuses on the unique and personalized needs of wealthy individuals, families and their businesses. These clients are served by more than 150 highly specialized Private Wealth Advisor teams, along with experts in areas such as investment management, concentrated stock management and intergenerational wealth transfer strategies. Merrill Lynch Global Wealth Management is part of Bank of America Corporation.

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