After graduating from U.C. Santa Barbara, David Birkett began working in the securities industry in 1994 as a financial analyst for investment banking firms Cruttenden Roth and Hambrecht Quist, respectively. His role at H&Q evolved into sales trader for a private wealth management team before the firm merged with J.P. Morgan’s Private Bank. In 2002, David joined Merrill Lynch as Senior VP, Private Wealth Advisor in the Private Banking & Investment Group (PBIG), dedicating 15 years to the firm and rising to Managing Director, managing upwards of $3BN in assets for a range of global clients.  With a 23-year foundation in finance, David was compelled to start his own private wealth firm, Bion Capital Partners, in 2017. He works closely with ultra-high-net worth individuals and family offices to develop comprehensive wealth management plans integrating trust and estate planning, investment management, concentrated stock strategies, and risk management/tax minimization solutions. David is personally dedicated to advancing client goals, responding to client needs, building long-term relationships based upon integrity, and delivering a comprehensive service model.