John Thiel

John Thiel is a visionary financial services leader whose deep caring for people guided his 28 years at Merrill Lynch. He now leverages his vast experience to improve the well-being of others as a board member, mentor, and ProjectYou Advisor. Deeply passionate about simplifying and promoting personal financial health, he guides students to set themselves up for success and avoid common pitfalls as they begin their professional journeys.

Before joining ProjectYou, John was Head of Wealth Management at Merrill Lynch, where he oversaw a $15B business with 23,000 employees and steered the firm through a period of unprecedented change, including the acquisition by Bank of America. Keeping his focus on people, John managed complex relationships, mobilized a global workforce, and reestablished trust with clients and the public following the financial crisis—all while driving dramatic business growth.  

A longtime advocate for curing cancer, John serves on the board of the V Foundation for Cancer Research, where he chairs an annual event supporting the Stuart Scott Memorial Cancer Research Fund. He is also a member of the FINRA Investor Education Foundation board and is a Florida State University Foundation Trustee. A frequent speaker, John has made multiple appearances on FOX Business Network and CNBC, and was a commencement speaker at Florida State University, his alma mater. He and his wife, Karen, live in Florida and have three adult children.