Financial Advisors in Issaquah, WA

Issaquah, WA

195 NE Gilman Blvd, Suite 101
Issaquah, WA 98027
Phone: (425) 392-2200
Fax: (425) 392-6459

Issaquah, WA

420 Front St S
Issaquah, WA 98027
Phone: (425) 369-1423
Fax: (425) 392-4268

Financial Services Offered in Issaquah, WA

At Merit Financial Advisors in Issaquah, WA, we offer a comprehensive suite of financial services designed to cater to your evolving needs. Our team of professionals is committed to providing personalized solutions that align with your long-term goals and aspirations. Whether you're seeking wealth management, investment strategies, retirement planning, tax strategies, financial or estate planning, we have decades of experience and resources to guide you and your loved ones every step of the way. With a client-centric approach and a deep understanding of the financial landscape, we deliver tailored strategies and insights to help you navigate the complexities of today's market. Experience the Merit way and embark on a journey toward financial success and confidence. Let’s build your tomorrow, together.

Financial Planning
- Wealth Enhancement
- Wealth Transfer
- Estate Planning
- Estate Administration
  - Tax planning/strategies
  - Retirement Planning
- Life Transitions
- Charitable Giving
Risk Management
- Wealth Protection
- Insurance gap analysis

Investment Management
- Portfolio Performance Analysis
- Risk tolerance
- Asset Allocation
- Withdrawal Strategies
- Concentrated stock divestiture strategies
- Comprehensive investment analysis
Concierge Services which Include:
- Coordination with Other Professionals
- Proactive Family Meetings

Schedule a Consultation

Our Team

Tait Lane

Regional Director, Partner

Tait Lane

Regional Director, Partner

As a Wealth Manager, Tait believes that with financial planning comes clarity. By taking a holistic approach to his client’s finances, he’s able to better advise and serve them. Tait’s desire to be a fiduciary advisor continues to be his primary focus so that he and the team can serve our clients in the manner that they desire and need.

Tait is a graduate of Seattle Pacific University and serves on multiple boards locally for non-profits and within his local church. He’s passionate about his community and contributing to the area where he lives and works. Married to Sunday and a father of five, Tait enjoys skiing, hiking, spending time with his family in their RV, and experiencing the outstanding opportunities the PNW has to offer.

Cherise Glass

Regional Operations Director

Cherise Glass

Regional Operations Director

As the Regional Operations Director, Cherise believes strongly in extraordinary client service. With over 20 years of experience in the financial industry, she understands the importance of continually improving the quality of service we provide. She takes pride in offering a positive experience and her goal is to ensure our infrastructure runs seamlessly for our employees and clients.

Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, Cherise enjoys spending her time with her husband and son exploring the beauties of Washington state. When she is not in the not in the office she enjoys boating, snowboarding, and training her dogs.

Randy Kim

Wealth Manager

Randy Kim

ChFC®, AIF®
Wealth Manager

In 2005 Randy Kim created R.W.KIM and Company, an independent financial services and wealth management firm and subsequently created PATH Wealth Management in 2009. In 2018 Randy co-founded Triad Investment Management, an independent Registered Investment Advisory firm, which merged with Merit Financial Advisors in 2022. Prior to 2005, Randy spent 30 years managing financial planners and wealth managers at two of the largest international broker-dealers. He is a Chartered Financial Consultant, ChFC® and an Accredited Investment Fiduciary, AIF®.

As an Accredited Investment Fiduciary, he is an active member in good standing with FI360 and the Financial Services Institute. Randy has served as Director and Chapter President of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Professionals. Randy is a frequent speaker to CPAs and other trusted advisors on best practices in financial planning and wealth management.

Born in Hawaii and of Korean descent, Randy (aka"Pineapple") was raised in Boise, Idaho and spent six years in New Mexico prior to settling in the Puget Sound area in1992. Outside of work, you’ll find Randy and his wife, Anne, enjoying their children and grandchildren, squeezing in almost anything related to the outdoors, whether it’s hiking, skiing, fly fishing, playing soccer or a round of golf.

Max Baer

Wealth Manager

Max Baer

CFP®, AAMS®
Wealth Manager

Max, a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP), prides himself on his holistic financial planning process. He enjoys working through complex issues with clients, monitoring their progress, and accompanying them through major life transitions. He seeks to understand his client's priorities, translating these goals into a financial framework that meets their needs.

In his free time, Max enjoys roaming the Washington wilderness in his Jeep and snowboarding with his family on Crystal Mountain. He and his girlfriend Alex are proud parents of a yellow lab named Remington, who loves to explore the local parks and trails. Max is also an avid Washington State University football fan and spent his years at WSU serving as their mascot, Butch T. Cougar!

Tom Bakamus

Wealth Manager

Tom Bakamus

Thomas Bakamus

CFP®
Wealth Manager

As a Wealth Manager, Tom looks forward to implementing a strong financial plan and helping his clients create a roadmap to fulfill their personal goals. He specializes in providing comprehensive guidance that includes investment advice, tax awareness, retirement income strategizing, insurance coverage analysis, and more. He understands the importance of using a holistic approach as every client has a dynamic set of goals and values that makes their situation unique.

Tom is a graduate of Central Washington University and is an Issaquah native. He enjoys spending his free time away from the office golfing, snowboarding, and rooting on our amazing local sports teams.

Susan H. Bentley

Wealth Manager, Regional Portfolio Manager, Partner

Susan H. Bentley

Susan Bentley

CIMA®
Wealth Manager, Regional Portfolio Manager, Partner

Susan has over 30 years of experience providing wealth management services and specializes in investment policy, portfolio construction, money management, risk management, and legacy planning. She dedicates her time to implementing and monitoring clients' investment portfolios. Using a dynamic process, she works to help clients pursue and manage their goals.

Susan is one of only 7,675 Certified Investment Management Analysts® (CIMA®) worldwide⁽¹⁾. This designation is earned through the Investment Management Consultants Association (IMCA). The CIMA® designation reflects experience, education, and ethical standards. It requires broad experience in investment management, an extensive background check, and completion of a demanding graduate-level program of study in conjunction with the Wharton School of Finance and Commerce. Susan earned her bachelors of arts degree from Brigham Young University.

Her experience communicating complex financial strategies in simple terms has made her a requested speaker - she has conducted financial seminars for over 10,000 people during her professional career. As seen in Seattle Magazine, she has been recognized as a Five Star Wealth Manager from 2012-2018 and 2020-2023. She and her team are featured in the October 2014 Edition of Forbes Magazine⁽²⁾.

She is currently a member of the Washington Women's Foundation, a former board member of Economics America, and the former president of the Seattle chapter of the BYU Management Society.

A native of the Puget Sound area, Susan lives with two of her four children in Issaquah, Washington. She enjoys snow skiing and reading about history, world cultures, and biographies. She holds a brown belt in karate and maintains a private pilot's license. Susan is active in many philanthropic organizations locally and internationally, with a very special focus on the needs of orphans and children throughout the world.

1) Information and details about the CIMA® designation can be found here: http://investmentsandwealth.org/investors

2) Award based on 10 objective criteria associated with providing quality services to clients such as credentials, experience, and assets under management among other factors. Wealth managers do not pay a fee to be considered or placed on the final list of 2012-2018 and 2020-2023 Five Star Wealth Managers.

Christopher S. Loutsis III

Wealth Manager, Regional Portfolio Manager

Christopher S. Loutsis III

Christopher Loutsis

Wealth Manager, Regional Portfolio Manager

Christopher S. Loutsis III is a Financial Consultant with more than 15 years of experience in the financial services industry. His role for the team is to pursue the highest level of client satisfaction.

Christopher has sought to build an industry reputation for best-in-class client satisfaction. He takes time to become genuinely acquainted with each client and gives them confidence. By drawing out the details of their lives and being focused on their best interest, clients have confidence the team is implementing the best strategy for them. Clients greatly appreciate his solution-oriented manner. For each client issue, he quickly assembles and utilizes the team's experience and skillset, then flawlessly executes what is needed in a timely manner. Christopher acts as a catalyst for clients and helps them address things they may have put to the wayside. To save time and energy for the client, he takes the lead by assisting clients every step of the way and seeing things to completion.

Christopher understands and anticipates clients' needs. Then, if possible, takes tasks off their plate so clients can go about their daily lives doing the things they enjoy. He has an innate ability to gather, access, and prioritize clients' complex issues. Best of all, he simplifies information so recommendations are presented clearly and concisely, allowing clients to have confidence in their decisions.

Using his education from the University of Washington with a Bachelor's degree in Economics, Christopher brings the team an understanding of the interrelationship of global markets and their impact on portfolios. He assists the portfolio managers in being abreast of issues that could impact the client's financial independence. His ability to collaborate with the team allows the portfolio manager to focus on essential details of portfolio construction.

As a native to the Puget Sound region, Christopher lives in Bothell, Washington with his wife, their six-year-old daughter and four-year-old son. He is truly a "family man" and takes interest in his wife and children's activities. When he does chisel out some personal time, he enjoys outdoor activities ranging from gardening to listening to live music. Sharing a common interest with his wife, Christopher appreciates finding and restoring old furniture.

Shawna Bain

Branch Operations Manager

Shawna Bain

Branch Operations Manager

Shawna has more than 29 years of experience in the securities industry. She specializes in providing concierge services to clients by assisting them with their administrative needs. As a registered associate, Shawna can assist the team and clients with securities trading execution. She facilitates income distributions to our clients so they receive their income as requested. Shawna has extensive knowledge of administrative procedures and makes it easy for clients to obtain and understand documents such as statements, tax reporting, & performance reports, to name a few. Shawna has a vast knowledge of the variety of account types and is diligent in ensuring accounts are titled and coded accurately, and funds are deposited correctly. She sets up review meetings with clients and assists in gathering from them what is needed for the meeting.

Shawna has worked in the securities industry since 1987, with her focus on operations and administration. She is a graduate of Griffin Business College.

Shawna has lived in the community for over 40 years. She lives in Issaquah with her husband and two children. Shawna enjoys gardening with a focus on growing a variety of dahlias. She and her family love camping and riding all-terrain vehicles.