Our Leadership Team
Merit Financial Advisors is led by nationally recognized and award-winning industry leaders and advisors who share a deep passion for supporting clients in exceeding their financial goals and helping financial advisors evolve and grow their businesses. As a 2023 Barrons Top 100 Private Wealth Management Team and a 2022 Forbes Top 100 RIA Firm, our leadership team includes visionaries focused on growth and best-in-class investing and planning solutions for our clients. Meet our exceptional leaders below.
Executive Leadership
Rick L. Kent
CEO, Founder
Rick L. Kent
CFP®, ChFC, AIF®
CEO, Founder
Rick is an entrepreneur and visionary leader who founded Merit on a servant-leadership philosophy and a commitment to helping individuals reach their financial goals while supporting fellow advisors and entrepreneurs in meeting their professional goals. He has been widely recognized for his contributions to the industry, including being ranked among the Forbes Top 10 Best-in-State Wealth Advisors List in Georgia for 2 consecutive years. Rick has a clear vision for Merit’s growth, designing a program that allows advisors to align with Merit in a number of ways. Rick is well versed in the industry and is striving to change it for the better.
Rick delivers high-energy presentations that challenge audiences to leverage their focus and pay attention to what matters most at work and in life. Audiences appreciate his practical strategies they can apply directly to their business model. Rick offers his insight to business owners, advisors, and executives. Having been a key player in multiple mergers and acquisitions over the past four years, Rick is well versed in the industry and is striving to change it for the better.
Earning many awards for his financial services capabilities, his team, and his vision have further highlighted Rick’s journey towards excellence. This perspective motivated him to coach, develop, inspire, and mentor fellow advisors as they strive to keep up with the everchanging financial services industry. He brings this same dedication to his work with business leaders to empower their teams and achieve greater success. Being a successful entrepreneur, Rick started multiple companies making him a diverse leader willing to share his recipes for success with others.
Kay Lynn Mayhue
President
Kay Lynn Mayhue
CFP®, AEP®, RFC®
President, Partner
Kay Lynn has played many roles in the financial advisory industry: as a successor, partner, seller, and buyer. This unique and diverse background allows her to be able to relate to advisors in all phases of their careers and mergers and acquisitions. With a background in financial planning and leadership, her career expands over several areas, including advising clients, mergers and acquisitions, and strategic growth.
Kay Lynn worked her way up from an entry-level position to earn her seat at the C-Suites table as President of Merit, which manages over 5 billion in RIA and Brokerage assets under management. She holds her CFP®, AEP®, and RFC® and has been a critical decision-maker for two firms over the past twenty years. Kay Lynn has overseen multiple mergers and acquisitions over the past four years and has been recognized for her position as a female leader in the financial services industry.
She is passionate about helping people take their careers – and themselves – to exceptional levels. Kay Lynn’s influence in the industry and her drive for success is a driving factor in Merit's ongoing growth and appeal to growth-oriented advisors.
Most recent awards won:
- America's Top Women Wealth Advisors 2022 - Forbes/SHOOK
- America's Top Women Wealth Advisors Best-In-State 2022 - Forbes/SHOOK
Mike Mitchell
Chief Financial Officer
Mike Mitchell
Chief Financial Officer
Mike's professional background includes over 30 years of experience in corporate finance and operations, mainly within the financial services industry. During his career, he's held progressive leadership positions with Fortune 500 firms, including Toyota, Wachovia Bank, and AT&T, as well as small to medium-sized growth companies. His focus is centered on revenue growth, expense management, margin expansion and boosting bottom-line profitability.
Merit Financial Advisors and LPL Financial are not endorsed by or affiliated with Toyota, Wachovia Bank, and AT&T.
Chrissy Lee
Chief Operating Officer
Chrissy Lee
Chief Operating Officer
Chrissy serves as our Chief Operating Officer at Merit. Chrissy has over 15+ years of experience in the Wealth Management and Broker Dealer channel, having started her career in Operations and eventually rising to the role of COO and President at her previous firm. She previously served as a board member for IPA, served on the Advisory Council of Docupace, a technology provider for wealth management firms, created the Women Advisor Network, and served as a committee member for the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion task force.
At Merit, Chrissy is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the firm, working within the executive leadership team and each department within the organization to create efficiencies and streamline the client service experience. She is also responsible for operational strategy, driving strategic growth through mergers and acquisitions, and overseeing the onboarding process, business development, and technology implementations to create a best-in-class experience for the Merit community.
As a member of Merit’s Executive Leadership Team and Senior Leadership Team, Chrissy’s goal is to create a bridge between firm initiatives and working with the entire Merit team to bring open communication, forum to gather new ideas to make the client experience evergreen, to empower every team member to make decisions and help to execute goals together. This aligns with Merit’s belief that servant leadership comes above all else.
Chrissy enjoys spending time with her husband of 25+ years and their grown children. She loves reading classic literature, going to Disney, and watching classic movies. She has a heart for helping underprivileged families and considers this a life- long stewardship.
Senior Leadership
Martina Chisholm
VP of Marketing
Martina Chisholm
Vice President of Marketing
Martina Chisholm is the VP of Marketing for Merit, focusing on the planning, development, and execution of all Merit marketing, branding, and advertising initiatives. Martina enjoys creating a memorable digital and in-person experience for existing and potential clients while interacting with the Merit brand. She received her MBA from The University of Maryland – Global Campus. She likes to travel the world, experience different cultures, spend time with her friends and family, and attend all the concerts and sporting events Atlanta offers.
Greg Gerhard
Chief of Staff
Greg Gerhard
Chief of Staff | Partner
Greg Gerhard is Chief of Staff and Partner at Merit. He supports the Integration of newly acquired team members and contributes to the Development of our existing team. Greg’s passion for Culture helps drive Merit’s focus; we believe our Culture is Merit’s bedrock and our future!
Greg serves as a devoted resource to the ~200-member team (and growing) and works tirelessly to weave a cultural thread through all facets of the firm. Merit’s goal is to provide a dynamic and diverse Culture in which all team members may succeed and realize their personal and professional growth aspirations! Greg oversees Merit’s team conference, EPIC, and regularly attends industry conferences learning new trends and promoting Merit’s M&A focus.
As an at large member of Merit’s Senior Leadership Team, Greg contributes to all aspects of the firms’ initiatives. His passion for building synergistic relationships throughout our industry contributes to the firm’s overall 3-prong growth strategy; 1. Organic Growth (Niches), 2. Independent RIA Platform Partners, 3. Merit acquisition activity. Greg maintains relationships with many industry firms such as Custodians, Institutional Money Managers, recruiters, and peer RIA’s.
Greg received a bachelor’s degree from the State University of New York at Oswego and maintains his Series 7 and 63 securities registrations held with LPL Financial and his Series 65 registration held with Merit Financial Group. In his spare time, Greg enjoys spending time with his 2 boys on nature hikes, coaching his kids’ sports teams, traveling, and reading.
Jennifer Keegan
VP of Operations
Jennifer Keegan
Vice President of Operations
Jennifer Keegan is the Vice President of Operations for Merit focusing on testing and implementing our registered investment advisor and broker-dealer compliance programs. She enjoys all things compliance! And the opportunity to work with each advisor and branch office within the firm. Jen received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Southeast Missouri State University and a Master of Arts in Legal Analysis from Webster University. She likes to go golfing, boating and watch St. Louis Cardinal Baseball games with her husband, John and their son Daniel.
Zach Kohlman
HR Manager
Zach Kohlman
HR Manager
Zach Kohlman is our HR Manager. He focuses on developing and delivering innovative, efficient, and cost-effective human resource programs, policies, and services designed to support the firm's mission. He enjoys initiating collaborative efforts that will help us succeed by increasing individual and institutional effectiveness and by earning the respect and trust of those who support us and do business with us.
Zach served for 20 years on active duty in the greatest naval force this world has ever seen, the U.S. Navy. With a specialty in human resources on active duty, he has taken his unique military experience and proven leadership to forge a unique human resources philosophy. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in History and his Master’s Degree in Contemporary World History and Politics, both from Excelsior College. He enjoys photography, astronomy, and reading about history.
JP Pattinson
VP of Technology
JP Pattinson
RFC®
Vice President of Technology, Wealth Manager, Partner
JP Pattinson is a Partner and the Vice President of Technology. He focuses on wealth management, operations, and branch management. He enjoys providing his clients with confidence in their financial futures. JP received his Bachelor's Degree from the University of North Texas with a degree in Financial Services. He likes to spend time with his wife Leslie and daughter Brynn. He also enjoys fishing, hunting, and traveling.
Amelia B. Wood
Chief Transitions Officer
Amelia B. Wood
Chief Transitions Officer
Amelia brings over 20 years of experience in the financial services space, entirely of service to Merit. As the Chief Transitions Officer, she works with the transition team to onboard acquired and independent advisor partner firms to the Merit platform. With her extensive experience in serving the Merit team and specific expertise in accounting, payroll/benefits, compliance, technology, and business management, Amelia is a key resource in the transition process.
Amelia received a bachelor’s degree in Business Management from the University of South Florida in Tampa and maintains her Series 7, 24 and 63 securities registrations with LPL Financial. After living in the city of Atlanta for almost 20 years, Amelia now calls the northern suburb of Milton home with her husband, Bryan, and their two children, Alex and Olivia. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends, playing tennis, traveling, and watching her kids play sports.
Resources
We’re here to guide you in enhancing and protecting your wealth. Through innovation, we leverage the right tools, resources, and solutions to best serve you. With a wide range of resources focused on financial education and tips, powered by leading-edge technology and cybersecurity, and a robust website with calculators and market updates, we can help you gain further insight into your financial plan.
