Take Your Advisory Firm to the Next Level.
Our team is here to serve as your professional partner on your path to growth. We are your back office support with the tools and resources to help you build revenues, expand your practice, and grow as professional. At Merit, we believe we are Stronger Together.
Why Join Merit?
Merit Financial Advisors is a national wealth management firm with $11.84 billion* in assets that supports advisors affiliated with independent broker-dealers, as well as those who are registered investment advisors. Our team exists to enrich the lives of those we serve.
Our mission is focused on revolutionizing the client experience by building the RIA of the future. We aim to support clients in exceeding their financial goals and supporting advisors in evolving and expanding their businesses. Our goal is to provide our advisors and offices with practice management resources, a technology platform, operational support, and investment experience to help drive growth and deliver a more positive client experience.
Our vision is to build a growth-focused enterprise for our team that offers best-in-class investing and planning solutions for our clients now, and for generations to come.
Acquisitions
34
Locations
43
AUM
$11.84 Billion*
Advisors
100+
*$8.8 billion in advisory, $2.8 billion in brokerage assets, and $253 million in assets under advisement. As of June 30, 2024.
We Offer Full Service Support
We work with you and your team to make sure your transition is seamless. We take many carefully crafted steps to prepare, plan and execute the transition to make it as smooth as possible for you and your clients. Our process includes:
- Discovery: we take time to understand your staff and your culture
- Assessment: we review your book of client base and business practices
- Planning: we work with you to identify opportunities and challenges, as well as assign roles and responsibilities based on those.
- Implementation: we plan and execute complete support through client communication, consent, and repapering processes
- Go Live: we provide and oversee employee training, system conversion, and portfolio management implementation
What Our Partners Are Saying
About Merit
The Merit team serves as a professional partner on your path to growth. Merit works with advisors equipping them with the tools and resources needed to build revenues, expand your practice and grow as a professional.
Our firm is led by seasoned advisors who have a deep understanding of the needs and goals of successful financial practitioners. Our team includes experienced professionals across disciplines, including in-house investment management and strategy, comprehensive financial planning and life transition support, wealth management insights, operations, and human resources support. Our partners have achieved exponential growth in their practices as they leverage our industry experience, and resources.
Merit fosters a relationship-based culture that is built on integrity and respect – among our colleagues, with clients, and within our community. Our mission is anchored by several key principles, including humility, flexibility, and objective and goals-based advice.
- Merit is committed to elevating and supporting diverse voices, experience, and expertise across the firm. As an example, over fifty-three percent of Merit’s staff is female and the firm has completed 4 acquisitions of female-founded firms since 2017.
- Merit upholds a team-based approach that facilitates leadership and collaboration across the group for the collective benefit of the team and our clients.
- Merit is focused on empowering growth and advancement among our advisors. We believe we are Stronger Together.
Accolades
Ready to discuss your future?
Schedule a confidential meeting with a member of our Executive Leadership today.
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GoBankingRates | 10/12/2024 Navigating Financial Planning During Major Life Changes.
Merit wealth manager, Sydney Thompson, CFP®, shares her approach to navigating financial planning during major life transitions.
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Barron's | 10/05/2024 A Spouse's Death Brings a Financial Jolt. How to Prepare.
Merit wealth manager, Hollis Hardiman, shares her insights on managing the financial impacts of losing a spouse, preparing for rising healthcare costs, changes in Medicare premiums, and other potential challenges.
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Merit Financial Advisors | 08/19/2024 Merit Partners with Kizer and Associates to Expand Presence in Midwest.
Merit announced today it has acquired Kizer & Associates (“Kizer”). The firm, based in Barrington, IL, will establish Merit’s first Illinois office and increase Merit’s assets by $180 million.
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WealthManagement.com | 08/16/2024 Chief Investment Officer, Brian Andrew, featured in 2024 Mid-Year Outlook.
Merit CIO, Brian Andrew, CFA®, discusses our approach to managing market uncertainties by running scenario analyses, which help us assess potential outcomes and their impact on portfolios.
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Merit Financial Advisors | 07/31/2024 Merit Partners with Westfield Financial Planning to Expand Presence in New Jersey.
Merit announced today it has acquired Westfield Financial Planning (“Westfield”). The firm, based in Westfield, New Jersey, expands Merit’s existing presence in the region and increases Merit’s assets by $207 million.
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Merit Financial Advisors | 03/27/2024 Merit Partners with Access Investment Advisors to Expand Presence in Wisconsin.
Merit announced today it has acquired Access Investment Advisors (“AIA”). The firm, based in Manitowoc, WI, will expand Merit’s existing presence in the region and increase Merit’s assets by $213 million.
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WealthManagement.com | 03/13/2024 Merit Financial Advisors Buys $542 Million AUM Viren & Associates.
Previously affiliated with Mariner’s independent advisor platform, the Washington state firm brings 401(k), estate planning and insurance talent to Merit.
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PR Newswire | 03/06/2024 Merit Financial Advisors Announces Strategic Collaboration with the Pioneers Volunteer Network.
Merit Financial Advisors ("Merit"), announced today a strategic national collaboration with the Pioneers Volunteer Network, a network of more than 465,000 volunteers in Canada and the US who effect immediate, tangible change in local communities.
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PR Newswire | 02/22/2024 Merit Financial Advisors Introduces Merit Amplify, Private Equity Uncovers the Money in Money Management.
Merit Financial Advisors ("Merit"), a national wealth management firm with over $10 billion in assets under management, today announced the launch of its new Advisor Affiliation Model, Merit Amplify.
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Middle Market Growth | 02/06/2024 Private Equity Uncovers the Money in Money Management.
Kay Lynn Mayhue, President of Merit Financial Advisors, shares the shift in the industry over the last ten years and the interest that PE firms are now showing in wealth management firms.
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GoBanking Rates | 01/16/2024 Retirement Spending 2024: Is the 4% Rule Still the Best Guide.
Scott Meyer, Merit Financial Advisors, speaks to the importance of working backward to figure out what you need to save for retirement.
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PR Newswire | 01/12/2024 Merit Financial Advisors Hire Brian Andrew as Chief Investment Officer.
Merit announced today that it has hired Brian Andrew as Chief Investment Officer ("CIO").
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U.S News | 12/28/2023 | Should You Include Your Home in Your Net Worth?
Baylee Bryant, Merit Financial Advisors, shares insight into what makes up your net worth.
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Merit Financial Advisors | 12/20/2023 | Merit Financial Advisors Partners with EJS Wealth Management to Expand Presence in Colorado.
Merit Financial Advisors announced today it has acquired EJS Wealth Management, LLC (“EJS”). The firm, based in Colorado Springs, CO, will expand Merit’s existing presence in the region and increase Merit’s assets by $64 Million.
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GO BankingRates | 12/18/2023 | Charitable Giving: 5 Strategies to Consider That Do Good and Make the Most Financial Sense.
Merit Financial Advisors recommends visiting the Better Business Bureau’s Give.org site, which lets individuals independently research 501(c)(3)s to determine their operating status and more.**
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CBS MoneyWatch | 12/18/2023 | Should you move all of your money to a short-term CD?
Mark Fried, Merit Financial Advisors, shares that opting for a 1-year CD may provide optimal return on investment.***