Posts by MeritMarketing
June 2026 Market Update
In our June 2026 market update, Merit Financial Advisors’ Chief Investment Officer Brian Andrew, CFA®, breaks down the key forces shaping today’s market outlook, including a resilient U.S. economy, stubborn inflation, and rising expectations for a higher-for-longer interest rate environment. Despite signs of moderating growth, strong employment and steady consumer spending continue to support economic…
Read MoreHow High-Net-Worth Families Can Raise Financially Literate Children
By David Elder, CFP®, CEPA®, Wealth Manager, Partner, Merit Financial Advisors While Generation Z is referred to as “digital natives”, unfortunately, they are less likely to be financially illiterate. According to the P-Fin Index, Gen Z has the lowest level of financial literacy (38%); Boomers and the Silent Generation scored highest (55% each), followed by…
Read MoreMaximizing Retirement Income: Advanced Strategies for High-Net-Worth Retirees
By Kris Maksimovich, CPFA®, CRC®, CRPC®, Wealth Manager and Partner and Chris Powers Chris Powers, CFP®, AEP®, Wealth Manager and Partner Retirement is on everyone’s horizon, but the high-net-worth (HNW) are doing things differently. For them, it’s not just about stopping work but creating freedom and work optionality in their later years. Given this unique…
Read MoreMay 2026 Market Update
In our May 2026 market update, Merit Financial Advisors’ Chief Investment Officer Brian Andrew, CFA®, discusses the key forces shaping today’s market environment, including persistent inflation, higher interest rates, and ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. Despite these challenges, stock markets have remained resilient, supported by stronger-than-expected corporate earnings and an economy that continues…
Read MoreHow High-Net-Worth Families Can Use 529 Plans to Build Their Legacy
By Andrea Zoeller, CFP®, NSSA®, Wealth Manager and Partner, Merit Financial Advisors College savings plans, or 529s, are increasingly popular as a tax-free method to fund education expenses. As of the second quarter of last year, there were 17.3 million 529 accounts in the United States, totaling $568 billion. National 529 Day – happening May…
Read MoreChoosing Your Next Chapter: How Advisors Evaluate and Navigate a Transition
In today’s wealth management landscape, growth brings opportunity, but it also brings complexity. Many advisors and firm owners reach a point where the business they have built no longer looks like the one they originally envisioned. The question becomes not if change is coming, but how intentional that change will be. Evaluating a transition is…
Read MoreQ1 2026 Economic and Market Overview
By Brian Andrew, CFA®, Chief Investment Officer The first quarter of 2026 was defined by a sharp transition in market leadership and a meaningful increase in macro and geopolitical uncertainty. Entering the year, investors were positioned for a continuation of the disinflationary trend that characterized much of late 2025, with expectations for easing monetary policy…
Read MoreInvesting with Intention: Aligning Your Wealth with Your Personal Values
By Kate Redden, CFP®, ChFC®, CKA® Vice President of Client Experience, Wealth Manager, Partner Merit Financial Advisors Money is one of the most powerful tools we have; it builds businesses, shapes communities, and quietly influences the world, whether or not we’re paying attention to how it’s invested. For many investors, managing wealth is about more…
Read MoreBeyond Tax Day: Mid-Year Tax Planning Opportunities
By Michele Hammann, CPA, PFS™, CVA, Regional Vice President, Partner, Merit Financial Advisors Many investors think tax planning happens only once a year, but the reality is that mid-year check-ins are just as important. Without multiple touch bases with your accountant and financial advisor throughout the year, it can be easy to overlook things like…
Read MoreCease-Fire – Pause Or More?
By Brian Andrew, CFA®, Chief Investment Officer Summary: The U.S. and Israel have agreed to a two-week cease-fire with Iran. This comes on the heels of an announcement by the President that if the Strait of Hormuz wasn’t opened by 8pm ET Tuesday, the U.S. would increase hostilities toward power and transportation infrastructure. Markets have…
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