Posts by MeritMarketing
Webinar Recap: Halftime Report: 2025 Market Trends, Turbulence and Takeaways
In our recent webinar, Merit Financial Advisors’ Brian Andrew, CFA®, Chief Investment Officer, and Joe Cilley, CFP®, VP of Financial Planning, shared critical insights into the evolving economic landscape shaped by new tariff policies and geopolitical uncertainties. Together, they explored how recent global policy changes and the introduction of the ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ may affect…
Read MoreCollege Planning Checklist: 3 Signatures Your Child Needs Before College
Going off to college is one of the biggest transitions in your child’s life. However, it can also be a big change for you as a parent. You may have to deal with empty nest syndrome, complex financial planning for college, and the stress that comes along with any major life transition. Fortunately, if you…
Read MoreWebinar Recap: FA Magazine – Smart Growth: Proven Strategies for RIAs in a Margin Squeezed World
In today’s margin-conscious environment, financial advisors are under pressure to grow smarter, not just bigger. This webinar, featuring leaders from Merit Financial Advisors and FMG, explored actionable strategies to scale marketing efforts efficiently without expanding budgets. From deepening client engagement through localized content to leveraging AI and automation tools, the discussion centered around creating meaningful,…
Read MoreJune 2025 Market Update
In this June market update, Chief Investment Officer Brian Andrew, CFA®, reflects on a strong market rally fueled by individual investor optimism, solid corporate earnings, and continued enthusiasm around AI. Despite rising tariff rates and geopolitical tensions, the Fed’s steady policy stance has supported sentiment. Merit remains cautiously positioned, favoring high-quality equities, watching valuation levels…
Read MoreMerit Financial Advisors Expands Pacific Northwest Presence Through Partnership with Olympic Wealth Management
ATLANTA — June 17, 2025 — Merit Financial Advisors (“Merit”), a Georgia-based financial advisory firm that specializes in financial planning and wealth management solutions for high-net-worth individuals and families and those navigating life transitions, announced today it has acquired Olympic Wealth Management, LLC (“Olympic Wealth”). This acquisition strengthens Merit’s footprint in the Pacific Northwest, adding…
Read MoreMay 2025 Market Update
In this May market update, Chief Investment Officer Brian Andrew, CFA®, discusses how ongoing tariff tensions and a growing federal deficit are weighing on markets and shaping fiscal conversations. With the Fed holding rates steady amid uncertainty, Merit is adjusting its strategy, favoring large-cap stocks, keeping bond maturities short, and incorporating alternatives to stay flexible…
Read MoreWhat Families with Unique Dynamics Need to Know About Financial Planning
By Kat Grier, CFP®, CPA, Wealth Manager, Merit Financial Advisors If you’re one of the many millions of Americans who consider themselves part of a unique family dynamic, you’re not alone. In the United States, same-sex couple households have grown to 1.3 million and forty percent of American families are now blended. While financial planning…
Read MoreQ&A – Maximizing Your Firm’s Value: Preparing for Succession, Sale, or Transition
Following our webinar on maximizing firm value through succession, sale, or transition, attendees had insightful questions about when and how to start preparing. The most common theme? Start early—ideally 5–10 years out. Whether you’re a $500M or $3B firm, the focus should be on running your business like it’s for sale today: clean financials, streamlined…
Read MoreWebinar Recap: Maximizing Your Firm’s Value: How Financial Advisors Can Prepare for Succession, Sale, or Transition
At Merit, we believe financial advisors deserve more than a successful business—they deserve a legacy. Whether you’re considering succession, planning a sale, or simply preparing for the next chapter, knowing what your firm is worth—and how to maximize that value—is essential. In our latest webinar, “Maximizing Your Firm’s Value: Preparing for Succession, Sale, or Transition,”…
Read MoreWebinar Recap: A Journey Through Change – Financial Considerations for Federal Employees
In our recent webinar, Merit Financial Advisors’ Kat Grier, CFP®, CPA, and David Elder, CFP®, CEPA, guided federal employees through the financial transitions that can follow a Reduction in Force (RIF). With a focus on the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) and the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), the session outlined critical decisions to consider when…
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