Archive

Are you interested in how the Cares Act will impact you or your family? Watch this short 2-minute video from one of our Wealth Managers, Marcus Anderson, to find out how this new bill can impact you. At Merit, our goal is to provide you with the most current and updated information for your benefit.…

Saying Goodbye Many estimates suggest that after their spouses die, a whopping 70% of widows fire their financial advisors. Anecdotal evidence suggests this often happens because the advisor (who supposedly worked for both halves of the couple) somehow never really cultivated a relationship with the woman. Perhaps the advisor made the old-school mistake of seeing her not…

First Things First For centuries, some of the world’s greatest thinkers have contended that helping others is the key to happiness. So you might think that volunteering your time, talent and treasure is a surefire and instant way to get through the grief that widowhood brings. I have found that simply isn’t true. Or at…

They say we get wiser as we get older, but let’s face it: Many new uncertainties and challenges can crop up as people get deeper into their golden years. Changes in physical health and issues with memory can mean you—or your elderly parents—might require new types of never-before-needed assistance. With that in mind, here’s a…

By Joy Kirsch Repetition-Worthy Advice for Widows Make sure your bills are paid so you can keep your good credit. (Don’t pay your husband’s bills from your part of the estate.) Get your financial documents in order. Know where your money is. Seek the help of trusted professionals. And, when it comes to major decisions,…

Nagging Questions In the early days after losing a spouse, financial decisions can seem pretty far down on your list of concerns. Your days can be consumed by planning a funeral, attending to piles of paperwork, and – let’s be honest – holding yourself together while receiving the stream of well-intentioned friends and family members…

Many extremely wealthy people have a much better handle than others on a key concept of success: the long game.The long game means having a concrete vision of your ideal future down the road—years or even decades from now—and taking specific, carefully considered action steps at every stage along the way to maximize your ability…

The self-made Super Rich—people with a net worth of at least $500 million that they built through their own hard work—often possess a treasure trove of knowledge, insights and actionable strategies that the rest of us can adopt in our own lives to enhance our success.Here are four ways the Super Rich manage their wealth.…

Estate planning—the process for how you transfer your wealth to heirs and others—can be very important for anyone who wants to be certain that their loved ones are adequately provided for and taken care of. When done well, estate planning aims both to allow you to pass on your assets as you see fit, and…

Merit has partnered with DNA Behavior in order to achieve a greater and more in-depth perspective on the financial behaviors, risk tolerances, and communication styles of both our employees and clients. Since 2001, DNA Behavior International has enabled human performance acceleration using its proprietary Financial DNA® and Business DNA® behavior tech platforms. They take an…