Wealth Management
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 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 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…
Read MoreApril 2025 Market Update
In this April market update, Chief Investment Officer Brian Andrew, CFA®, examines recent market volatility stemming from evolving U.S. tariff policies. He discusses the potential implications for inflation, interest rates, and broader market dynamics, while highlighting key considerations for navigating an uncertain economic environment. Key Takeaways: We hope you find this video both informative and…
Read MoreMerit Financial Advisors Partners with Bill Spalding Wealth Management
ATLANTA — [April 14, 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 Bill Spalding Wealth Management (“Spalding Wealth”). This acquisition will add $119 million in assets. Spalding Wealth…
Read MoreMarket Commentary: What Just Happened?
By Brian Andrew, CFA® – Chief Investment Officer On April 2nd, the Trump Administration announced their tariff plan to the chagrin of markets. It all boils down to the effective tariff rate paid in the U.S. This rate has been near 2% for 5 decades. With the announcement, it was clear that it could rise…
Read MoreWebinar Recap – Bracket Busters: How Tariffs are Shaking Up The Market
In our recent webinar, Merit Financial Advisors’ Chief Investment Officer, Brian Andrew, CFA®, explored the evolving landscape of tariffs, trade dynamics, and inflation—and how these forces are shaping the broader economic outlook. With market uncertainty on the rise, it’s more important than ever to understand the ripple effects of global policy decisions and how they…
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