Wealth Management
Special Market Commentary: March Madness – Basketball Tournament or Tariff Policy
By Brian Andrew, CFA® – Chief Investment Officer Markets rallied on news that the proposed tariff plan was going to be scaled back before April 2nd, then the President made it clear that wasn’t his goal. We should know now that focusing on tariffs implemented not bantered about is the best way to determine policy…
Read MoreNow is the Time to Spring Clean your Financial Plan
By Joe Cilley, CFP® Vice President of Financial Planning, Partner, Merit Financial Advisors Managing finances remains one of the highest day-to-day stressors in adult life, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Spring is a perfect time to get your financial house in order, the same way you would spring clean your house. Whether…
Read MoreMarch 2025 Market Update
In this March market update, Chief Investment Officer Brian Andrew, CFA®, analyzes the recent market volatility driven by the U.S. Administration’s tough tariff policies and explores their potential impact on inflation, interest rates, and your investment strategy as we navigate the months ahead. Key Takeaways: We hope you find this video both informative and insightful.…
Read MoreSpecial Market Commentary: Tough Talk On Tariffs
By Brian Andrew, CFA® – Chief Investment Officer Markets have been thrown into turmoil due to the tariff discussion dominating headlines. As the U.S.’ new Administration emphasizes the need for a much tougher tariff policy, on all of our trading partners (China, Europe, Mexico and Canada in particular), investors, originally sanguine about new policy, have…
Read MoreMerit’s Female Executives Reflect on Mentorship vs. Sponsorship, Blending Work and Home Lives, and Building Wealth for Women’s History Month
Women’s influence in wealth management continues to grow. Fidelity’s 2024 Women & Investing Study found an 18 percent increase in women stock market investors from the year before. Merit is proud to share that women represent more than 50% of nearly 300 employees, a number that continues to increase. To celebrate Women’s History Month, four…
Read MoreFebruary 2025 Market Outlook
By Brian Andrew, CFA® – Chief Investment Officer I spent time in NYC this week, attending a research conference, hosted by a $680 billion global asset manager. The conference was held at the New York Stock Exchange. The meeting started with a market history about the exchange and then ringing the opening bell. I stayed…
Read MoreTax Filing Season Has Arrived. Here’s What Individuals and Small Business Owners Need to Know
By Kat Grier CFP®, CPA, Wealth Manager; and, Steven Henderson, CPA, PFS, CFP®, CKA® Regional Director, Partner Tax preparation is complex for many Americans. In 2023, 54 percent of all individual income tax returns were prepared by paid return preparers. Small business owners are no exception. According to the NFIB’s 2024 Tax Survey, 90 percent…
Read MoreMerit Financial Advisors Partners with Pillar Wealth Management Co., Adding Two New Offices in Wisconsin
ATLANTA — [January 28, 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 Pillar Wealth Management Co. (“Pillar”). This acquisition will expand Merit’s presence by establishing two new offices…
Read More2025 Investment Outlook: Navigating Inflation, AI, and Policy Shifts for Sustainable Growth
By Brian Andrew, CFA® – Chief Investment Officer 2024 Recap: The Economy Has Landed Over the past two years, discussions around a potential U.S. recession or soft landing dominated economic outlooks. Now, as 2024 concludes, it is evident that the economy has achieved a soft landing. Government spending played a key role in supporting economic…
Read More2025 Market Outlook
In this 2025 Market Outlook, we explore how the U.S. economy achieved a soft landing in 2024 and discuss the key themes shaping the year ahead. From Federal Reserve policy shifts to the growing influence of artificial intelligence and the implications of a new administration, we delve into the factors impacting investment opportunities in 2025.…
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