Wealth Management
What 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…
Read MoreSpecial 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…
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