Wealth Management
Merit’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.…
Read MoreThree Rivers Bank of Montana Announces Strategic Alliance with Merit Financial Advisors to Launch Wealth Management Division
Kalispell, MT – January 6, 2025 – Three Rivers Bank of Montana is pleased to announce a strategic alliance with Merit Financial Advisors, a nationally recognized wealth management firm, to expand its financial service offerings. This partnership will enable the bank to provide comprehensive wealth management services to clients in the Flathead Valley, helping individuals,…
Read MoreSanta Claus Is Coming
By Brian Andrew, CFA® – Chief Investment Officer While the stock market has been rallying since October of 2023, the complexion of the rally continues to change. In particular, what worked post-election, has changed as we enter the Santa rally period between now and the end of December. Yesterday’s Fed announcement that they would cut…
Read MoreNovember 2024 Market Update
In this November market update, Chief Investment Officer Brian Andrew, CFA®, examines recent market trends and discusses their potential impact on your investment strategy as we move toward year-end and into 2024. Key Takeaways: We hope you find this video both informative and insightful. For any questions, please reach out to your Merit financial advisor.…
Read MoreMarket Commentary: 50x All Time High!
By Brian Andrew, CFA® – Chief Investment Officer Please join me in remembering our Veterans on this Veterans Day. At Merit we celebrate their contributions and especially appreciate their sacrifices. As we closed out election week, the S&P 500 Index price was almost at 6,000 and the DJIA almost 44,000. This was the 50th all-time-high…
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