Fresh off a major network-wide rebrand, Focus Financial Partners announced a deal to help strengthen one of its wealth hubs' presence in the Pacific Northwest.
The behemoth RIA network announced that Seattle-based Merriman Wealth Management will join Focus Partners Wealth in a transaction set to close on February 1, pending customary closing conditions.
The acquisition is expected to add approximately $4.16 billion in regulatory assets under management to Focus Partners Wealth.
Merriman, which became part of the Focus Financial network in 2012, serves over 2,000 clients nationwide with a team of more than 55 professionals, including 30 advisors. The firm offers personalized financial advice and a service philosophy called the “Merriman Method,” which emphasizes providing clients with actionable, data-driven insights to guide their financial decisions.
Jeremy Burger, Merriman’s CEO, will transition to a role as a division president at Focus Partners Wealth, joining executives Gerry Goldberg, Wendy Hartman, and Sheila Ryan.
“Our focus has always been to deliver excellent client service, offering outstanding advice, solutions, and long-term strategic guidance,” Burger said in a statement Friday. “By joining Focus Partners Wealth, we will have even greater capacity to empower our clients with the expertise, confidence, and peace of mind they need to meet their financial goals.”
Focus Partners Wealth – which covers the Colony Group, Buckingham Strategic Wealth, and the firms that merged with them – is among several new identities that Focus Financial announced as part of a major brand refresh earlier this month.
Adam Birenbaum, CEO of Focus Partners Wealth, underscored Merriman’s alignment with the hub’s client-first philosophy.
“From their tailored financial planning and investment management capabilities to their high-touch service approach, Merriman shares our philosophy of putting clients’ interests and their evolving needs first, and we’re thrilled to welcome their team of like-minded advisors into the fold.”
This acquisition marks Focus Partners Wealth’s ninth since the start of 2024, which also includes its November addition of GYL Financial Strategies and the August integration of HoyleCohen.
“We’re excited to see what they accomplish together to provide even more and greater opportunities to their clients,” said Michael Nathanson, CEO of Focus Financial Partners.
The move to charge data aggregators fees totaling hundreds of millions of dollars threatens to upend business models across the industry.
The latest snapshot report reveals large firms overwhelmingly account for branches and registrants as trend of net exits from FINRA continues.
Siding with the primary contact in a marriage might make sense at first, but having both parties' interests at heart could open a better way forward.
With more than $13 billion in assets, American Portfolios Advisors closed last October.
Robert D. Kendall brings decades of experience, including roles at DWS Americas and a former investment unit within Morgan Stanley, as he steps into a global leadership position.
Orion's Tom Wilson on delivering coordinated, high-touch service in a world where returns alone no longer set you apart.
Barely a decade old, registered index-linked annuities have quickly surged in popularity, thanks to their unique blend of protection and growth potential—an appealing option for investors looking to chart a steadier course through today's choppy market waters, says Myles Lambert, Brighthouse Financial.
