Meridian Wealth Management

What Meridian Wealth Management does

Meridian Wealth Management is a privately held, fee-only Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) founded in 2010 by Greg Couch in Lexington, Kentucky, operating with no broker-dealer affiliation. The firm manages $4.8 billion in assets under management (as of 12.31.2025) for clients across 48 states, served by 45+ financial advisors across 9 offices in Kentucky, Arizona, Florida, California, Texas, Louisiana, Tennessee, and Colorado. Its target segments are high-net-worth individuals and families, professional athletes and entertainers (via a dedicated Sports & Entertainment Division led by former NFL player Jacob Tamme), nonprofit organizations and charities, and institutional clients including foundations, endowments, and retirement plans.

The core offering spans investment and portfolio management, retirement and financial planning, estate planning, business succession planning, stock option planning, tax planning, education funding, and fiduciary guidance on business decisions, with insurance products delivered through a wholly-owned subsidiary, Meridian Insurance, LLC. Meridian's client-facing technology stack is built on third-party platforms rather than proprietary systems: Advyzon provides the customized client portal, performance reporting, and account aggregation, integrating with custodians Pershing, Charles Schwab, Fidelity, and TD Ameritrade; MoneyGuidePro delivers goal-based financial planning with a Probability of Success engine and Play Zone scenario tools. Internal proprietary frameworks include the Customized Investment Portfolio (CIP) process developed by the Fernandez Management Team and the Align and Anchor retirement planning process created by Suzanne Powell.

The business model is fee-only advisory with transparent, AUM-based pricing, no commissions, and no broker-dealer affiliation, aligning advisor compensation with client interests. Meridian operates two parallel go-to-market motions: a consultative enterprise field-sales approach targeting HNW and institutional clients through independent financial advisors, and a direct-to-consumer channel via its website "Request a Consultation" form with 1-business-day follow-up. A second B2B motion recruits wirehouse breakaway advisors and their teams onto Meridian's RIA platform, supported by a dedicated Director of Advisor Transitions function. Marketing leverages Forbes Top RIA 2024, SHOOK Top RIA 2025, and Forbes Best-In-State 2026 recognitions, Instagram presence, community philanthropy, and national media appearances by senior advisors such as Taylor Davis.

Name

Meridian Wealth Management

Legal name

Meridian Wealth Management, LLC

Website

https://meridianwealthllc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Meridian Wealth Management is a fee-only fiduciary RIA managing $4.8 billion in assets for high-net-worth individuals, athletes and entertainers, nonprofits, and institutional clients across 48 states, delivered through 45+ advisors in 9 offices.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wealth Management

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (52394), Trust, Fiduciary, and Custody Activities (523991)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) Wealth Management (FSAEABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Discretionary Portfolio Management (Retail) (FSAAAAAH), Insurance-Integrated Wealth Managers (RIA + Insurance Solutions) (FSAAACAI), Fiduciary Investment Management (Trust Portfolios) (FSAEAKAI)

Keywords

• Wealth management services
• Financial planning advisory
• Retirement planning services
• Estate planning advisory
• Investment portfolio management

Headquarters

HQ city

Lexington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Advisory Fee (Fee-Only): Meridian operates as a fee-only Registered Investment Advisor with transparent fees. No broker-dealer affiliation allows unbiased advice without hidden fees and commissions. Compensation aligned with client interests.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Meridian Wealth Management is a fee-only fiduciary Registered Investment Advisor that designs and manages personalized investment portfolios and financial plans for individuals, families, athletes, entertainers, businesses, nonprofits, and charities. Core offerings span portfolio management, retirement planning, estate planning, business succession planning, and insurance planning, all delivered through a proprietary Capital Investment Process (CIP) that blends quantitative screening with qualitative judgment.

Product overview

Meridian Wealth Management operates as a boutique fiduciary Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) with no broker-dealer affiliation, offering a unified wealth management platform supplemented by specialized divisions and client portal tools. The core offering combines investment & portfolio management, retirement & financial planning, estate planning, and business succession services, delivered through independent financial advisors across multiple offices. The firm also operates a dedicated Sports & Entertainment Division for professional athletes and entertainers. Client-facing technology includes the Advyzon performance reporting platform (integrated with Pershing, Schwab, and TD Ameritrade custodians) and MoneyGuidePro financial planning portal.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Wealth Management for Individuals & Families Comprehensive fee-only wealth management for individuals and families, including portfolio management, retirement planning, estate planning, and insurance planning delivered through the proprietary Capital Investment Process.
• Athletes & Entertainers Wealth Services Specialized wealth management tailored to professional athletes and entertainers, addressing short earning windows, endorsement income, and post-career transition planning.
• Business, Nonprofit & Charity Advisory Advisory services for business owners, nonprofits, and charities, including business succession planning, retirement plan oversight, and charitable giving strategy.
• Advisor & Firm Affiliation Program Affiliation offering enabling independent advisors to leverage Meridian's RIA infrastructure, technology, custody, and compliance support while retaining client-level autonomy.
• Portfolio Management (CIP-driven) Customized portfolio construction and ongoing management using Meridian's proprietary Capital Investment Process, combining quantitative screening with qualitative judgment.
• Retirement Planning Retirement accumulation and income planning covering contribution strategy, withdrawal sequencing, Social Security optimization, and retirement cash flow modeling via MoneyGuidePro.
• Estate Planning Multi-generational estate planning coordination, including beneficiary planning, gifting strategy, and coordination with estate attorneys.
• Business Succession Planning Succession and continuity planning for business owners, including exit strategy, ownership transition, and integration with personal wealth planning.
• Insurance Planning Insurance needs analysis and planning across life, disability, long-term care, and umbrella coverage to complement overall wealth strategy.

Quantifiable outcome

• $4.8 billion in assets under management
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and minor.

• AdvyzoncoreTechnology or IntegrationAdvyzon is Meridian's performance reporting and client experience platform that integrates with Pershing, Schwab, and TD Ameritrade custodians. Provides robust client portal with monthly feature releases.
• PershingcoreTechnology or IntegrationPrimary custodian partner providing account custody services for client assets
• Charles SchwabcoreTechnology or IntegrationCustodian partner providing account custody services for client assets
• FidelitycoreTechnology or IntegrationCustodian partner providing account custody services for client assets
• MoneyGuideProcoreTechnology or IntegrationFinancial planning software platform enabling goal-based planning, scenario analysis, and interactive client tools including MoneyGuidePro Client Portal and Play Zone
• Bank of New York MellonsupportingTechnology or IntegrationProvides lending solutions through BNY Mellon for Meridian clients, particularly for professional athletes and entertainers with complex liquidity needs
• Lido AdvisorsminorOthersMeridian was named as defendant in lawsuit filed by Lido Advisors over alleged theft of trade secrets and confidential client information by former advisor Brycen Coward. Case settled in April 2025 on undisclosed terms.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Edward Jones: National full-service wealth management and brokerage firm serving individuals and small businesses. While a wirehouse, it competes for the same HNW and mass-affluent client base as Meridian and is a frequent destination and source of advisor transitions.
• Goldman Sachs Personal Financial Management: Wealth management arm of Goldman Sachs offering investment advisory and financial planning to mass-affluent and HNW clients (formerly United Capital). Many of Meridian's recent hires came from Goldman PFM, making it a key competitor for advisor recruiting and a broader incumbent in the same space.
• Fisher Investments: Large global investment management firm serving HNW and institutional clients with discretionary portfolio management. Comparable as a scaled incumbent in the HNW discretionary wealth space, though with a more centralized, less advisor-led model.

Direct peers

• Edelman Financial Engines: Large independent RIA providing fee-only wealth planning, investment management, and retirement plan services. Comparable to Meridian in fiduciary-only positioning, scale, and broad HNW/retirement-plan client base.
• Mercer Advisors: National independent RIA focused on HNW individuals and families, with deep retirement plan, estate, and tax capabilities. Comparable to Meridian in fee-only structure, advisor-acquisition growth model, and HNW/family-office client focus.
• Carson Group: Independent RIA and coaching platform serving financial advisors and their HNW clients, with a fee-based advisory model. Comparable to Meridian in supporting independent advisors under a fiduciary umbrella while providing back-office and platform resources.
• Mariner Wealth Advisors: Large independent RIA offering comprehensive wealth management, tax, estate, and retirement plan services to HNW clients. Directly comparable to Meridian as a fee-only fiduciary platform built via advisor recruitment and multi-office expansion.
• Creative Planning: One of the largest independent RIAs in the US, providing fee-only fiduciary wealth management, tax, and estate services. Comparable to Meridian in fiduciary philosophy, target clientele, and multi-office advisor-led growth strategy.
• Focus Financial Partners: Partnership of independent RIAs providing fiduciary wealth management to HNW clients; multiple partner firms share the boutique-RIA model with Meridian. Closely comparable in business model, advisor recruitment, and fiduciary positioning.

Others

• Charles Schwab: Major custodian of Meridian client assets and a strategic technology partner through Advyzon integration. As both a custody provider and a competitive referral network (Schwab Advisor Services), Schwab is an enabling/adjacent player in Meridian's ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/meridianwealthllc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Meridian Wealth Management