Merriman

What Merriman does

Merriman is a Seattle-based fee-only investment advisory firm founded in 1982, serving individual investors, business owners, institutional clients, and nonprofit organizations with personalized wealth management and financial planning services. The firm operates within the broader Focus Partners Wealth network, which was ranked No. 3 on USA TODAY's 2026 Best Financial Advisory Firms list. Merriman offers a comprehensive product suite spanning core wealth management, specialized planning, family office services, investment planning, and a structured wealth planning process, alongside add-on offerings including CFO services, business management, tax services, budget services, divorce and dispute resolution, business owner services, institutional services, retirement solutions, and lifestyle services.

The firm's go-to-market is relationship-driven and sales-led, relying on a network of financial advisors who deliver personalized advisory engagements. Distribution combines a website-based Advisor Finder tool, physical office locations, an online client portal, and content marketing through an insights and educational resources hub. Revenue is generated from recurring advisory fees tied to assets under management and specialized service engagements, with no publicly disclosed pricing tiers — services are quote-based and tailored to client complexity and asset levels. The firm has 11-50 employees and is privately held.

In 2016, Merriman acquired Summit Capital, demonstrating an inorganic growth lever that has continued through participation in the Focus Partners roll-up strategy. Leadership is anchored by CEO Jeremy Burger and COO/CIO Kristi de Grys. Operating data on revenue, AUM, and headcount trends is not publicly disclosed, representing a material information gap for prospective investors and acquirers.

Name

Merriman

Legal name

Focus Partners Wealth

Website

https://merriman.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Merriman is a Seattle-based fee-only investment advisory firm founded in 1982, serving individual investors, business owners, institutional clients, and nonprofits with personalized wealth management, investment planning, and family office services through the Focus Partners network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wealth Management and Investment Advisory

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) Wealth Management (FSAEABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Tax-Focused Wealth Management RIAs (FSAAACAD), Fee-Only Advisory (FSAEAAAL)

Keywords

• Wealth management services
• Fee-only investment advisory
• Financial planning advisory
• Retirement plan services
• Family office services

Headquarters

HQ city

Seattle

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Wealth Management Advisory Services: Focus Partners generates revenue through wealth management and financial advisory services. The company provides comprehensive financial planning including investment management, tax services, retirement planning, and family office services. Revenue is derived from advisory fees associated with managing client wealth across various service categories including wealth planning, specialized planning, and institutional services.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Merriman is a fee-only investment advisory firm providing personalized wealth management and financial planning services to individuals, business owners, and institutional clients. Core offerings include wealth management, specialized planning, family office services, investment planning, tax services, business owner advisory, retirement plan solutions, and institutional investment management delivered through a nationwide network of financial advisors.

Product overview

Focus Partners Wealth offers a unified wealth management platform combining core advisory services with specialized add-on offerings. The core portfolio includes Wealth Management, Specialized Planning, Family Office Services, Investment Planning, and the Wealth Planning Process, all designed to provide personalized financial advice centered on client goals and values. Add-on services include CFO Services, Business Management, Tax Services, Budget Services, Divorce & Dispute Resolution, Business Owner Services, Institutional Services, Retirement Solutions, and Lifestyle Services—enabling clients to access comprehensive financial and lifestyle support through a single advisory relationship.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Wealth Management Personalized wealth management services built around client goals, values, and life objectives, providing comprehensive financial planning and investment advisory for individuals and families.
• Specialized Planning Tailored financial planning for specific needs including business owners, executives, and high-net-worth individuals, offering customized strategies beyond traditional money management.
• Family Office Services Comprehensive family office services providing integrated wealth management, administrative support, and lifestyle services for high-net-worth families.
• Investment Planning Research-backed investment strategies and portfolio management designed to help clients achieve their financial objectives through carefully designed wealth accumulation approaches.
• Wealth Planning Process A structured, client-centered wealth planning methodology that places personal values, goals, and priorities at the heart of the financial planning engagement.
• CFO Services Chief Financial Officer-level advisory providing financial leadership, strategic planning, and oversight for business owners and high-net-worth individuals.
• Business Management Comprehensive business management services supporting business owners with operational and administrative functions.
• Tax Services Integrated tax preparation and tax strategy services, coordinated with wealth management to optimize client tax positions.
• Budget Services Family budgeting services helping clients manage day-to-day finances and align spending with long-term financial goals.
• Divorce & Dispute Resolution Specialized financial advisory services for individuals navigating divorce proceedings and financial disputes.
• Business Owner Services Comprehensive financial planning and advisory tailored specifically for business owners, including succession planning and exit strategies.
• Institutional Services Investment management and advisory services for institutional clients, including endowments, foundations, and retirement plans, focused on fiduciary excellence.
• Retirement Solutions Retirement plan fiduciary services for businesses, providing plan management and oversight to help business owners fulfill retirement plan obligations.
• Lifestyle Services Curated lifestyle management services connecting clients with bespoke, highly qualified partners for various personal and professional needs.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Focus Financial Partners: Large RIA aggregator and parent ecosystem that houses Focus Partners Wealth, of which Merriman appears to be an affiliate. Highly comparable on multi-service wealth management model and acquisition-led growth strategy.

Direct peers

• Creative Planning: Large independent, fee-only RIA offering comprehensive wealth management, tax, and family office services to HNW individuals. Closely mirrors Merriman's fee-only, multi-service platform and integrated planning philosophy.
• Mariner Wealth Advisors: National independent RIA providing wealth advisory, tax, estate, and family office services. Comparable on full-service HNW advisory model and aggressive growth through advisor recruitment and acquisitions.
• Edelman Financial Engines: Large independent RIA combining traditional advisor-led wealth management with a digital advice platform. Comparable on fee-only advice model and broad service menu for individuals and business owners.
• Carson Group: RIA and coaching community serving financial advisors and their clients. Comparable on serving independent advisors within a networked model and providing comprehensive wealth and business-owner services.
• Mercer Advisors: National RIA specializing in holistic wealth management, tax, estate, and retirement plan services for HNW individuals. Directly comparable on integrated planning offerings and multi-segment client base.
• Buckingham Strategic Wealth: Fee-only RIA within the Focus Financial Partners ecosystem providing research-driven wealth management and tax planning. Highly comparable fee-only, evidence-based investment approach and HNW focus.
• Wealth Enhancement Group: Independent wealth management firm offering financial planning, investment management, and tax services. Comparable on fee-based advisory model, multi-service platform, and acquisition-driven growth.
• Sanctuary Wealth: Partner-owned network of high-end RIAs serving ultra-HNW clients with wealth planning, investment, and family office solutions. Comparable on advisor-network model and HNW/multi-family office positioning.

Emerging players

• CAPTRUST: Independent investment advisory firm focused on institutional retirement plan advisory and private wealth management. Comparable on institutional and retirement-solution service lines that overlap with Merriman's institutional practice.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/merrimanllc
• Facebookfacebook.com/merrimanllc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/merriman-llc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A1 record

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Merriman