Meridian Financial Associates

What Meridian Financial Associates does

Meridian Financial Associates is a privately held financial advisory firm headquartered in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, providing integrated wealth management, retirement planning, estate planning, investment management, and business-owner advisory services. Founded as a Strategic Member of First Financial Group by four partners who previously worked together there, the firm operates with a multi-advisor practice model (11 listed professionals) and serves three primary segments: high-net-worth individuals and families, business owners, and professionals/executives. Its core offering bundles asset protection, retirement income strategies, tax-efficient portfolio construction, estate transfer planning, and exit/succession advisory for closely held businesses, with a dedicated Business Overwatch sub-brand packaging specialized services for the business-owner segment.

The firm is built on a Hybrid RIA-Broker/Dealer architecture, delivering securities and investment advisory services through MML Investors Services, LLC (Member SIPC) while maintaining independent ownership. Its technology foundation consists of cloud-based CRM, file retention, client servicing tools, and wealth reporting platforms, with content infrastructure delivered through a partnership with FMG Suite. A separate Financial Professional Platform provides CRM, compliance support, and business development resources to advisors seeking to plug into the firm, signaling a hub-and-spoke growth model in addition to direct client advisory.

Revenue is generated through a mix of recurring advisory/subscription fees via MML Investors Services, transaction commissions on insurance products sold in 17 states, and one-time fee-based financial planning engagements. The firm markets primarily through content (resource center articles, calculators, videos), free strategy sessions, FINRA BrokerCheck verification, and direct advisor outreach, with no publicly disclosed financial metrics, funding history, or M&A activity. Ownership rests with the co-founding partners and there is no indication of institutional or private equity backing.

Name

Meridian Financial Associates

Legal name

Meridian Financial Associates

Website

https://meridianfinancialassociates.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Meridian Financial Associates is a Wilkes-Barre, PA-based private financial advisory firm offering integrated retirement, estate, investment, and business exit planning for high-net-worth individuals, business owners, and professionals through a hybrid RIA-Broker/Dealer model and a multi-advisor practice affiliated with First Financial Group.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Financial Advisory Services

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (52394)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282), Security Brokers, Dealers & Flotation Companies (6211)

akta.pro primary industry

Investment Management Advisory (RIA) (FSAEAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Financial Planning–Led RIAs (FSAAACAB), Broker-Dealer Affiliated Wealth Advisory (FSAEABAB)

Keywords

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

Headquarters

HQ city

Wilkes Barre

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Securities and Investment Advisory Services: Revenue generated through securities transactions and investment advisory fees via MML Investors Services, LLC (Member SIPC). Advisors provide portfolio management and investment advice with associated fees.
2. Insurance Product Sales: Commissions from sale of insurance products across 17 states. Financial professionals are licensed to sell insurance products in AL, AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, MA, MD, MI, NC, NJ, NV, NY, PA, SC, TN, VA.
3. Fee-Only Financial Planning: For clients who prefer to manage their own implementation, the firm develops comprehensive financial plans for a fee. Implementation of specific products or services may result in additional commissions or fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Meridian Financial Associates is a financial advisory firm that delivers personalized wealth management, retirement planning, estate planning, asset protection, investment management, and business advisory services to individuals, families, business owners, and professionals. The firm operates through direct advisor-to-client relationships, offering both ongoing fee-based advisory services and fee-only financial planning for clients who prefer to self-implement, while routing securities and investment advisory transactions through MML Investors Services, LLC.

Product overview

Meridian Financial Associates is a financial advisory firm that operates as a unified service offering rather than a modular software product. The firm provides an integrated suite of financial services including Asset Protection Strategies, Retirement Planning, Investment Advice and Wealth Management, Estate Planning, Business Strategies, Executive and Group Benefits, Fee Only Advising, and Life Planning. For business owners, they offer a dedicated Business Overwatch program that combines multiple specialized services (Tax Mitigation, Wealth Management, Risk Mitigation, Management & Retention, 401k Fiduciary Consulting, Business Exit & Succession, and Banking & Transition Readiness) through a network of financial professionals. The firm also maintains a platform for financial professionals seeking to join their practice, providing technology infrastructure including CRM and client servicing tools.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Business Overwatch: A network of financial professionals specializing in various subject matters for business owners, including tax mitigation, wealth management, risk mitigation, estate planning, health benefits solutions, management and retention, 401k fiduciary consulting, and business exit and succession planning.

Products and services

• Asset Protection Strategies
• Retirement Planning
• Investment Advice and Wealth Management
• Estate Planning
• Business Strategies
• Executive and Group Benefits
• Fee-Only Financial Planning
• Life Planning
• Business Overwatch
• Financial Professional Platform

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• MML Investors Services, LLCcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSecurities and investment advisory services offered through MML Investors Services, LLC, Member SIPC. The firm operates under supervisory address at 7101 Wisconsin Ave. Suite 1200 Bethesda, MD 20814. Meridian Financial Associates is not a subsidiary or affiliate of MML Investors Services, LLC or its affiliated companies.
• First Financial GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMeridian Financial Associates is a Strategic Member of First Financial Group. The founders (Brian Dougher, Ian Hastings, Chris Foder, and Nick Zapoticky) met while working at First Financial Group, one of the largest privately owned financial planning firms in the country. The firm utilizes First Financial Group's platform structure, training, and systems.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/meridian-financial-associates

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

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 Financial Associates