Meridian Wealth + Retirement

What Meridian Wealth + Retirement does

Meridian Wealth + Retirement is a Wisconsin-based independent wealth management and financial planning firm founded in 2021 by Matthew Kletti, Wade Ullsperger, and Paul Brokenshire. It is headquartered in Wauwatosa with a second office in Kimberly serving the Fox Valley region, and it is licensed to offer securities in 27 states and insurance in 10 states. The partner group expanded in 2023 when Bryan Gosda joined, and Thomas Julian serves as Partner Emeritus.

The firm serves individuals, families, dual-income households, business owners, the special needs community, teachers, and law enforcement educators (the latter through a strategic alliance with ILEETA). Core services include investment management, retirement planning, tax planning, estate planning strategies, and insurance, delivered under a proprietary "Meridian Compass" planning framework. The technology stack is entirely third-party: eMoney, Wealthscapes, Brighthouse, MetLife, and Investor360, with no proprietary or AI-driven components disclosed.

The business model is a hybrid of AUM-based advisory fees (capped at 1.15% for ILEETA clients) and flat-fee financial planning starting at $1,250. Securities are offered through an operating agreement with MML Investors Services, LLC (a MassMutual subsidiary), and the firm maintains an open-architecture product shelf across multiple insurance carriers. Securities offerings are made through MML Investors Services; Meridian is not a subsidiary of MassMutual or MML Investors Services.

Name

Meridian Wealth + Retirement

Legal name

Meridian Wealth + Retirement

Website

https://meridianwr.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Meridian Wealth + Retirement is a Wisconsin-based independent wealth management and financial planning firm serving individuals, families, business owners, the special needs community, teachers, and law enforcement educators (via ILEETA) with investment, retirement, tax, and estate planning services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wealth Management and Financial Advisory Services

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Retirement & Distribution Planning RIAs (401(k)/IRA/Pension Rollovers) (FSAAACAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Insurance-Integrated Wealth Managers (RIA + Insurance Solutions) (FSAAACAI), Retirement Plan Participant Advice & Managed Accounts (FSAEABAF), Tax-Focused Wealth Management RIAs (FSAAACAD)

Keywords

• Wealth management services
• Financial planning advisory
• Retirement income planning
• Investment advisory services
• Tax planning strategies

Headquarters

HQ city

Wauwatosa

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Investment Advisory Fees: Annual advisory fee calculated as a percentage of assets under management (AUM), capped at 1.15% for ILEETA members. This is a percentage-based fee structure typical of wealth management firms.
2. Financial Planning Fees: Comprehensive financial planning services priced at a flat fee starting at $1,250 for ILEETA members with investable assets under $100k. Includes a detailed 60+ page plan with implementation roadmap.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Meridian Wealth + Retirement is a privately held financial advisory firm that provides investment management strategies, retirement planning, and tax planning strategies for individuals, families, and small business owners. Services are delivered through a relationship-driven, planning-focused approach anchored by the proprietary Meridian Compass methodology, with securities and advisory services offered through registered representatives of MML Investors Services, LLC.

Product overview

Meridian Wealth + Retirement is a financial advisory firm offering an integrated suite of wealth management services. Their core offerings encompass investment management strategies, retirement planning, and tax planning strategies, delivered through a relationship-driven, planning-focused approach. They provide comprehensive financial planning and holistic wealth management services tailored to individual client needs. Securities and investment advisory services are offered through qualified registered representatives of MML Investors Services, LLC, a member of SIPC.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ILEETA Alliance: Strategic alliance specifically serving Law Enforcement Educators & Trainers with specialized financial planning services.

Products and services

• Investment Advisory Services Fiduciary-driven investment advisory services that build personalized portfolios with tax-efficient strategies. Annual fee as a percentage of assets under management, capped at 1.15% for ILEETA members. Includes bi-annual reviews and integrated retirement income distribution planning for clients with investable assets over $100k.
• Comprehensive Financial Planning Comprehensive financial planning service priced at a flat fee starting at $1,250 for ILEETA members with investable assets under $100k. Delivers a detailed 60+ page plan with specific recommendations and an implementation roadmap, plus one year of advisor access for questions and guidance, renewable annually.
• Holistic Wealth Management Coordinated service that simplifies the complex facets of a client's financial life by integrating investments, benefits, tax planning, and legacy planning into a cohesive strategy that adapts to life's changes. Includes ongoing stewardship and guidance aligned to client values.
• Retirement Planning Retirement planning services covering retirement income strategies and tax-efficient retirement distribution planning for individuals, teachers, and law enforcement professionals.
• Tax Planning Strategies Tax planning strategies integrated with investment and retirement planning, designed to improve tax efficiency in portfolio construction and retirement income distribution. Clients are advised to consult their own tax and accounting advisors as appropriate.
• ILEETA Alliance Financial Services Exclusive bundled financial services for ILEETA members combining fiduciary-driven investment advisory, comprehensive financial planning, and holistic wealth management with preferential pricing (planning starts at $1,250; advisory fees capped at 1.15% AUM).

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• ILEETA (International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerILEETA & Meridian's Strategic Alliance provides exclusive financial services to ILEETA members including law enforcement educators and trainers. Services include fiduciary-driven investment advisory, comprehensive financial planning, and holistic wealth management. ILEETA members receive preferential pricing starting at $1,250 for comprehensive planning and capped at 1.15% AUM for investment management.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Creative Planning: Fast-growing national RIA providing holistic wealth management, retirement, and tax planning to high-net-worth individuals and families, with strong fiduciary positioning. Comparable fiduciary-driven, planning-first model that has scaled beyond Meridian's current footprint, serving as an aspirational peer.
• Mariner Wealth Advisors: National independent RIA offering comprehensive financial planning, investment management, retirement, and tax services to high-net-worth individuals. Comparable holistic planning approach and family/individual client focus, illustrating a scaled-up trajectory Meridian could pursue.

Direct peers

• Waddell & Reed (Macquarie Asset Management): Long-standing Midwestern-affiliated financial advisory firm providing investment management, retirement planning, and wealth services to individuals and families. Comparable client base and historical Midwest regional concentration to Meridian.
• Commonwealth Financial Network: Independent broker-dealer and RIA support platform that serves a nationwide network of independent financial advisors offering holistic planning, retirement, and investment management. Closely comparable business model (independent advisor firm using a BD/RIA platform) and similar client base to Meridian.
• Cetera Financial Group: Independent broker-dealer and RIA platform supporting independent financial advisors with retirement, investment, and tax planning services for individuals and families. Comparable independent-advisor model, fee structure, and target market to Meridian's MML-affiliated practice.
• Cambridge Investment Research: Independent broker-dealer supporting thousands of financial advisors across the U.S. providing wealth management, retirement planning, and insurance solutions. Highly comparable independent-advisor GTM, though operating at materially greater scale than Meridian.
• LPL Financial: Largest independent broker-dealer in the U.S., supporting independent RIAs and advisors offering investment, retirement, and financial planning services to individuals and families. Comparable independent advisor business model to Meridian, but at enterprise scale.

Broad incumbents

• Ameriprise Financial: National diversified financial services firm with a large franchise of independent advisors providing holistic financial planning, investment management, and retirement income strategies. Comparable service mix and client segment to Meridian, but at significantly greater scale.
• Northwestern Mutual: Mutual insurance and wealth management leader with a strong Wisconsin/Midwest advisor network offering integrated insurance, investment, and retirement planning. Overlapping holistic wealth model and geographic overlap with Meridian's Wisconsin base.
• Edward Jones: Large national brokerage and RIA firm with deep Midwest presence, serving individuals and families with investment, retirement, and financial planning services through a branch-based advisor model. Highly comparable GTM and target client base to Meridian, though vastly larger scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/meridian-wealth-retirement

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Wealth + Retirement