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Merriman Wealth Management is an asset and wealth management firm based in Washington state. It’s a part of Focus Financial Partners, one of the largest networks of independent wealth management companies in the U.S. The firm’s more than 30 advisors hold advanced certifications and manage over $3 billion in assets.
The bottom line: Merriman Wealth Management provides investment management and full-service financial solutions to individuals and high net worth individuals.
| Assets under management (AUM): $3,033,442,862 | |
| Minimum investment: Negotiable | |
| Individual investor to advisor ratio: 71:1 | |
| Fee structure: A percentage of AUM, performance-based fees | |
| Headquarters: 800 Fifth Ave., Suite 2900 Seattle WA 98104 Website: www.merriman.com Phone: 206-285-8877 |
All information included in this profile is accurate as of October 21, 2021. For more information, please consult Merriman Wealth Management’s website.
Paul Merriman established the firm in 1983. After two generations of Merrimans being involved in the company, Focus Operating acquired the firm in 2012 as a wholly-owned subsidiary. The Focus Financial Partners is one of the largest networks of independent wealth management companies in the U.S. Merriman itself acquired two firms in April 2016 and July 2017, expanding its team and its offerings.
Today at Merriman, a team of around 50 employees (over half of whom perform advisory functions), manage over $3 billion in assets. Almost every advisor has an advanced degree or certification, including Masters in Business Administration (MBA), Certified Financial Planner (CFP), Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and Accredited Financial Counselor (AFC). The firm offers a wealth of services including investment management, wealth management and financial planning services.
Founder Paul Merriman was involved in the firm until 2012 when he retired to establish the non-profit Merriman Financial Education Foundation. He is currently the president of the foundation and produces weekly podcasts, contributes to the Wall Street Journal’s MarketWatch and has authored several books. He won the 2021 Cloonan award for excellence in investment education from the American Association of Individual Investors.
Merriman Wealth Management’s largest client group by the number of accounts is the individual investor, followed by high net worth investors. (For reference, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) defines a high net worth individual as a person who has $750,000 assets managed by an advisor or who has a net worth of at least $1.5 million.) However, this ranking flip flops when looking at AUM. Nearly 80% of Merriman’s AUM comes from high net worth investors. The second largest group by AUM is individual investors followed by pooled investment vehicles.
The firm does not state the minimum account balance required to participate in its investment portfolios. It does state, however, that select clients who invest in a bond account managed by a third party, Lord Abbett, must meet an investment minimum of $250,000. It does provide its minimum investment fees, which we discuss below.
Merriman offers portfolio management and wealth management services for individuals and families. Its advisors can guide clients on legal, tax and financial matters as well as provide investment management.
Merriman’s investment philosophy is set on using objective data and diversified assets to provide returns appropriate to risk. To that end, it features three investment portfolios:
Here’s more on the strategies and assets of each Merriman portfolio.
| Portfolio name | Investment strategy and assets |
|---|---|
| MarketWise | Globally diversified core investment program, focusing on low-cost mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) |
| TrendWise | Active investment management program, uses ETFs, exchange-traded notes (ETNs) and mutual funds |
| LGO | Aggressive investment program, buying domestic and international stock, debt, currencies, options, commodities and futures via ETFs, ETNs and other investment vehicles |
Merriman earns income through two types of client fees: a percentage of AUM and performance-based fees. As such, it doesn’t earn commissions or sell investment products. For all portfolios except LGO, annual fees are charged on a monthly basis. The annual fee structure is split into wealth management clients and investment management clients. All annual fees are calculated and applied monthly.
Wealth management clients subscribe to the firm’s financial planning services, in addition to portfolio management. These client fees for investment services range from 0.40% to 1.35% with a $5,000 minimum annual household fee.
| Annual Fees for Wealth Management Clients | |
|---|---|
| Minimum Wealth Management Household Fee: $5,000 minimum annual fee | |
| MarketWise | |
| Up to $1 million | 1% |
| $1 million to $3 million | 0.80% |
| $3 million to $5 million | 0.60% |
| Over $5 million | 0.40% |
| TrendWise | |
| Up to $500,000 | 1.35% |
| Over $500,000 | 0.90% |
Investment management clients purchase only the firm’s portfolio management services. The annual percentage fee for this type of client investing in MarketWise is static at 1.25%, with a maximum annual household fee of $5,000. These clients investing in MarketWise have a $2,000 minimum annual household fee.
Leveraged Global Opportunity Fund (LGO) clients face performance fees. Investors must qualify to participate in this fund as the investment strategy is aggressive and can take on substantial risks in its objective of capital appreciation. An industry standard performance fee is “2 and 20,” wherein the firm charges 2% of AUM and 20% of any profit. LGO pays Merriman “1 and 20,” subject to a highwater mark.
Merriman Wealth Management reports no disciplinary disclosures in the preceding 10 years. The SEC requires registered investment advisory firms to report any criminal, regulatory or civil infractions involving the firm, its employees or its affiliates that could impact a client’s evaluation of the business.
More information on Merriman Wealth Management can be found on its Investment Advisor Public Disclosure (IAPD) page.
Merriman orients clients in a four- to five-step process, depending on whether a client will use wealth management services in addition to investment management services. You can begin this onboarding process by scheduling a phone call on Merriman’s website.
Merriman Wealth Management can serve investors in most states and has three physical offices located in two states:
This firm may be best for investors who plan to take advantage of the wealth management services the company offers in addition to its investment portfolios. It’s registered to serve clients in most states, but its physical footprint is limited to three cities in the Pacific Northwest. If you’d like to compare more options before deciding on a financial advisor, check out the MagnifyMoney financial advisor search tool.
Jenn JonesJenn Jones is a senior writer at MagnifyMoney. She was previously an automotive finance manager and an editor for Standard & Poor’s Money Market Directory. She graduated from the University of Virginia with a B.S. in commerce.
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