Merit Financial Advisors adds $1.2bn in assets with Blueprint buy, expands into Chicago and Madison

Merit Financial Advisors, a Georgia-based wealth management platform focused on high-net-worth individuals and families navigating complex financial transitions, has acquired Blueprint Wealth Advisors, adding $1.2 billion in client assets and further extending its reach into Illinois and Wisconsin. The acquisition, finalized on November 14, 2025, marks Merit’s fifty-second transaction and brings the firm into the strategic Chicago and Madison markets.

Blueprint Wealth Advisors operates from offices in Chicago, Rockford, and Fitchburg, serving affluent and ultra-high-net-worth clients through a customized financial planning model known as The Capstone Method. With this deal, Merit Financial Advisors gains a team with a strong reputation for client retention and organic growth, while Blueprint unlocks access to an expanded suite of services and infrastructure support not previously available through its broker-dealer model.

Managing Partners Ryan Evans and Nick Wilkins of Blueprint will now serve as Regional Directors and Partners at Merit, retaining leadership responsibilities and joining a broader national advisory ecosystem. The leadership transition was framed by Merit executives as a pivotal growth lever, emphasizing alignment in values, planning philosophy, and client service models.

How does this acquisition enhance Merit Financial Advisors’ reach into key high-net-worth markets?

The acquisition strategically positions Merit Financial Advisors in the Chicago metropolitan area and the Madison corridor, both viewed by analysts as underpenetrated wealth centers for independent RIAs. By integrating Blueprint’s established client base and planning methodologies, Merit strengthens its brand presence in two markets that offer significant demographic potential for advisory expansion.

According to sector observers, this move reflects Merit Financial Advisors’ preference for “culturally compatible” acquisitions—RIAs with proprietary planning frameworks and strong client relationships, but lacking the scale or infrastructure to compete nationally. In absorbing Blueprint’s operations, Merit Financial Advisors benefits not only from fresh assets under management but from deep market knowledge and an advisor team accustomed to serving clients with complex estate, business succession, and retirement planning needs.

Zach Mersberger, Managing Principal and Partner at Merit Financial Advisors, described the deal as “transformational,” citing the addition of proven leadership, multi-state regional coverage, and a strong organic growth engine.

How do recent leadership appointments support Merit Financial Advisors’ next growth phase?

In a parallel development, Merit Financial Advisors also announced the addition of two experienced leaders to newly created roles designed to support advisor growth and segment expansion. Alex Hansen has been named Chief Advisor Success Officer, while Brian Brashaw takes over as Vice President of Employer Plan Solutions.

Hansen brings over two decades of industry experience, most recently as SVP of RIA Solutions at Commonwealth Financial Network. His role focuses on building a direct bridge between Merit Financial Advisors’ advisors and its executive team, identifying high-impact areas for platform improvement, and deploying strategic support that enables advisors to scale quickly. His prior experience includes consulting advisors through transitions to fee-only, hybrid, and independent RIA models.

Hansen described his mandate as “translating what advisors need into action,” and emphasized that unlocking growth often starts with listening to the pain points advisors face when serving high-net-worth clients or attempting to grow via inorganic means.

Meanwhile, Brashaw’s arrival signals Merit Financial Advisors’ intent to go deeper into employer-sponsored retirement plans—a growing opportunity as U.S. regulatory changes and demographic shifts spur expansion in the 401(k) market. Brashaw was previously Head of Employer Plan Consulting at Osaic, overseeing more than 23,000 plans and approximately $80 billion in assets. His portfolio also included launching award-winning retirement communities and developing advisory strategies for the Gen-X and millennial workforce.

Brashaw’s focus will be on positioning Merit Financial Advisors’ advisors to serve the anticipated surge in 401(k) plans, which are projected to grow from 700,000 to over 1 million by 2030, driven by state mandates and the expansion of SECURE 2.0 legislation.

What does this mean for Merit Financial Advisors’ platform strategy and institutional positioning?

Merit Financial Advisors, which operates across more than 55 offices nationwide, managed $20.78 billion in assets as of September 30, 2025, including $15.83 billion in advisory assets, $2.65 billion in brokerage assets, and $2.3 billion in retirement assets. Its dual-platform strategy of supporting both independent broker-dealer and RIA affiliation models, has made it a versatile home for advisors across business models and asset tiers.

Merit Financial Advisors’ expansion strategy is underpinned by the backing of Constellation Wealth Capital, an alternative asset manager focused on the wealth advisory sector. Constellation’s investment model is built around long-term capital support, strategic M&A, and operating leverage—qualities that make it uniquely positioned to help scaled RIAs like Merit compete in a consolidating landscape.

FP Transitions, a leading M&A advisory firm specializing in the wealth management industry, facilitated the Blueprint transaction. Although financial terms were not disclosed, the deal is expected to be accretive to both asset scale and talent density within the Merit platform.

How are industry observers viewing the pace and trajectory of Merit Financial Advisors’ consolidation?

Analysts tracking the registered investment advisor space believe Merit Financial Advisors is well-positioned to continue its roll-up strategy in 2026. The firm’s ability to execute more than 50 acquisitions while maintaining advisor retention, integrating diverse business models, and sustaining organic growth is viewed as a key differentiator.

With its leadership team expanding and key roles now filled in advisory support and employer plan strategy, Merit Financial Advisors appears to be addressing both sides of the growth equation: enhancing platform depth while unlocking new revenue channels. Sector observers expect the next phase of growth will include further acquisitions across high-income metropolitan regions, deeper retirement verticals, and strategic partnerships aimed at expanding its digital wealth and estate planning capabilities.

While private equity-backed consolidation has slowed for some midsized platforms due to rising interest rates and integration costs, Merit Financial Advisors’ operational discipline and alignment with strategic capital partners like Constellation Wealth Capital provide it with ample runway.

What signals should stakeholders and future partners watch in the coming quarters?

Advisors and institutional partners will be watching whether Merit Financial Advisors can fully integrate Blueprint without losing the firm’s regional identity or diluting its boutique service approach. The leadership hires of Hansen and Brashaw also raise expectations around internal platform modernization, employer plan activation, and productivity metrics at the advisor level.

Future performance indicators will likely include improvements in per-advisor AUM, wallet share growth in employer plans, and client retention in new regional markets. The success of the Capstone Method’s deployment across Merit Financial Advisors’ broader ecosystem could also provide a blueprint for incorporating proprietary planning frameworks in future acquisitions.

Given the current growth pace, investors will also watch for potential entry into untapped geographies such as the Pacific Northwest or Mid-Atlantic, along with any vertical-specific moves into estate, trust, or digital advice platforms.

As the wealth management industry continues to consolidate, Merit Financial Advisors is signaling that it intends not just to grow, but to lead through talent, technology, and a national footprint that still feels personal.

What are the key takeaways from Merit Financial Advisors’ latest acquisition and leadership expansion?

• Merit Financial Advisors has acquired Blueprint Wealth Advisors, adding $1.2 billion in assets under management and expanding into Chicago and Madison markets.

• This marks Merit Financial Advisors’ 52nd acquisition and follows its recent deal with Mennenga Tax & Financial, which added $715 million in assets.

• Blueprint’s leadership, including Ryan Evans and Nick Wilkins, will join Merit Financial Advisors as Regional Directors and Partners, bringing a team known for strong organic growth and a proprietary planning model, The Capstone Method.

• The acquisition strengthens Merit Financial Advisors’ presence in Illinois and Wisconsin, targeting the high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth segments across key Midwest regions.

• Merit Financial Advisors has appointed Alex Hansen as Chief Advisor Success Officer to drive advisor enablement, practice scalability, and internal feedback loops.

• Brian Brashaw has joined as Vice President of Employer Plan Solutions to lead growth in the 401(k) and retirement plan segment, a sector expected to expand significantly by 2030 under SECURE 2.0.

• Both leadership roles are newly created and align with Merit Financial Advisors’ intent to modernize its platform and scale advisor capabilities across wealth and retirement verticals.

• Merit Financial Advisors currently manages $20.78 billion across advisory, brokerage, and retirement assets, and operates more than 55 offices nationally.

• Backed by Constellation Wealth Capital, Merit Financial Advisors is viewed as one of the most active and well-resourced consolidators in the RIA space.

• Analysts and institutional partners are expected to closely monitor Merit Financial Advisors’ advisor retention, per-advisor AUM growth, integration of proprietary planning frameworks, and further regional expansion.