Merit Financial Advisors Acquires $888M Practice

Merit Financial Advisors, an Atlanta-based RIA with $30.1 billion in assets, has welcomed financial advisor Tim Brennan and his team. This marks Merit's 11th partnership of 2026 and its 62nd acquisition. Brennan's practice oversees approximately $888 million in client assets across more than 1,000 households from Deerfield, Illinois.

This acquisition strategically enhances Merit's footprint in the Chicago market, following its establishment of an office there last year. Brennan, who spent nearly 27 years at Commonwealth Financial Network, expressed his enthusiasm for joining a growing firm. Merit noted that Brennan's team also manages a $57 million advisory practice in Wisconsin, maintaining an office in the Fond du Lac/Oshkosh region.

Merit has been actively attracting advisors from Commonwealth since LPL Financial acquired the firm last year. Brennan's move, which includes him receiving equity in Merit, pushes the total assets acquired from Commonwealth advisors to over $5.7 billion. Merit's expansion in Chicago aims to capitalize on the region's growth potential by partnering with established leaders like Brennan.