Merit Financial Advisors Expands Mountain West Footprint with $586M SRP Acquisition
Event summary
- Merit Financial Advisors acquired Strategic Retirement Plans (SRP), a Montana-based firm managing $586M in client assets, including $582M in AUM.
- The deal, finalized March 27, 2026, marks Merit's 57th acquisition and expands its presence in Montana and Wyoming.
- SRP's founders Gabe Lapito and Ryan Gomendi join Merit as Area Directors and Partners.
- SRP will rebrand under Merit, gaining access to its investment platform and operational infrastructure.
The big picture
This acquisition continues Merit's national expansion strategy, targeting high-quality advisory teams in key markets. The deal reflects broader industry consolidation trends as firms scale to compete with larger wealth management platforms. With $24.69B in AUM as of January 2026, Merit is positioning itself as a formidable player in the independent RIA space.
What we're watching
- Integration Challenges
- How Merit will assimilate SRP's client base and team into its existing infrastructure.
- Market Expansion
- Whether this acquisition signals further expansion into energy-sector-heavy regions.
- Growth Strategy
- The pace at which Merit can sustain its acquisition-driven growth model.
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