Merit Financial Advisors Acquires SSC Wealth, Forms Tax Planning Alliance

Event summary

  • Merit Financial Advisors acquired SSC Wealth LLC, adding $259.6M in AUM and four wealth management professionals.
  • The deal includes a strategic partnership with SSC CPAs + Advisors, a nationally recognized tax planning firm.
  • Michele Hammann will serve dual roles as Regional Vice President at Merit and Chief Strategy Officer at SSC CPAs + Advisors.
  • This is Merit's 53rd acquisition and first of 2026, following its 2025 acquisition of BluePrint Wealth Advisors ($1.2B AUM).
  • Merit managed $20.78B in assets as of September 30, 2025.

The big picture

This acquisition and partnership underscore Merit's strategy to differentiate itself through specialized tax planning capabilities, a growing need among business owners and high-net-worth clients. The deal reflects an industry trend where wealth management firms are forming strategic alliances with accounting firms to offer more holistic financial services. Merit's $20.78B AUM positions it as a significant player in the RIA space, and this move could further solidify its competitive standing.

What we're watching

Integration Dynamics
How Merit will blend SSC Wealth's professionals into its existing operations while maintaining the partnership with SSC CPAs + Advisors.
Client Retention
Whether the combined offering of wealth management and advanced tax planning will improve client stickiness and attract new high-net-worth individuals.
Organic Growth Strategy
The pace at which Merit can leverage this partnership to enhance its participation in custodial referral programs and drive organic growth.

Related topics

Acquisition