Merit Financial Advisors Expands West Coast Footprint with $900M Bridgeway Group Acquisition — Merit Financial Group, LLC (Merit Financial Advisors)

Event summary

Merit Financial Advisors acquired The Bridgeway Group, a Southern California wealth management firm with $900M in AUM.
The deal closed on July 31, 2026, marking Merit's 61st acquisition and ninth partnership in 2026.
Bridgeway's nine-person team will join Merit, with partners Matt Dupon and Sean Montgomery becoming Wealth Managers and Scott Miller assuming the role of Area Director.
This is the sixth team formerly affiliated with Commonwealth Financial Network to join Merit since LPL Financial's acquisition of Commonwealth.

The big picture

This acquisition is part of Merit's national expansion strategy, targeting high-quality, growth-focused firms. The deal reflects broader industry consolidation trends following LPL Financial's acquisition of Commonwealth, as independent advisory firms seek scale and infrastructure support. With $30.1B in AUM, Merit continues to position itself as a major player in the wealth management space.

What we're watching

West Coast Expansion: How Merit will leverage Bridgeway as a platform for further growth in Southern California.
Integration Challenges: Whether Merit can maintain Bridgeway's client-centric culture while scaling operations.
Talent Development: The pace at which Scott Miller can develop the next generation of advisors within the merged entity.