Updated
Updated · PLANADVISER · Aug 12
Merit Financial Advisors Buys $900 Million Bridgeway Group, Lifting Reach in Southern California
Updated
Updated · PLANADVISER · Aug 12

Merit Financial Advisors Buys $900 Million Bridgeway Group, Lifting Reach in Southern California

3 articles · Updated · PLANADVISER · Aug 12

Summary

  • Bridgeway Group closed its sale to Merit on July 31 and has already rebranded as Merit Financial Advisors, bringing its Pasadena- and Covina-based wealth business under the Atlanta firm's name.
  • The acquired firm oversees $900 million in assets and has a nine-person team focused on financial planning, investment management and retirement planning; all employees are joining Merit.
  • Matt Dupon and Sean Montgomery will become wealth manager and partner at Merit, while Scott Miller will take the roles of area director, wealth manager and partner.
  • Merit managed $30.1 billion in assets as of July 20, including $22.98 billion in advisory assets, as it continues expanding through acquisitions.

Insights

After closing its ninth partnership of 2026, is Merit's aggressive acquisition strategy a masterclass in scaling or a recipe for operational burnout?
How does a wealth management firm promise to preserve independence while completely rebranding and absorbing smaller teams into a $30 billion giant?
With six Commonwealth teams defecting to Merit after the LPL buyout, what is driving this mass exodus of financial advisors?