Merit Financial Advisors ("Merit"), a Georgia-based financial advisory firm that specializes in financial planning and wealth management solutions for high-net-worth individuals and families and those navigating life transitions, announced it has acquired AMP Wealth Management ("AMP"). This acquisition enhances Merit's presence in the Midwest, adding its seventh office in Wisconsin, and increasing its assets by $365 million.

Based in Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin, AMP specializes in investment management and initially focused on serving dental professionals but has expanded to affluent individuals and small businesses. The firm offers an individualized dividend stock strategy backed by over 20 years of GIPS-compliant performance, which will be integrated into Merit's investment platform. By joining Merit, AMP will benefit from its advanced back-office solutions, access to more technology, and the opportunity to align with a larger, growth-oriented firm. Dr. Jerome Mahalick, AMP's founder and a board-certified prosthodontist, will be joining Merit as Wealth Manager alongside his team, Greg Mahalick, Jamie Breen, and Stacey Horn.

"Joining forces with Merit allows us to align with a larger firm that shares our values while gaining access to the resources and support we need to better serve our clients," said Jerome. "We're also eager to bring our investment strategies to a broader platform."

This is Merit's thirty-ninth acquisition since taking a minority investment in December 2020 from Wealth Partners Capital Group ("WPCG") and a group of strategic investors led by HGGC's Aspire Holdings platform. Last month, Merit acquired RCM Investments, which expanded Merit's assets by $281 million and marked Merit's first office in Utah. It also acquired Olympic Wealth, adding a fifth office in Washington and increasing its assets by $204 million.

"AMP's dividend-focused strategies and long-standing GIPS-compliant performance bring a distinct advantage to our investment platform," said Zachary and Josh Mersberger, Managing Principals and Partners at Merit. "We're excited to incorporate their investment approach for Merit's clients and expand our presence in Wisconsin."