Merit acquires veteran Commonwealth advisor with Next-Generation team and plans to accelerate growth in Illinois and Wisconsin
ATLANTA, Sept. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Merit Financial Advisors (“Merit”), a Georgia-based financial advisory firm specializing in financial planning and wealth management solutions for high-net-worth individuals and families and those navigating life transitions, today announced that veteran financial advisor Tim Brennan and his team have been acquired by Merit, further expanding the firm’s presence in the greater Chicago market. Brennan previously operated through a firm affiliated with Commonwealth Financial Network, where he spent nearly 27 years.
With more than $32.92 billion in assets across more than 70 offices nationwide, Merit has become one of the wealth management industry’s most active growth firms, completing 62 acquisitions to date. This marks the firm’s eleventh partnership in 2026.
Brennan’s practice oversees approximately $888 million in client assets and serves more than 1,000 households. Based in Deerfield, Illinois, Brennan has spent 37 years in the financial services industry and has built his business organically. His practice serves a broad range of clients, with particular experience working with business owners and high-net-worth families.
The addition represents another significant step in Merit’s expansion throughout Chicagoland, where the firm established a presence last year through its partnership with Blueprint Wealth Advisors. Merit sees the combination of established local teams, experienced advisors and growing next-generation talent as the foundation for continued expansion in the region.
“Tim is exactly the type of advisor and leader we want to partner with as we continue building our presence in Chicago,” said David Wahlen, Executive Vice President/Strategic Partners of Merit Financial Advisors. “He has an exceptional track record of serving clients, developing talent and growing his business almost entirely through referrals. He and his team also share the client-first, entrepreneurial culture we value at Merit. With Tim’s presence in Deerfield and our existing team in Chicago, we believe we are creating a very strong platform for growth throughout the region.”
Brennan said the opportunity to continue growing, both personally and professionally, was a major factor in his decision.
“After 37 years in this business, I still love what I do and I still want to grow,” said Brennan. “What attracted me to Merit was the opportunity to be part of a firm that is building something and continuing to evolve. It reminds me of what it felt like earlier in my career to be part of a growing organization. There is energy, opportunity and a willingness to invest in what advisors and clients need next.”
Brennan was also attracted to Merit’s broader investment capabilities and resources for high-net-worth clients and business owners.
“As an advisor, I want to be able to bring clients the best solutions available for their circumstances,” Brennan said. “One of the things that stood out about Merit was the depth of investment expertise and the broader range of resources we can now bring to clients. That gives us the ability to have a more complete conversation and provide more comprehensive advice.”
Creating greater opportunities for his team, including a solid bench of next gen advisors, was another significant factor in Brennan’s decision.
From Merit’s perspective, Brennan’s focus on his team was one of the qualities that reinforced the cultural fit between the organizations.
“From the beginning, Tim was incredibly focused on making sure the people around him would be positioned for success,” said Wahlen. “That says a great deal about the kind of leader he is. We want to partner with advisors who are thinking not only about the next stage of their own careers, but about the next generation of their businesses.”
Brennan and his team will remain in their existing office in Deerfield, Illinois, a location that provides significant opportunity for continued growth across Chicago’s affluent northern suburbs.
The partnership also expands Brennan’s opportunity in Wisconsin. Brennan has operated a practice in the Fond du Lac/Oshkosh region for over 15 years and will continue operating that office with its existing local employees. Merit already has a substantial presence and infrastructure in Wisconsin, which the firm believes can help Brennan further grow the business.
In conjunction with his move to Merit, Brennan also completed the acquisition of an approximately $57 million Wisconsin advisory practice, further expanding his presence in the region.
“With Merit’s existing infrastructure in Wisconsin and the additional resources we now have behind us, I see a meaningful opportunity to grow that presence,” continued Brennan.
Merit also sees significant potential for collaboration between Brennan’s team and its other Chicagoland advisors, several of whom have known Brennan professionally for many years.
“We now have two outstanding teams in the Chicagoland market that know one another, respect one another and are already finding opportunities to collaborate,” said Wahlen. “That gives us the beginnings of a very scalable regional enterprise, and we are extremely bullish about what we can build from here.”
Brennan and his team were acquired by Merit effective September 10, 2026. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
About Merit Financial Advisors
Merit Financial Group, LLC, doing business as Merit Financial Advisors (“Merit”), is a national wealth management firm that supports both the independent broker-dealer and RIA models. Merit exists to enrich the lives of those they serve, and its mission is to revolutionize the client experience by building the wealth management firm of the future. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, Merit has over 55 offices throughout the U.S. and manages approximately $30.1 billion in assets as of July 20, 2026, including $22.982 billion in advisory assets, $3.32 billion in brokerage assets, $2.65 billion in employer plans, and $1.8 billion in ESOP assets. For more information, please visit www.meritfinancialadvisors.com. Investment advice offered through Merit Financial Group, LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser.
About Constellation Wealth Capital
Constellation Wealth Capital (CWC) is an alternative asset management platform dedicated to the wealth management sector. CWC provides flexible, long-term capital solutions and strategic advisory support to scaled wealth management platforms, leveraging deep industry expertise and an extensive network of relationships to help partner firms accelerate growth and create long-term value. Learn more at www.constellationwealthcapital.com.
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SOURCE Merit Financial Advisors
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