Merit Financial Advisors acquired Moldenhauer & Associates, an Orchard Park, New York-based wealth management firm overseeing approximately $1.1 billion in client assets. The firm serves nearly 1,900 households.
Founder Brett Moldenhauer and the firm’s 12 employees will join Merit while remaining in their existing Orchard Park office.
The acquisition establishes Merit’s presence in the Buffalo and Western New York market.
Moldenhauer & Associates becomes the tenth former Commonwealth Financial Network practice to join Merit.
Merit manages more than $32.92 billion in assets across more than 70 offices nationwide and has completed 63 acquisitions.
The Moldenhauer transaction represents Merit’s twelfth partnership of 2026.
Moldenhauer & Associates was founded by Brett Moldenhauer’s father, Richard Moldenhauer.
Brett joined the business more than two decades ago and now leads a multigenerational advisory team focused largely on clients approaching and living in retirement.
The practice is on pace to add approximately $100 million in new assets this year.
Its assets have grown from less than $150 million when it joined Commonwealth in 2016 to more than $1 billion.
Moldenhauer said the Merit partnership will provide additional support across marketing, human resources, technology, operations, succession planning, and other areas as the practice continues growing.
KEY QUOTES:
“Moldenhauer & Associates is exactly the type of firm we want to partner with as we continue expanding Merit. Brett and his team have built an exceptional business with a strong culture, deep client relationships and an impressive track record of organic growth.”
David Wahlen, Executive Vice President, Strategic Partners at Merit Financial Advisors
“We want to continue growing at a meaningful pace, and we realized that having greater support around areas such as marketing, human resources, technology and operations would allow our advisors and staff to spend more time focused on clients and on the future of the firm. Merit gives us the opportunity to do that.”
Brett Moldenhauer, Founder of Moldenhauer & Associates
