Merit Financial Advisors has acquired Towson Wealth Management, a Maryland-based advisory firm overseeing approximately $502.5 million in total client assets. The transaction expands Merit’s presence in the Mid-Atlantic and adds a multigenerational team serving approximately 350 client households.
Towson’s assets include approximately $297.5 million under management and $205 million under administration. The firm specializes in personal wealth management and comprehensive financial planning and has built much of its business through referrals and long-term client relationships.
The acquisition was completed on July 17, 2026. Financial and legal terms were not disclosed, and Towson Wealth Management has rebranded as Merit Financial Advisors.
Towson CEO Kurt Wiegert and the firm’s entire four-person team will join Merit. Wiegert will serve as a wealth manager and partner, while the acquired firm’s two next-generation advisors and an additional team member will continue supporting its clients and future growth.
The transaction gives the Towson team access to Merit’s technology, marketing, operations and business development resources. These capabilities are intended to reduce the amount of time the acquired firm’s advisors spend building internal infrastructure while allowing them to focus on financial planning, client service and expansion within the Towson and greater Baltimore markets.
The multigenerational structure of Towson’s team was a significant element of the transaction. Wiegert hired two advisors directly from college and developed structured career paths intended to create long-term professional opportunities and support eventual succession within the practice.
By joining a larger national platform, the team can access additional roles, resources and ownership opportunities while maintaining its planning-led service model. Merit expects its centralized infrastructure to help Towson extend the referral-based growth it has already achieved without reducing the personalized experience provided to existing households.
Merit is a national wealth management firm supporting independent broker-dealer and registered investment advisor operating models. The company had more than 55 offices and approximately $26 billion in total assets as of March 31, 2026, including $18.63 billion in advisory assets, $2.89 billion in brokerage assets, $2.7 billion in employer plans and $1.8 billion in employee stock ownership plan assets.
The acquisition adds an established Maryland client base to Merit’s national platform while giving the Towson team a larger organization through which it can expand. Merit provides financial planning and wealth management services to high-net-worth individuals, families and clients navigating major life transitions.
KEY QUOTES:
“We had reached a crossroads. I could spend more of my time building out the infrastructure necessary to scale the firm, or we could find the right partner with the technology, marketing, operational resources and leadership already in place.”
“I wanted our team to be able to focus on what we do best, serving clients while also creating the opportunity to significantly grow the business. Merit gives us the ability to do both.”
“I have always believed that talented people need to be able to see what is possible for them. I have two talented advisors who have been part of this journey from the beginning, and it was important to me that whatever came next would expand their opportunities rather than limit them.”
“They were part of this process from the start, and they see the tremendous upside in what we can build together with Merit.”
“It wasn’t about leaving where we were. It was about finding the right place for where we want to go next. What stood out about Merit was the people, the culture and the growth orientation.”
“I had the opportunity to meet other partners and hear directly about their experiences. There was a genuine openness and passion for building something better, not just maintaining the status quo.”
“I wanted to be part of a firm where partners have a voice and can help shape what comes next. Merit is ambitious, open to change and committed to learning and improving.”
“I believe our team can benefit from that environment, and I also believe we can contribute to Merit’s continued growth.”
Kurt Wiegert, Wealth Manager and Partner at Merit Financial Advisors and Former CEO of Towson Wealth Management
“Kurt has built an outstanding business, and what stood out to us was that he wasn’t looking to slow down. He was looking for the right platform to accelerate growth.”
“Towson has a strong client base, a talented next generation of advisors and significant opportunity in an attractive market. Our role is to bring the resources, technology, marketing and growth support that allow Kurt and his team to spend more time doing what they do best: serving clients and growing the business.”
“What makes this opportunity especially exciting is that Towson has built an impressive business almost entirely through referrals and the strength of its client relationships. There is already a tremendous foundation in place.”
“By surrounding the team with additional growth resources and infrastructure, we believe we can help them reach more families in the Towson and greater Baltimore communities while preserving the highly personal, planning-led approach that has driven their success.”
David Wahlen, Executive Vice President of Strategic Partners at Merit Financial Advisors
“The strength of this partnership goes well beyond the size of the business. Kurt has been very intentional about developing his next generation of talent and creating meaningful career opportunities for them.”
“That long-term mindset, combined with the team’s client-first approach to financial planning and genuine desire to grow, made Towson an exceptional cultural fit for Merit.”
Tyler Vernon, Managing Partner of Merit Financial Advisors
