The dealmaking season in the financial world is off to a strategic start, with Atlanta-based Merit Financial Advisors announcing the acquisition of SSC Wealth, LLC, in a move that signals a deeper commitment to integrated tax and wealth planning for clients. This isn’t just a simple asset grab; the transaction, which adds approximately $259.6 million in assets under management (AUM) to Merit’s portfolio, also formalizes a long-term strategic partnership with the accounting powerhouse, SSC CPAs + Advisors.
For Merit, an already expansive Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) with over 55 offices across the U.S., the deal marks its 53rd acquisition and its first announced transaction of 2026. As of late 2025, Merit managed a little more than $20 billion in assets, making it a significant player in the industry.
A Partnership Focused on High-Net-Worth Planning
The real story behind this merger is the deliberate creation of a “purpose-built partnership,” designed to give high-net-worth individuals and business owners a more streamlined financial experience. SSC Wealth, which was the wealth management arm of the Topeka and Lawrence, Kansas-based SSC CPAs + Advisors, specialized in providing advanced tax strategies and business valuation alongside traditional wealth management services.
By acquiring the wealth division, Merit gains a team of four professionals, including Bert Falley, who joins as a Wealth Manager and Partner. Crucially, the long-term partnership ensures that SSC CPAs + Advisors, which employs more than 95 professionals, will remain an independent, fully employee-owned firm.
This structure is intentional. Instead of bringing tax services exclusively in-house, Merit’s leadership is focusing on a high-level collaboration with one of the most respected accounting firms in the country. This is an acknowledgment of the increasingly complex financial lives of affluent clients, where tax planning, succession strategy, and wealth management are inextricably linked.
Key Roles and Collaborative Growth
A central figure in bridging this new alliance is Michele Hammann. She will take on a dual role, serving as a Regional Vice President and Partner at Merit Financial Advisors while continuing her role as Chief Strategy Officer for SSC CPAs + Advisors. This dual appointment is designed to deepen the collaboration, ensuring a smoother flow of referrals and joint client engagement between SSC’s tax experts and Merit’s wealth advisors.
Rick Kent, CEO of Merit Financial Advisors, emphasized that this move is more than just about scale. “This is not a traditional acquisition,” he stated, highlighting that the core motivation is about organic growth, differentiation, and doing what is best for the client. The arrangement will allow Merit clients, particularly business owners, to access SSC’s specialized tax and business advisory capabilities, while SSC clients will gain an expanded pathway to Merit’s comprehensive wealth management services.
The acquisition of SSC Wealth, and the powerful partnership it enables, sets a distinct tone for the year. It shows that in today’s financial landscape, the future of high-end wealth management is not simply about bigger firms, but about smarter, more deeply integrated client solutions.