Mercer Advisors was founded by Rick Mercer, a tax and estate attorney, in 1985. From its inception, the firm has been dedicated to connecting the dots for families. In 2008, Mercer Advisors welcomed its first private equity investor. In 2012, the firm made a strategic decision to establish distinct Sales and Service teams, allowing advisors to remain focused on serving existing clients while partnering with dedicated Sales Professionals to attract new clients. In 2017, Mercer Advisors committed to mergers and acquisitions as a key growth strategy. As of December 31, 2024, the firm has completed 96 acquisitions. In 2020, Mercer Advisors launched the Path to Partnership program, which has grown to include over 450 employee-owners, reinforcing the firm's One Team approach.
Mercer Advisors markets itself as a client-centric firm that offers a wide range of services, including investment management, financial planning, estate planning, tax planning, and retirement planning. The firm highlights its commitment to fiduciary responsibility, ensuring that clients' interests are always prioritized. Mercer Advisors also emphasizes its team of experienced professionals who provide tailored advice and solutions to meet the unique needs of each client.
Mercer's investment philosophy is grounded in academic research, real-world data, and experience, employing a factor-based approach that integrates both active and passive strategies. With scale, the firm provides broader investment access, enhanced diversification, lower costs, strategic tax management, and disciplined decision-making through a dedicated investment committee. The firm's team of experts assists in evaluating and implementing tailored investment solutions, recognizing that each client’s needs are unique. Rejecting a one-size-fits-all approach, they firm prioritizes collaboration to understand existing strategies and develop customized plans. Mercer offers extensive resources and expertise in investment management, supported by a 50+ member Investment Committee with seven specialized sub-committees. Clients have access to a diverse range of investment options, including over 225 model portfolios, 100+ separately managed account (SMA) solutions, and numerous alternative investments across private equity, venture capital, real estate, and infrastructure. By leveraging scale, Mercer reduces investment costs for clients while providing seamless access to these solutions without additional fees. The firm's investment offerings include individual stocks, bonds, ETFs, mutual funds, and alternative investments, with specialized strategies such as factor-based investing, ESG/SRI, tax overlay, covered call writing, and income investing.
Full Acquisition
Yes. For further information, please contact Alaris.
Yes
For further information, please contact Alaris.
For further information, please contact Alaris.
Mercer aims for its partners to fully adopt its brand, with the process taking place over a period of 6 to 12 months.
All back office operations and technology will be centralized on day one.
Mercer takes this off the advisor's plate and maintains a centralized P&L.
Utilizing the technology stack that drives the client experience is required; however, advisors are encouraged to maintain their unique flair in delivering the Mercer story. This balance ensures consistency in the client experience while allowing advisors the flexibility to personalize their approach.
All partners will undergo the talent mapping process as part of their transition to Mercer's practice management system.
Partners will fully divest to a centralized investment management team. The ideal timeline for this transition is part of the integration "model mapping process," which takes into account capital gains considerations. Within a year, the investment management team will begin evaluating the progress outlining.
Mercer is dedicated to supporting new partners in achieving the best work of their careers by allowing them to focus on their passions while alleviating the operational, technological, and compliance burdens. This approach enables partners to attain greater balance and fulfillment in their professional lives. Mercer has established and cultivated strategic national partnerships, along with traditional centers of influence (COIs), driving substantial organic growth and positioning the firm among the fastest-growing in the United States. Committed to empowering its partners, Mercer provides comprehensive resources that enhance client services and create expanded opportunities for employees. To foster continuous professional development, the firm hosts Mercer Academies throughout the year, offering education and training for its staff. Additionally, the firm brings all wealth advisors together annually for symposiums featuring specialized learning tracks based on role, tenure, and expertise, providing valuable opportunities for employees to connect, collaborate, and learn from one another.
Mercer maintains a centralized para-planning team of 64 professionals, promoting consistency and collaboration with wealth advisors and financial planners.
Mercer centralizes all back-office functions, including compliance, marketing, P&L management, technology, investment management, support resources (CSS), and business development support. This streamlined approach allows advisors to focus on client-facing activities, enhancing their ability to serve clients effectively.
Mercer offers a comprehensive range of financial services, supported by dedicated teams and strategic partnerships. Its estate planning services are backed by 13 in-house JDs and a team of 45 employees, with document drafting handled internally through a dedicated law firm. Additional fees apply, including an annual fee of $16,000, with attorney-led processes included for higher amounts and client-led processes available at no charge. For insurance, Mercer provides both employee benefits and personal lines coverage. Its qualified and non-qualified retirement plans manage a total of $2.5 billion across 730 plans. Retirement and income planning services ensure clients receive tailored strategies for long-term financial security. Tax preparation is managed by a 100-person team, including 52 CPAs, processing over 5,000 returns annually. Services are available for a separate fee starting at $850, while clients with $10M+ in assets receive tax preparation as part of their fee. Mortgage and banking services are offered through third-party relationships. Executive compensation planning and family office services cater to high-net-worth (HNW) and ultra-high-net-worth (UHNW) clients, with custom services such as bill pay available for Ascend ($5M–$20M) and Regis ($20M+) clients. Exit planning and investment banking services are facilitated through external referrals. Corporate trustee services are provided via third-party platforms. Employee benefits, including health and disability insurance, are available to businesses. Elderly care support is offered at no charge across all client segments, with a dedicated team that assesses and recommends the best care options, including daycare solutions.
Mercer employs a multi-faceted approach to business growth, leveraging referrals, digital marketing, event marketing, and dedicated sales support. Its referral strategy includes word-of-mouth and custodial referrals through Schwab and Fidelity, supported by regional vice presidents (RVPs) who use a specialized matching tool to connect leads with the most suitable advisors. On the digital front, Mercer utilizes social media with a dedicated social media manager and the Hearsay platform, allowing advisors to access and share marketing-approved content. Paid digital efforts include LinkedIn outreach by RVPs, while additional lead generation comes from platforms like SmartAsset, Dataline, and WiserAdvisor. Mercer’s event marketing team assists advisors with local events, client appreciation initiatives, “bring a friend” gatherings, and nonprofit sponsorships. Its content marketing strategy includes a centralized newsletter, though advisors who prefer writing their own can continue doing so with compliance approval. M&A and recruiting efforts are supported by a dedicated task force of senior executives who implement a growth activation strategy for newly acquired firms. This team assesses historical growth efforts, enhances existing strategies, and integrates Mercer’s resources to drive expansion. Mercer’s marketing team consists of 25–27 professionals providing extensive advisor support, including thousands of marketing collateral pieces. Additionally, a team of 100 sales professionals focuses solely on onboarding new clients, managing paperwork, and assisting in the account setup process.
Mercer invests in the continuous professional development of its advisors through training programs, certifications, and industry conferences.