Atlanta-based Merit Financial Advisors on Wednesday announced the acquisition of The Bridgeway Group, a Southern California-based wealth management firm with offices in Pasadena and Covina that oversees about $900 million in client assets.
The transaction is Merit’s 61st acquisition to date, its ninth partnership in 2026, and strengthens its presence in Southern California.
Bridgeway is also the sixth team previously affiliated with Commonwealth Financial Network to join Merit since the announcement of Commonwealth’s acquisition by LPL Financial last year, Merit pointed out.
Other former Commonwealth affiliates to join Merit recently included Pradel Financial Group, a Seattle-based wealth management firm that added almost $420 million in assets under management (AUM) after that transaction was finalized on April 24, according to Merit.
The Bridgeway Group rebranded as Merit Financial Advisors upon the closing of the transaction, July 31, Merit said.
All members of Bridgeway’s nine-person team joined Merit, including longtime Bridgeway Partners Matt Dupon, Sean Montgomery and Scott Miller. All three of them are serving as Wealth Managers and Partners at Merit, with Miller also named Area Director.
David Wahlen, Executive Vice President, Strategic Partnerships at Merit, said, “Bridgeway brings together many of the qualities we look for in a partner: a deeply client-centric culture, a strong financial planning orientation, an experienced multi-generational team and a genuine desire to continue growing.”
Wahlen added, “Matt, Sean and Scott are entrepreneurial partners who want to invest in the future of their business and in Merit.”
Bridgeway was affiliated with Commonwealth for the last 13 years, growing about 22% annually during the past five years via a combination of market appreciation, acquisition and organic growth, Merit said.
“We knew we were going to make a transition, so it made sense to step back and ask where we wanted to go from here,” Dupon said in the news release. “We have built a strong business and want to keep growing, but continuing at this pace requires greater infrastructure and support. Merit gives us that support while allowing us to maintain the independence that has always been extremely important to us.”
Bridgeway generated organic growth mainly through referrals from clients and centers of influence, including attorneys and CPAs, Merit said. “The partners see an opportunity to build on that foundation through Merit’s marketing, technology, operational and growth resources while spending less time on administrative responsibilities,” the firm said.
Merit, which supports both the independent broker-dealer and RIA models, has more than 55 offices and managed about $30.1 billion in assets as of July 20, including $22.98 billion in advisory assets, $3.32 billion in brokerage assets, $2.65 billion in employer plans, and $1.8 billion in employee stock ownership plan assets.
Jeff Berman, Contributing Editor and Reporter at Wealth Solutions Report, can be reached at jeff.berman@wealthsolutionsreport.com.
