Merit Financial Adds Tim Brennan and $888M Practice, Expands in Chicago Area

# What happened Merit Financial Advisors, an Atlanta-based registered investment advisor with about $30.1 billion in assets under management, has added veteran financial advisor Tim Brennan and his team. The group oversees approximately $888 million in client assets and serves more than 1,000 households. They will remain based in Deerfield, Illinois.

Brennan spent nearly 27 years at Pinnacle Financial Group, a firm affiliated with Commonwealth Financial Network, which he co-founded. According to filings, Pinnacle Financial Group will continue under his co-founder Jim Santos after Brennan's departure.

Brennan framed the move as growth-oriented. He said, "After 37 years in this business, I still love what I do, and I still want to grow." He added that Merit appealed to him because of "the opportunity to be part of a firm that is building something and continuing to evolve."

# Why Merit made the move This marks Merit's 11th partnership in 2026 and its 62nd acquisition to date. Merit's executive vice president for strategic partners, David Wahlen, described cultural fit and collaboration as central to Merit's recruitment approach, noting that Brennan consulted with the Blueprint team during his decision process. Wahlen said Merit emphasizes "culture, collaboration, [and] healthy competition" and described the firm as a "tight-knit family."

Merit has been actively growing its footprint in the Chicago market. The firm established a Chicago office last year by acquiring Blueprint Wealth Advisors, and Wahlen said Brennan's northern Chicago presence aligns with those expansion plans.

# Practical implications for clients and the market

• Local continuity: Brennan's practice will remain in Deerfield, Ill., which should minimize disruption for the roughly 1,000 households he serves.
• Scale and resources: Joining a $30.1 billion RIA may give Brennan access to broader operational, investment and service resources that Merit provides to its partner teams.
• Regional reach: The acquisition strengthens Merit's coverage of the Chicago area, adding a northern suburban presence to the office opened through last year's Blueprint acquisition.

# How this fits industry patterns Several teams affiliated with Commonwealth have moved to RIA firms like Merit since LPL Financial's acquisition of Commonwealth last year. Merit's recruiting pattern includes conversations among teams already at the firm, as Wahlen said Brennan engaged with the Blueprint team while deciding.

# What to watch next

• Brennan's team operationally and which platform or service changes clients may see.
• Further Chicago growth: Whether Merit will pursue additional hires or acquisitions in the Chicago region to build on this northern suburban foothold.
• Pinnacle Financial Group's continuity under Jim Santos and how that firm's strategy evolves without Brennan.

# Bottom line Merit added an established Illinois advisory team managing roughly $888 million in assets, reinforcing the firm's Chicago expansion and continuing a string of partnerships in 2026. The team will stay in Deerfield, preserving local client relationships while operating within Merit's larger RIA platform.