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Fee-Only Fiduciary Advisor · Seattle, WA
Fee-only, SEC-registered fiduciaries serving Seattle families and business owners — legally required to act in your interest, not ours.
Free, no obligation — and we will tell you if we are not the right fit.
$850M+
Assets Under Management
Trusted by Seattle families and business owners since 2008
18
Years Advising
Fee-only fiduciary advising — founded in Seattle in 2008, still here today
350+
Client Families
Relationships built on transparency, not commissions
Fiduciary
Standard — Always
SEC-registered RIA · legally required to act in your best interest
What We Do
We don’t sell products. We provide advice — and our fee structure means our recommendations are never influenced by commissions or proprietary products.
We work with you to develop a clear picture of what retirement looks like for your family — how much you need, when you can get there, and what decisions between now and then affect the outcome. No projections that promise a number; a process that builds clarity.
We build and manage diversified portfolios aligned to your goals and risk tolerance, using low-cost index funds where appropriate. We make investment decisions based on your plan — not on market speculation or proprietary products.
Tax-efficient investing, Roth conversion analysis, charitable giving strategies, and coordination with your CPA. We don't prepare tax returns, but we work closely with your tax professional to minimize lifetime tax burden.
Beneficiary designations, trust coordination, gifting strategies, and working with your estate attorney to ensure your wealth transfers the way you intend. We review estate documents as part of our onboarding process for every client.
Why Fiduciary
Most financial professionals are held to a "suitability" standard — meaning they can recommend products that are merely suitable, even if better options exist. Fiduciaries must recommend what’s best. The difference matters.
As a registered investment advisor, Meridian Wealth is bound by a fiduciary standard — we must always recommend what's best for you, not what generates the highest fee for us.
We charge a transparent advisory fee — either a percentage of assets under management or a flat retainer. We receive no commissions, no 12b-1 fees, no referral payments, and no payments from any financial product provider.
As an SEC-registered RIA, we file a Form ADV that discloses our fees, services, and any conflicts of interest. You can download it at any time from the SEC's IAPD database.
If your situation isn't a good fit for our firm, we'll tell you — and point you toward resources or advisors that are. We'd rather refer you well than onboard you poorly.
The Team
CFP® and CFA designations require rigorous exams, ongoing education, and adherence to a code of ethics. You can verify both at cfp.net and cfainstitute.org.
Founder & Lead Advisor
David founded Meridian Wealth after 12 years at a wirehouse where he grew frustrated with commission-based incentives. He holds the CFP® designation and specializes in retirement transition planning for Seattle professionals.
Investment Analyst
Elena manages portfolio construction and ongoing investment oversight. She holds the CFA designation and spent six years in institutional asset management before joining Meridian in 2021.
Client Perspectives
Past experience is not indicative of future results. Investment outcomes vary based on individual circumstances, market conditions, and other factors.
“David walked us through our retirement timeline in a way no one had before. We came in with three different 401(k)s from past jobs and no clear plan. We left with a consolidated picture and a concrete set of decisions to make each year.”
“What I appreciate most about Meridian is that David is direct about what we can control and honest about what we can't. He doesn't make promises about the market — he helps us plan around uncertainty. That's what I was looking for.”
“The first meeting was completely pressure-free. Lisa showed us exactly how our portfolio was constructed, what we were paying in fund fees, and how that compared to alternatives. Nobody had ever shown us the actual numbers before.”
Where We Work
Our advisors meet clients in person at our downtown Seattle office or via video call anywhere in the Pacific Northwest.
FAQ
Blog
Straightforward financial insights from a fee-only fiduciary advisor.
The word 'fiduciary' appears in every financial advisor search guide, but most people don't know what it legally means — or why the distinction matters when you're making six-figure planning decisions.
Read MoreThe Social Security claiming decision is one of the highest-value choices in retirement planning — and most people make it without calculating the full picture. Here's the framework we use.
Read MoreRoth conversions have become the default recommendation in personal finance media. The math isn't that simple. Here's how we evaluate whether a conversion makes sense for a specific client.
Read MoreYour Next Step
No sales pitch and no cost. We ask about your situation, explain exactly how we are paid, and tell you honestly whether we are the right fit.
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Investment advisory services offered through Meridian Wealth Partners, an SEC-registered investment advisor. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
