user avatar

Merlin Earl Ames

Advisor at Arete Wealth Advisors, LLC — Lancaster, WI

Updated today

Credentials

Series 63, Series 65

Experience

20 years

Location

Lancaster, WI 53813

Arete Wealth Advisors, LLC logo

Arete Wealth Advisors, LLC

Multi-team

Total advisors

149

Across 60 offices

Clients per advisor

36 Low

Avg AUM per client

$484,172 Typical

HNW client ratio

65% Very High

About

Merlin Ames is a financial advisor with Arete Wealth Advisors, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and possessing 20 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at National Asset Management, National Securities Corporation, and Edward Jones. Ames also owns Ames Investment and Retirement, a financial services business. Arete Wealth Advisors provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, pension plans, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations. The firm combines advisor-driven and proprietary rule-based portfolio models, uses third-party sub-advisers, and offers a range of planning and administrative services.

Client services

Based on Arete Wealth Advisors, LLC

Financial planning Portfolio management Pension consulting Selection of other advisers Newsletters or periodicals
Non-discretionary investment advice regarding securities of affiliates of masterworks.io, llc.

Expertise

Based on Arete Wealth Advisors, LLC

Active portfolio management Options & derivatives strategies Private / alternative investments Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Wealth management

Occupation focus

Based on Arete Wealth Advisors, LLC

Executive Founder/Business Owner

Not sure if this advisor is right for you?

Answer a few questions to see advisors matched to you.

Fee options

Fixed

Flat fixed fees for financial planning services, negotiated between Advisor and Client

Percentage

$0 - $249,000: 3.00% $250,000 - $749,999: 2.50% $750,000 - $1,499,999: 2.00% $1,500,000 - $4,999,999: 1.75% $5,000,000+: 1.50%

Commissions

Arete Advisors may receive commissions from insurance sales through affiliated insurance agency

Project-based

Hourly fees for financial planning services, negotiated between Advisor and Client

Performance-based

Performance-based fees or carried interest ranging from 5% to 20% on certain private funds as disclosed in offering documents

Other

Account minimum: $50,000 (generally required initial minimum account balance, may be waived based on individual needs and complexity) Fee-only: Hourly fees and flat fixed fees for financial planning services, negotiated between Advisor and Client

Location

See office

Lancaster, WI

207 W Maple Street, Suite B

Lancaster WI 53813

Advisors at this office

1

Most active in

Wisconsin

Work history

20 years of industry experience

Arete Wealth Advisors, LLC

2022 - Present • 4 years

Chicago, IL

Arete Wealth Management, LLC

2022 - Present • 4 years

Chicago, IL

National Asset Management

2018 - 2022 • 4 years

Lancaster, WI

National Securities Corporation

2016 - 2022 • 6 years

Lancaster, WI

Edward Jones

2006 - 2011 • 5 years

Disclosures

Exclamation point means they have disclosures of this type. Check mark means no disclosures of this type were found.

Business activities & affiliations

user avatar

John D

Series 65

Platteville, WI

Rosemeyer Management Group

John Drefcinski is a financial advisor at Rosemeyer Management Group with a Series 65 designation and one year of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Life Time Financial Services, The Insurance Center, and Northwestern Mutual, as well as experience outside the financial industry. Rosemeyer Management Group is a team-based SEC-registered advisory firm serving individuals, trusts, retirement plan sponsors, and other institutions. The firm manages approximately $691 million in client assets and employs a value-oriented, primarily long-only investment approach, tailoring portfolios to individual client needs and utilizing various analytical methods and strategies.

Active portfolio management Options & derivatives strategies Concentrated stock management Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Founder/Business Owner Executive
user avatar

Daniel B

Series 63, Series 65

Platteville, WI

United Advisors America

Daniel Baxter Sr. is a financial advisor with United Advisors America who holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 10 years of industry experience. He has worked at United Advisors America since 2017 and at Alliance America Corporation since 2016. Outside of his advisory role, he is an insurance agent specializing in life and health insurance. United Advisors America serves individual investors, particularly those at or near retirement, as well as pension and profit-sharing plans. The firm employs a Modern Portfolio Theory–based investment approach, utilizing model portfolios, target allocations with tolerance bands, and periodic rebalancing, while offering complementary financial planning upon request.

Annuities Long-term care insurance Social Security optimization Retirement income strategy Retired
user avatar

Kaley B

Series 66

Platteville, WI

Rosemeyer Management Group

Kaley Bockhop is a financial advisor at Rosemeyer Management Group with five years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and has worked at RMG Wealth Management, Rosemeyer Management Group, Compeer Financial, and Badgerland Financial. Outside of finance, she owns and operates Kaley's Cattle LLC, a livestock business. Rosemeyer Management Group is a team-based SEC-registered advisory firm serving individuals, trusts, retirement plan sponsors, and institutions. The firm manages approximately $691 million in client assets and employs a value-oriented, primarily long-only investment approach, tailoring portfolios to client needs while incorporating fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis.

Active portfolio management Options & derivatives strategies Concentrated stock management Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Founder/Business Owner Executive
user avatar

Brooklyn F

Series 65

Platteville, WI

Rosemeyer Management Group

Brooklyn Flanagan is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor at Rosemeyer Management Group with two years of industry experience. Brooklyn’s background includes roles in banking, tax and accounting, and community-related activities such as working with the Badger Mine & Museum and operating a daycare service. Rosemeyer Management Group provides discretionary asset management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting to a diverse client base, including high-net-worth individuals and plan sponsors. The firm employs a value-oriented, long-term investment approach combined with integrated financial planning and specialized retirement services.

Active portfolio management Options & derivatives strategies Concentrated stock management Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Founder/Business Owner Executive
user avatar

Jake M

Series 65

Platteville, WI

Rosemeyer Management Group

Jake Miller is a financial advisor at Rosemeyer Management Group in Platteville, WI, holding a Series 65 designation with one year of experience. His background includes service in the USAF National Guard and entrepreneurial work with Craft Spice Blends. Rosemeyer Management Group offers discretionary asset management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting to a range of clients, using a value-oriented, long-term investment approach combined with strategic asset allocation and periodic rebalancing.

Active portfolio management Options & derivatives strategies Concentrated stock management Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Founder/Business Owner Executive
user avatar

Dylan R

Series 65

Platteville, WI

Rosemeyer Management Group

Dylan Rasmason is a financial advisor at Rosemeyer Management Group with a Series 65 credential and one year of industry experience. His background includes roles at the University of Missouri in both the College of Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources and the Office for Financial Success, as well as positions in banking and retail. Rosemeyer Management Group provides discretionary asset management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting to a diverse client base including high-net-worth individuals, trusts, and corporate plan sponsors. The firm employs a value-oriented, long-term investment approach combined with strategic asset allocation and integrates financial planning with investment services.

Active portfolio management Options & derivatives strategies Concentrated stock management Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Founder/Business Owner Executive
Warmer team member

Not sure where to start?

We'll help you think it through—whether you ultimately need an advisor or not. Warmer helps you compare advisors clearly, so you can choose with confidence.

Find your advisor

For advisor listings, we rely on sources including public filings and data provided by advisors, and we cannot guarantee that all information is current or accurate. Advisors are independent and may not have reviewed or updated this information. Please review an advisor’s Form ADV and do your own diligence before deciding whether to work with them.

Advisor matching and introductions are provided by FinanceHQ LLC (“FHQ”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Warmer and an SEC-registered investment advisor. We receive compensation from certain participating advisors for introductions or referrals. This creates a conflict of interest because we have an incentive to recommend advisors who compensate us, including those who pay us more. You pay no fee to use our matching service, and advisor fees are not increased because of a referral or introduction. We do not review the ongoing performance of advisors, manage or hold assets, guarantee performance, or provide advice about specific investments.

By using our service, you agree to our Terms of Service and Advisory Agreement, and acknowledge our Privacy Policy. Please review FHQ’s ADV Part 2A and Form CRS. Logos provided by Logo.dev

© 2026 Warmer Holdings Inc. (“Warmer”)