Middleton, WI Office

William Meland is a financial advisor at Merit Financial Advisors with 24 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses. Prior to joining Merit in 2025, he spent 21 years at Pillar Wealth Management Co. Merit Financial Group, LLC is an SEC-registered advisory firm with 144 advisors managing approximately $10.6 billion. The firm serves a diverse client base including individuals, businesses, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations, offering asset management, financial planning, and specialized services such as independent fiduciary and ESOP trustee work.

Crew Risgaard is a financial advisor at Merit Financial Advisors with Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and one year of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments, Pillar Wealth Management Co., and Kovitz Investment Group. He also provides fixed insurance advice based on client needs. Merit Financial Group, LLC is an SEC-registered advisory firm managing approximately $10.6 billion and serving a diverse client base including individuals, businesses, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a long-term, diversified investment approach through customizable model portfolios and offers specialized services such as fiduciary and ESOP trustee work, supported by a central Investment Management team and an Investment Committee.

Patrick Sturm is a financial advisor at Merit Financial Advisors with 26 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has previously worked at Pillar Wealth Management Co., Russell Investments, Allspring Funds Management, and Strong Capital Management. He continues to be involved in the transition of Pillar Wealth Management, which was integrated into Merit Financial Advisors. Merit Financial Advisors is a multi-team registered investment adviser with over 260 advisors serving more than 20,000 clients across 66 offices. The firm provides a range of wealth-management services and employs a long-term, diversified investment approach using centrally managed portfolios overseen by an internal committee.

Cara Wolenec is a financial advisor at Merit Financial Advisors in Middleton, WI, holding a Series 65 designation with 13 years of industry experience. She worked at Pillar Wealth Management Co. from 2012 to 2025. Merit Financial Advisors is a multi-team registered investment adviser with 264 advisors serving over 20,000 clients across 66 offices, managing approximately $23.9 billion in assets. The firm offers coordinated wealth-management services and employs a long-term, diversified investment approach utilizing centrally managed model portfolios overseen by an internal Investment Management team and committee.

Brian Cleven is a financial advisor at Merit Financial Advisors with 24 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and previously worked at Pillar Wealth Management Co for 14 years, Madison Investment Advisors, LLC for one year, and Madison Investment Holdings, Inc. for nine years. Merit Financial Advisors is a multi-team registered investment adviser with 264 advisors serving over 20,000 clients across 66 offices. The firm offers coordinated wealth management services, utilizing a long-term, diversified investment approach managed by an internal team, with customization options for clients.