Rick Kent’s impact as CEO of Merit Financial Advisors over the past 12-18 months has been both exceptional and defining. While Rick has been recognized as a CEO of the Year finalist in prior years, this year stands apart because he has transformed Merit from a highly active acquirer into a more balanced, scalable and sustainable growth enterprise. Under his leadership, Merit completed 22 acquisitions, expanded to 70 offices, added 258 employees, and grew to 17,479 client households by April 30, 2026. What distinguishes Rick is not only the scale of Merit’s growth, but the intentional way he has built the firm for the future. He has placed significant focus on organic growth, creating measurable growth tracks across referral partnerships, client workshops, digital marketing, ESOP opportunities and employer plan solutions.