A Connecticut-based wealth management team overseeing $1.7 billion in assets has built a distinctive platform that combines wirehouse resources with independent flexibility. Merritt Point Wealth Advisors, operating under Wells Fargo Advisors’ FiNet independent arm, has grown from five team members in 2019 to 35 professionals today, including 22 advisors serving approximately 1,250 households across multiple locations.
Led by Jason Andrews alongside senior members Beth Cutler and Ross Bauer, the Old Greenwich-based team maintains offices in Manhattan, Greenwich, Westport, and two Texas locations. According to Andrews, the firm’s rapid expansion stems from its flexible affiliation models that allow individual advisors to maintain their specializations while accessing comprehensive support services.
Flexible Wealth Management Platform Attracts Diverse Advisory Talent
Merritt Point Wealth Advisors distinguishes itself through two affiliation structures designed to accommodate different advisor preferences. The “full affiliation” model provides advisors with wirehouse-style grid payouts while the firm handles marketing, technology, human resources, and operational infrastructure. Meanwhile, the “affiliation light” option enables greater independence while Merritt Point manages compliance and technology oversight.
This structural flexibility has proven essential to the team’s growth strategy. Andrews, who began his career at PaineWebber in 1999 building a client base through cold calling, emphasized that the platform allows advisors to maintain their individual practices within the broader organization. Each advisor brings distinct specializations, creating a diverse service offering that appeals to the firm’s predominantly business-owner clientele.
Digital Communication Strengthens Client Engagement
The wealth management team has embraced digital tools to maintain strong client relationships across its geographic footprint. According to the firm, Merritt Point publishes quarterly newsletters featuring advisor-written market commentary and regular updates from Andrews. Additionally, the team conducts frequent Zoom-based educational events alongside live sessions covering market conditions, estate planning, next-generation planning, and college savings strategies.
Centers of influence play a significant role in the firm’s business development approach. CPAs, estate attorneys, and outside managers frequently participate in presentations, creating referral networks that have contributed to the team’s growth. This collaborative approach has helped Merritt Point build relationships with sophisticated clients seeking comprehensive financial guidance.
Investment Approach Emphasizes Diversification Over Market Timing
Rather than imposing a uniform investment philosophy across all advisors, Merritt Point allows individual professionals to maintain their own portfolio construction approaches. However, the team shares market perspectives internally and emphasizes certain broad principles. According to Andrews, the firm focuses on diversification across asset classes and geographies, incorporating domestic and international equities and fixed income, supplemented with hedging strategies.
The wealth management platform does not aim to significantly outperform market indices. Instead, Andrews stated that the focus remains on diversification and long-term planning. Depending on client needs, portfolios may include alternatives and managed-futures exposure alongside ETFs and individual securities, with individual fixed income remaining a meaningful allocation for many clients.
Client Communication Central to Risk Management
Andrews offers clients straightforward guidance centered on staying invested through market volatility. The team advises against attempting to time the market, instead encouraging clients to remain committed to their long-term strategies. However, Andrews emphasizes the importance of open communication about stress and sleep disruption related to portfolio concerns, viewing these conversations as crucial indicators of true risk tolerance that may require portfolio adjustments.
The firm’s journey included navigating significant industry disruption, including the 2008 financial crisis when Wachovia, their employer at the time, failed and was acquired by Wells Fargo. That experience appears to have shaped the team’s emphasis on stability and long-term planning. The continued expansion of Merritt Point Wealth Advisors will likely depend on attracting additional advisors seeking the platform’s combination of independence and institutional support infrastructure.
