Independent Fee-Only Financial Planning

Are You Seeking Competent, Personalized Financial Advice You Can Trust?

Merit Financial Partners can help you every step of the way.

  • Founded in 2006
  • Fee-Only Fiduciaries
  • CFP® Professionals
  • Westport, CT & New York City

How We Can Help

If you are seeking a dedicated, personalized financial advisor you can trust, you have come to the right place. We are fee only fiduciary financial planners. Whether you seek:

Now you have an advocate. Someone who is on YOUR side and who takes the time to understand what YOU need. We are fiduciaries who strive to understand your financial goals, needs and concerns so that we can give you advice tailored just for you.

Who We Are

Founded in 2006, Merit Financial Partners, LLC is an independent Fee-Only financial planning and Registered Investment Advisory firm with offices in New York City and Westport CT.

Our advisors are CFP® professionals and fiduciaries who specialize in providing investment portfolio management and financial planning services to individuals and families.

As independent Fee-Only advisors, we work solely for our clients. Because no commissions are ever received, potential conflicts of interest regarding compensation are removed.

Clients have the flexibility to engage us on either a one-time, as-needed or ongoing basis.

  • CFP® certification mark
  • American Institute of CPAs (AICPA)
  • National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA)
  • Certified Public Accountant (CPA)

How We Work

  1. Your initial consultation

    First, we talk. We get to know each other and lay out a foundation to move forward. We will ask you what your goals are, your attitudes about money, your life stage, financial obligations, and more.

  2. Financial planning

    After your initial consultation, we will recommend a suitable plan or customized package to help you to reach your goals.

  3. Investment portfolio management

    You may choose to engage our firm to implement investment strategies recommended in your financial plan. We pride ourselves on providing you with personal, reliable ongoing advice on your investments and financial planning concerns.

We are committed to a fiduciary standard; we are bound to place clients’ interests above that of the firm.

Meet Our Advisors

Our advisors are CFP® professionals and fiduciaries, serving clients from our offices in Westport, CT and New York City.

Meet the whole team
Michael Terry
CFP®

Michael earned his CFP® designation in 1995 while working as Editorial Financial Manager for Money Magazine. He focuses on early retirement strategies, asset allocation, college planning, and general financial planning, and has been a contributor and expert advisor to publications like Money Magazine, Consumer Reports, and the Queens Ledger.

Read Michael’s full bio
Elizabeth Cox
CPACFP®

Elizabeth is deeply committed to helping clients achieve strength and independence through life transitions. She is trained as a financial specialist in mediation and the collaborative divorce process, and her experience includes 12 years of international bond and equity trading on Wall Street.

Read Elizabeth’s full bio
Hrefna S. Martin
CFP®EA

Hrefna works with clients on an as-needed hourly basis for specific planning needs, or on an ongoing basis to implement and monitor their financial plans and manage or advise on their investments. She previously worked at Cox Financial Services (Merit's predecessor), Resnick Advisors, and Novos Planning Associates.

Read Hrefna’s full bio
Ed Esposito
CFP®EA

Ed is an Enrolled Agent (EA) admitted to practice before the IRS, helping clients with their tax and accounting needs and their complete financial picture. He received his Certificate in Financial Planning from New York University.

Read Ed’s full bio
Joe Manno
CFP®

Joe brings more than two decades of experience in financial services, strategic planning, and client engagement, helping individuals and families gain clarity and confidence in their financial lives. Before joining Merit, he advised clients on wealth management and retirement planning at The Dowling Group in Greenwich, Connecticut.

Read Joe’s full bio

Meet the whole team

With You Every Step of the Way

Contact us today to see how easy it is to get started.

Contact Us