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Mercer Global Advisors Review

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This review was produced by SmartAsset based on publicly available information. The named firm and its financial professionals have not reviewed, approved, or endorsed this review and are not responsible for its accuracy. Review content is produced by SmartAsset independently of any business relationships that might exist between SmartAsset and the named firm and its financial professionals, and firms and financial professionals having business relationships with SmartAsset receive no special treatment or consideration in SmartAsset’s reviews. This page contains links to SmartAsset’s financial advisor matching tool, which may or may not match you with the firm mentioned in this review or its financial professionals.

Recognized as a Best Private Wealth Manager by the Private Asset Management (PAM) awards (among other accolades), Mercer Global Advisors has consistently distinguished itself as a leading investment advisor. Mercer also ranks on SmartAsset's lists of the top financial advisors in Denver and Colorado., as well as the U.S. rankings.

Mercer is a large, fee-only financial advisor firm with its headquarters in Denver. The firm is responsible for tens of billions in client assets under management (AUM). Its client base consists primarily of individuals, though some institutional clients work with the firm. Mercer's advisors, who are spread across more than 50 offices throughout the country, provide services that range from financial planning and portfolio management to retirement plan consulting and even tax preparation.

Mercer Global Advisors Background

Kendrick Mercer founded Mercer Global Advisors in 1985. The firm was originally a law practice that focused on estate planning prior to becoming an investment advisory business with a stated mission of helping clients achieve economic freedom.

The firm currently employs hundreds of financial advisors. This group includes Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®), chartered financial analysts (CFAs) and certified public accountants (CPAs).

Mercer Global Advisors Client Types and Minimum Account Sizes

Mercer Global Advisors serves a wide range of clients, including high-net-worth individuals, non-high-net-worth individuals, retirement plans, corporations, charities and foundations.

Account balance minimums vary according to which service a client has.

Services Offered by Mercer Global Advisors

Mercer Global Advisors offers a wide variety of advisory services, each of which is designed to help clients achieve financial freedom by meeting their own goals. More specifically, the firm can provide clients with investment management, general financial planning, family office services, comprehensive estate planning, tax planning and retirement planning. When it comes to investment management, the firm offers a range of different strategies that include total return, defensive, income and alternative investments.

The firm also partners with Aspire Financial Services and FuturePlan by Ascensus to help design retirement plans and provide administrative services.

Mercer Global Advisors Investment Philosophy

Mercer Global Advisors looks to tailor its investment strategies and philosophies to meet the individual needs of each client. While the firm has several different investment and sub-investment strategies, they all tend to incorporate the following:

  • Strategically weighted investment selection
  • Broad asset class and multi-factor diversification
  • Separate account managers and institutional funds
  • Attention to cost, like low fund expense ratios
  • Systematic rebalancing to maintain proper risk and reward profiles
  • Tax and retirement distribution planning and management

All strategies at Mercer tend to focus on a long-term approach. Therefore, advisors prefer to not engage in short-term, emotional market responses. The firm invests in a number of asset classes and securities. It also makes a particularly strong effort to stick to core environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles, as well as socially responsible investing (SRI) factors.

Fees Under Mercer Global Advisors

Mercer charges investment management fees based on the strategies a portfolio uses, along with the total AUM of the client's account. These services carry a minimum fee of either $2,400 or 2% of AUM annually. However, the more specific pricing structure is calculated based on the following ranges:

Investment Management Fees
Assets Under Management Annual Fee
First $1MM 1.10%
$1MM - $2MM 1.00%
$2MM - $5MM 0.90%
$5MM - $10MM 0.75%
$10MM and up 0.50%

Family office services also utilize the above fee schedule, with a minimum fee of $10,000. Financial planning and tax services are negotiated and calculated on an individual basis. Fees are billed on a monthly basis, either in advance or arrears.

What to Watch Out For

Mercer Global Advisors does not have any disclosures listed on its Form ADV.

Some of the advisors who work for Mercer can sell securities and/or insurance on a commission basis. While this is a potential conflict of interest, the firm and its advisors have a fiduciary duty to act in clients' best interests no matter what.

Opening an Account With Mercer Global Advisors

To open an account with Mercer, you can go online to the firm's website and either submit a contact form or schedule an appointment with an advisor. You can also reach out by email or over the phone at (888) 565-1681.

Tips for Financial Planning

  • When working on your financial goals and objectives, it can be a great idea to talk to a financial advisor who can help you take steps in the right direction. Finding a qualified financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to three vetted financial advisors who serve your area, and you can have a free introductory call with your advisor matches to decide which one you feel is right for you. If you’re ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.
  • There are many certifications and designations that financial advisors can have. But if your principal concern is retirement planning, estate planning or any other iteration of financial planning, it may be a good idea to find a certified financial planner (CFP). These advisors have been trained in the identification of financial goals and the creation of plans to help individuals meet those objectives.

All information is accurate as of the writing of this article. 

How Long $1mm Lasts in Retirement

SmartAsset's interactive map highlights places where $1 million will last the longest in retirement. Zoom between states and the national map to see the top spots in each region. Also, scroll over any city to learn about the cost of living in retirement for that location.

Least
Most
Rank City Housing Expenses Food Expenses Healthcare Expenses Utilities Expenses Transportation Expenses

Methodology We analyzed data on average expenditures for seniors, cost of living and investment returns to determine how many years of retirement a $1 million nest egg would cover in cities across America.

First, we looked at data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) on the average annual expenditures of seniors. We then applied cost of living data from the Council for Community and Economic Research to adjust those national average spending levels based on the costs of each expense category (housing, food, healthcare, utilities, transportation and other) in each city. Using this data, SmartAsset calculated the average cost of living for retirees in the largest U.S. cities.

We assumed the $1 million would grow at a real return (interest minus inflation) of 2%. Then, we divided $1 million by the sum of each of those annual numbers to determine how long $1 million would cover retirement expenses in each of the cities in our study. Cities where $1 million lasted the longest ranked the highest in the study.

Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Council for Community and Economic Research