Merit Financial Advisors Acquires Orchard Park Firm Moldenhauer & Associates

Brett Moldenhauer, who leads the firm founded by his father, Richard, will remain in the Orchard Park office alongside his 12-person team. The acquisition integrates nearly 1,900 client households into Merit’s national network, which now oversees more than $32.92 billion in total assets across 70 offices. This transition is the 10th instance of a former Commonwealth Financial Network team joining the Merit platform.

For Moldenhauer, the move addresses the increasing operational complexity that accompanies managing a billion-dollar practice. By offloading marketing, human resources, and technology demands to Merit’s corporate infrastructure, the Orchard Park team aims to sharpen its focus on organic growth and client service. The firm is currently on track to add roughly $100 million in new assets this year, maintaining a trajectory that has seen its holdings grow significantly since 2016.

David Wahlen, executive vice president at Merit, emphasized that the partnership is designed for continuity rather than immediate exit. With a multi-generational team already in place, Moldenhauer intends to leverage Merit’s resources to secure the firm’s future for its staff and clients. The transaction, which closed on September 25, 2026, keeps the current leadership team fully engaged in the business.