I’m Mike Ersser
Wealth Advisor, CFP®, ABFP™
Helping to achieve guilt-free spending with a comprehensive financial plan.
Planning with your goals in mind
We work hard to understand who you are and what you want to accomplish, both personally and professionally, so we can best support you and your family in achieving your goals.
We're more than just investments
Together, we’ll implement a customized plan for all areas of your financial life: Investments, taxes, estate planning, insurance, charitable giving, and more.
Dream big, and then let’s create the plan to get there!
For many years, my wife and I did what we thought was best without intention. Our vision failed to take shape until we finally reached a wall, were honest with ourselves, and created a plan to get to a better place financially. Our goal was to be debt free, and the only thing that stood in our way was a large amount of student loans.
It took a lot of planning, hard work, and time but we finally kicked the loans from our balance sheet and have never looked back. The process of goal setting can be intimidating, and it seems that most people stop short of imagining the life they really want to live because of busy work schedules or other life obstacles that pop up along the way. I can help sift through the “noise” and create actionable items to achieve your goals.
The mind is a beautiful thing and I sincerely believe you can achieve all that you set out to do with the right structure and discipline.
When is the last time you set goals?
Do you understand your financial position?
Have you saved enough to live the retirement you imagined?
If you didn't have to work, how would you spend a Tuesday afternoon?
Understand
It can be tough to see how it all fits together. Let’s discuss how we can look at the complete puzzle and not just each piece.
Offload
Have questions about whether a headline or article applies to you? Send it my way and I’ll help sort it out.
Inspire
Let’s have an honest conversation about where you are now and where you want to be. Together we can create a plan to get there.
Enjoy
Dreaming of an early retirement? Let’s explore what it’s like to make work optional or even work for fun.
About Me
I joined Merriman in October 2018 after several years spent in corporate finance. It took me a while to find my true passion and I am very fortunate to have found Merriman and the wonderful team here. I earned my bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Washington and am a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional and Accredited Behavioral Finance Professional™.
Discipline has always been a major influence in my life. Whether surfacing through routine, structure, or a desire for predictability, discipline often guides my decision making.
What I enjoy most about helping clients is the process of determining goals, creating a plan to achieve them, and ultimately the satisfaction that comes with completing what you set out to do.
When not working, the majority of my time is spent fishing on the Puget Sound, golfing and exploring the PNW trails with my wife Alyssa and our sons, Cameron and Jackson.
What is wealth management?
Wealth management is a comprehensive approach to financial planning. It covers all areas of your financial life, making wise use of your assets to help you in achieving your goals and living life to the fullest. Do you want to spend more time doing the things you love and worry less about your finances?
Then wealth management is for you!
Wealth Enhancement - make your assets work for you
- Minimizing taxes – now vs future?
- Managing appropriate cash reserves
- Should you pay off your mortgage early?
- How can you get the most out of Social Security?
- Evaluate your options for college savings
Wealth Preservation - strategies to help reduce risk
- Diversification
- Asset allocation and rebalancing
- Trend following
- Stock option planning
- What to do with concentrated stock positions?
Wealth Protection - proper coverage is key
- Disability or Long-Term-Care insurance planning
- Is umbrella insurance right for you?
- What type of life insurance makes the most sense?
- What level of homeowner’s coverage is appropriate?
- Is your rental property adequately protected?
Wealth Transfer - leaving a lasting legacy for your heirs
- How can you leave the most behind to your heirs without sacrificing too much now?
- Are your assets correctly titled so they’ll pass on in the way you intend?
- Are your healthcare directives and letters of instruction in place?
- Does a trust make sense for you? Which kind?
Charitable Giving - make the most of your contributions
- What charities are important to you?
- How can you make the most of your gifts to charity?
- Is a charitable trust right for you?
Plan with intention,
not by default.
Online Blog Resources
You’ve Decided to Donate – Now What?
There are more than one and a half million nonprofits in the U.S. and ten million worldwide. No wonder the process of deciding where you want to donate can be overwhelming! Whether you are donating for the first time, consolidating donations, or considering making a large gift: Begin by reflecting on your motivation for giving. Continue reading to learn how you can maximize the impact of your donation.
Merriman In The Community
The Merriman Team enjoyed some volunteer hours in the community!
Quarter in Review: Q1 2023 Market Update
Q1 2023 Market Update from Merriman CIO, Kristi de Grys
