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Meridian Investment Counsel, Inc.

Updated today

Client assets under management

$715,777,230

Clients

187

63% high-net worth

Advisors

4

of 8 employees

Firm type

Team

4-10 advisors or $500M+ in AUM

Clients per advisor

47

Low

Average account size

$3,827,686

About

Meridian Investment Counsel provides discretionary investment management and standalone financial planning to individuals, families, trusts, non‑profit organizations and retirement plans. The firm reports approximately $723 million in assets under management and delivers customized portfolio implementation, security selection, and periodic reporting.

Its investment approach emphasizes tax‑wise, conservative growth grounded in fundamental company analysis and laddered fixed‑income strategies, with personalized asset allocation and a general preference for longer holding periods to limit taxes and trading costs. Meridian manages client assets internally (it does not use third‑party sub‑advisers), conducts regular investment‑committee reviews, and does not charge performance‑based fees.

Notable differences from many peers include affiliations with other financial and professional services: a firm principal operates a separate CPA/accounting and business‑consulting practice, and the firm is affiliated with a related registered adviser that offers 3(38) fiduciary services—both of which are provided under separate contracts and have historically required limited time commitments. Additionally, while Meridian does not initiate borrowing as part of its management, clients may elect to borrow (use margin) in their custodial accounts and the firm calculates advisory fees on the gross account value including any client‑directed borrowings; the firm’s $1 million account minimum and four‑person advisor team also yield a comparatively high AUM per advisor.

Client services

Financial planning Portfolio management

Expertise

General tax planning Charitable giving tax strategies Equity Recipients (RS/RSU, SOP, ESPP) Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Retirement income strategy

Occupation focus

Founder/Business Owner Executive Self-Employed

Fee options

Fixed

Fixed fees typically range from $5,000 to $10,000 for financial planning, negotiable for limited scope plans

Percentage

$0 - $2,500,000: 1.00% $2,500,001 - $5,000,000: 0.75% $5,000,001 - $10,000,000: 0.60% $10,000,001+: 0.30%

Project-based

Starting at $375 per hour for financial planning services

Other

Account minimum: $1,000,000 Minimum fee: $5,000 minimum annual fee, waivable or negotiable

Main office location

Meridian Investment Counsel, Inc.

Lafayette CA, United States

Number of offices

1

Most active in

California · Colorado · Hawaii · Texas · Washington

Disclosures

Exclamation point means they have disclosures of this type. Check mark means no disclosures of this type were found.

Business activities & affiliations

Quick links

Advisors at this firm

user avatar

Nancy W

CFA®, CIC

Lafayette, CA

Meridian Investment Counsel, Inc.

Nancy Woodall is a CFA® and CIC credentialed financial advisor with 26 years of industry experience. She has been with Meridian Investment Counsel, Inc. since 2004. Meridian Investment Counsel provides discretionary investment management and financial planning to individuals, families, trusts, non-profit organizations, and retirement plans. The firm employs a tax-aware, conservative growth approach through fundamental security analysis, asset allocation, and long holding periods, managing portfolios on a fiduciary basis with in-house discretion.

General tax planning Charitable giving tax strategies Equity Recipients (RS/RSU, SOP, ESPP) Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Retirement income strategy Founder/Business Owner Executive Self-Employed
user avatar

John K

Series 65

Lafayette, CA

Meridian Investment Counsel, Inc.

John Kerns is a portfolio manager at Meridian Investment Counsel, Inc. with 28 years of industry experience. He has been with Meridian since 2005 and has operated a separate CPA and business-consulting practice since 1981, providing accounting services as a sole proprietor. Meridian Investment Counsel offers discretionary investment management and financial planning to individuals, families, trusts, non-profit organizations, and retirement plans. The firm employs a tax-aware, conservative growth strategy based on fundamental security analysis, asset allocation, and typically long holding periods, managing portfolios on a fiduciary basis with in-house discretion.

General tax planning Charitable giving tax strategies Equity Recipients (RS/RSU, SOP, ESPP) Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Retirement income strategy Founder/Business Owner Executive Self-Employed
user avatar

Anita S

CFP®, Series 66

Lafayette, CA

Meridian Investment Counsel, Inc.

Anita Singh is a CFP® and holds a Series 66 license, currently serving as an advisor at Meridian Investment Counsel, Inc. in Lafayette, CA, with five years of industry experience. She has been with Meridian since 2022 and also has a long-standing role with Arbonne. Outside of her advisory work, she provides bookkeeping services for a workers' compensation law firm in Walnut Creek. Meridian Investment Counsel offers discretionary investment management and financial planning primarily to individuals, families, trusts, non-profit organizations, and retirement plans. The firm employs a tax-aware, conservative growth strategy with fundamental security analysis and in-house portfolio management.

General tax planning Charitable giving tax strategies Equity Recipients (RS/RSU, SOP, ESPP) Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Retirement income strategy Founder/Business Owner Executive Self-Employed
user avatar

Christopher Y

Series 63, Series 65

Lafayette, CA

Meridian Investment Counsel, Inc.

Christopher Young is a financial advisor at Meridian Investment Counsel, Inc. in Lafayette, CA, with 23 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked previously at Cooper Young & Associates Ltd. and Cephus Capital Management LLC. Meridian Investment Counsel provides discretionary investment management and financial planning to individuals, families, trusts, non-profit organizations, and retirement plans. The firm employs a tax-aware, conservative growth investment approach focused on fundamental security analysis, asset allocation, and long holding periods, managing portfolios on a fiduciary basis with in-house discretion.

General tax planning Charitable giving tax strategies Equity Recipients (RS/RSU, SOP, ESPP) Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Retirement income strategy Founder/Business Owner Executive Self-Employed
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