Meeder Investment Management: Is It A Reliable Ria?

Meeder Investment Management is a financial services company that has been in operation since 1974. The company offers a range of investment solutions, including mutual funds, investment portfolios, retirement plans, and cash management services. With over $45 billion in assets under advisement, Meeder serves individuals, corporations, and government entities.

In recent years, Meeder has made strategic moves to expand its business. Notably, in 2024, Summit Financial Holdings, a leading Registered Investment Advisor (RIA), acquired a majority stake in Meeder's wealth management arm, which manages $400 million in assets. This acquisition marked Summit's first complete acquisition, as previously it had only taken minority stakes in RIAs.

Meeder Investment Management remains independently owned, retaining its branding and key personnel. The company's wealth management division, with its long history and established client base, continues to operate within the Meeder umbrella.

So, to answer the question, yes, Meeder Investment Management is an RIA, and its recent partnership with Summit Financial Holdings further strengthens its position in the wealth management space.

Meeder Investment Management's history and core values

Meeder Investment Management was founded over 50 years ago by Robert Meeder Sr. with the belief that clients deserved better solutions and outcomes for their unique wealth planning and investment goals. Since 1974, the firm has been committed to providing individuals, public entities, and financial advisors with customizable, highly tactical Defensive Equity strategies.

Meeder Investment Management has successfully navigated market cycles with clients for over five decades and through nearly every type of market environment. The firm has over $150 billion in assets under advisement as of December 31, 2023.

Meeder Investment Management's core values include accountability, doing the right thing, being driven and results-oriented, building meaningful relationships, continuous improvement, and discipline. The firm fosters a positive, growth-based culture that promotes a healthy work/life balance and values its employees, clients, and communities.

In August 2024, Summit Financial, a registered investment advisor based in Parsippany, N.J., and its backer Merchant Investment Management, acquired a majority stake in Meeder Investment Management's wealth management arm, which manages $400 million in assets. Meeder Investment Management remains independently owned, with its branding and team intact.

The company's services and investment approach

Meeder Investment Management offers a range of services to help individuals, families, businesses, and institutions manage their financial and investment needs. The company's approach is centred around a "Defensive Equity Strategy", which involves investing more heavily in equities when market conditions are favourable and adopting a more defensive approach by investing in fixed-income securities, fixed-income funds, or cash products when the market turns unfavourable.

Meeder's services include discretionary investment management through a wrap fee program, investment portfolios (Meeder Investment Portfolios and Meeder Select Portfolios), and platforms sponsored by other financial institutions. They also provide financial planning services for individuals, retirement plan services for plan sponsors and participants, and advisory and administrative services for local government investment pools.

The company's investment approach is model-driven and multi-disciplinary/multi-factor. They employ a quantitative investment process to help investors make decisions with less risk and greater confidence. Meeder analyses over 70 factors daily from short, intermediate, and long-term models, incorporating macroeconomic, fundamental, trends, and technical analysis. This dynamic statistical model helps estimate the potential reward and marketplace risk of equity markets, guiding the allocation of each fund's equity sleeve.

Meeder also offers private wealth management services, creating personalised portfolios that align with the unique goals and objectives of affluent investors. These portfolios are designed to be flexible, tax-efficient, and customised to match each investor's life stage, values, and plans.

Additionally, Meeder provides institutional services, including corporate investment solutions and pension and retirement fund management. They assist organisations in building comprehensive investment portfolios, managing operating and project funds, and providing consulting services through their team of financial advisors.

With nearly 50 years of experience, Meeder Investment Management has successfully navigated various market environments and is committed to helping clients achieve their financial and investment goals.

The acquisition of Meeder's Wealth Management arm

Summit Financial Holdings, a Parsippany, N.J.–based registered investment advisor, has acquired a majority stake in the wealth management arm of Meeder Investment Management. This marks Summit's first complete acquisition, as previously the company had only taken minority, non-controlling stakes in RIAs.

Meeder Investment Management will remain independently owned, with only its wealth management division being integrated into Summit's proprietary platform, SummitVantage. This platform offers technology solutions, operational support, and access to financial planning and investment strategy experts.

Meeder's wealth management team, located in Dublin, Ohio, has been in place for nearly 50 years and manages $400 million in assets under management. The firm specializes in government-insured deposit programs, retirement plans, and corporate investments.

The deal will allow Meeder's wealth division to retain its original branding and team, including president Jason Click, vice president Mike Saraullo, senior wealth advisors Mike Miller and Ryan Johnson, senior wealth coordinator Tricia McDermott, and wealth coordinator Sara Story.

Bob Meeder, President and CEO of Meeder Investment Management, stated that the deal was made as the company considered the future direction of its wealth management division. He believes that the partnership with Summit Financial and Merchant Investment Management will help transform the business into a multibillion-dollar organization.

Rob Blevins, Partner at Merchant Investment Management, echoed these sentiments, stating that their association with Meeder began with mutual admiration and shared ambition, and they are excited to see Meeder Wealth Management soar to new heights.

Summit Financial CEO, Stan Gregor, welcomed the opportunity to empower Meeder's Wealth Management team and provide "nearly frictionless advice" to their clients.

Meeder's clients and customer service

Meeder Investment Management has been providing financial solutions to clients since 1974. The company's clients include individuals, corporations, and government entities. The company has over $45 billion in assets under advisement and offers a range of investment solutions such as mutual funds, investment portfolios, separately managed accounts, retirement plan services, and cash management solutions.

Meeder's clients can access the knowledge and expertise of over 125 dedicated associates across its investment, service, and distribution teams. The company's core values include accountability, doing the right thing, being driven and results-oriented, building meaningful relationships, and continuous improvement.

Meeder's website emphasizes its commitment to understanding its clients' unique needs and priorities. It also highlights its ability to craft custom solutions to help clients achieve their financial goals. The company's employees are described as family, and Meeder promotes a positive, growth-based culture that encourages a healthy work-life balance.

In August 2024, Summit Financial Holdings, a registered investment advisor, acquired a majority stake in Meeder's wealth management arm, which manages $400 million in assets. This acquisition was done in partnership with Merchant Investment Management and was Summit's first complete acquisition. Meeder's wealth management division caters to mass affluent and high-net-worth investors, offering personalized financial planning services, including investment management, retirement plan solutions, and corporate investment solutions.

The deal with Summit allows Meeder's wealth division to retain its original branding and team, providing a sense of continuity for clients. Summit's proprietary platform, SummitVantage, offers technology solutions, operational support, and access to financial planning and investment strategy experts, enhancing the services provided to Meeder's wealth management clients.

Meeder's team and leadership

Meeder Investment Management was founded over 50 years ago by Robert Meeder Sr. on the principle that clients deserve better solutions and outcomes for their unique wealth planning and investment goals. The company has over 125 dedicated associates and employees who work across investment, service and distribution teams.

The leadership team at Meeder includes:

• Bob Meeder, President and Chief Executive Officer, who has been with the firm since 1983.
• Adam, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer, who joined in 2015 with over 12 years of investment industry experience.
• Tim, Chief Legal Officer, who joined in 2015 with over 17 years of experience in financial services regulatory and litigation fields.
• Susan, Chief Administrative Officer, who joined in 2009 and has over 30 years of strategic management and operations experience.
• Jason, Senior Vice President, Meeder Public Funds, who joined in 2009 and has over 20 years of experience in the financial services industry.
• Tim Brand, Senior Vice President, Head of Distribution, Advisor Consulting, who has over 30 years of investment management and leadership experience.
• Leah Curtis, Chief Marketing Officer, who joined in 2019 with nearly 20 years of investment industry experience.
• Kelly, Vice President, Human Resources, who joined in 2021 with over 20 years of leadership and human resources experience.
• Joe Bell, Chief Investment Officer, Funds & Portfolios, who joined in 2018 with more than 17 years of investment industry experience.

Meeder's team also includes several directors, vice presidents, managers, analysts, consultants and coordinators, all with extensive experience in the financial industry.

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