Merit Financial Advisors Names Heather Zack Executive Vice President, Head of Private Wealth, to Expand Ultra-High-Net-Worth Capabilities

Former Commonwealth and Carson Executive to Lead New Private Wealth Initiative Focused on Helping Advisors Attract and Serve Affluent Families and Accelerate Organic Growth

ATLANTA, Nov. 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Merit Financial Advisors ("Merit"), a Georgia-based financial advisory firm specializing in financial planning and wealth management solutions for high-net-worth individuals and families and those navigating life transitions, today announced the appointment of Heather Zack as Executive Vice President, Head of Private Wealth, a newly created leadership position designed to strengthen the firm's capabilities in serving high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth clients and create additional opportunities for organic growth.

Zack, who joined Merit on November 2, will lead the development of a comprehensive private wealth offering that provides advisors with the specialized expertise, resources and strategic partnerships needed to serve affluent individuals and families with increasingly complex financial needs.

The appointment represents Merit's continued investment in specialized leadership and infrastructure as the firm expands its national footprint and focuses on helping advisors grow their businesses organically. With more than $32.92 billion in assets across more than 70 offices nationwide, Merit has become one of the wealth management industry's most active growth firms, completing 63 acquisitions to date.

With the appointment of Zack, Merit is building on its existing financial planning and wealth management capabilities to provide enhanced support to advisors serving clients who need these services.

"One of our greatest opportunities for organic growth is helping our advisors deepen relationships with existing clients while giving them the confidence and resources to attract families with more complex wealth management needs," said Alex Hansen, Chief Advisor Success Officer at Merit Financial Advisors. "Heather has a unique combination of legal, advanced planning and private wealth experience, along with a proven track record of building programs that help advisors compete in the ultra-high-net-worth market. Her leadership will be instrumental as we continue expanding the capabilities available across our advisor network."

In her new role, Zack will collaborate closely with Merit's advisors to identify opportunities within their existing client relationships and prospective client pipelines, while developing the specialized support infrastructure needed to pursue larger and more complex wealth management engagements.

A central component of the initiative will be building strategic relationships with external specialists and service providers to address the broader financial and personal needs of affluent families. These may include trust and estate services, private banking, philanthropic planning and other family office-related solutions that extend beyond traditional investment management.

Zack will also focus on creating a framework that allows advisors to serve clients at different levels of wealth and complexity, including business owners preparing for liquidity events, executives experiencing significant wealth transitions and multigenerational families seeking more comprehensive planning and legacy solutions.

"Advisors often have relationships with individuals and families who represent tremendous opportunities for growth, but they may not have access to all the specialized resources needed to pursue those opportunities with confidence," said Zack. "The goal is to build a private wealth offering that gives Merit advisors the expertise, partnerships and support to compete for and successfully serve these clients. By combining the strength of our advisors' existing relationships with a more comprehensive suite of solutions, we can create a meaningful driver of organic growth while delivering an exceptional client experience."

Extensive Experience Building Private Wealth Programs

Zack brings significant experience developing high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth service offerings at two prominent wealth management organizations.

Most recently, she served as Senior Vice President, Private Client Services Solutions Strategist at Carson, where she co-led the firm's private client offering. In that role, she helped build the infrastructure supporting the firm's ultra-high-net-worth business, developed a suite of multifamily office partnerships and worked directly with advisors and prospective clients on complex wealth management engagements.

Prior to Carson, Zack spent 14 years at Commonwealth Financial Network, where she held several roles of increasing responsibility. She served on and ultimately led the firm's advanced planning team before becoming Director of High Net Worth Services. In that position, she helped establish the firm's high-net-worth offering, providing advisors with expanded resources to serve affluent clients.

An attorney by training, Zack brings deep expertise in advanced financial planning, estate and legacy strategies, and philanthropy. She has a particular passion for helping affluent families incorporate charitable giving into their broader wealth and legacy planning.

Building a Scalable Private Wealth Offering

Among Zack's initial priorities will be working with Merit advisors to evaluate existing opportunities, identify gaps in available services and establish relationships with specialized providers that can enhance the firm's private wealth capabilities.

Zack also plans to draw on her involvement with the Ultra High Net Worth Institute and its 10 Domains of Family Wealth framework to assess the range of services needed by sophisticated families and determine where Merit can further expand its offering.

"Merit has experienced tremendous growth, and what attracted me was the firm's ambition to continue building something truly differentiated," Zack added. "I have worked with several Merit advisors throughout my career and have enormous respect for their expertise and commitment to their clients. The opportunity to collaborate with these advisors, build a private wealth platform around their needs and contribute to the firm's next phase of growth is incredibly exciting."

Zack's appointment is the latest in a series of leadership investments designed to expand Merit's enterprise capabilities and provide increasingly specialized support for its growing advisor network. The firm's broader strategy emphasizes strengthening its advisor experience, expanding its planning capabilities and investing in infrastructure that supports sustainable organic and acquisition-driven growth.

Zack will report to Hansen and is based in the Boston area.

About Merit Financial Advisors

Merit Financial Group, LLC, doing business as Merit Financial Advisors ("Merit"), is a national wealth management firm that supports both the independent broker-dealer and RIA models. Merit exists to enrich the lives of those they serve, and its mission is to revolutionize the client experience by building the wealth management firm of the future. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, Merit has over 70 offices throughout the U.S. and manages approximately $32.92 billion in assets as of Sept 12, 2026, including $25.6B billion in advisory assets, $2.5 billion in brokerage assets, $3.02 billion in employer plans, and $1.8 billion in ESOP assets. For more information, please visit www.meritfinancialadvisors.com. Investment advice offered through Merit Financial Group, LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser.

About Constellation Wealth Capital

Constellation Wealth Capital (CWC) is an alternative asset management platform dedicated to the wealth management sector. CWC provides flexible, long-term capital solutions and strategic advisory support to scaled wealth management platforms, leveraging deep industry expertise and an extensive network of relationships to help partner firms accelerate growth and create long-term value. Learn more at www.constellationwealthcapital.com.

SOURCE Merit Financial Advisors