{
  "crd_number": 297942,
  "slug": "merkle-retirement-planning-grimes-ia-297942",
  "primary_business_name": "MERKLE RETIREMENT PLANNING",
  "legal_name": "ELITE RETIREMENT PLANNING, LLC",
  "dbas": [],
  "city": "Grimes",
  "state": "IA",
  "country": "United States",
  "cbsa_code": "19780",
  "metro": {
    "cbsa_code": "19780",
    "common_name": "Des Moines",
    "msa_name": "Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA",
    "path": "/advisors/ia/des-moines"
  },
  "registration_type": "sec",
  "registration_status": "Approved",
  "registration_date": "2020-04-27",
  "years_registered": 6,
  "period": "2026-10-01",
  "filing_date": "2026-03-30",
  "carried_forward": false,
  "raum_total": 568827090.0,
  "raum_discretionary": 568827090.0,
  "raum_non_discretionary": 0.0,
  "raum_band": "500m_1b",
  "raum_band_label": "$500 million to $1 billion",
  "total_employees": 30,
  "advisory_employees": 10,
  "client_count_bucket": "fewer_than_5_in_some_types",
  "clients_by_type": {
    "charitable": {
      "raum": 12624.0,
      "count": 1,
      "fewer_than_5": true
    },
    "individuals": {
      "raum": 366150784.0,
      "count": 728
    },
    "banking_thrift": {
      "raum": null,
      "count": null,
      "fewer_than_5": true
    },
    "state_municipal": {
      "raum": null,
      "count": null,
      "fewer_than_5": true
    },
    "insurance_companies": {
      "raum": null,
      "count": null,
      "fewer_than_5": true
    },
    "pension_profit_sharing": {
      "raum": null,
      "count": null,
      "fewer_than_5": true
    },
    "other_investment_advisers": {
      "raum": null,
      "count": null,
      "fewer_than_5": true
    },
    "high_net_worth_individuals": {
      "raum": 199914653.0,
      "count": 287
    },
    "corporations_other_businesses": {
      "raum": 2749029.0,
      "count": 3,
      "fewer_than_5": true
    },
    "sovereign_wealth_foreign_official": {
      "raum": null,
      "count": null,
      "fewer_than_5": true
    }
  },
  "compensation_types": [
    "fixed",
    "hourly",
    "percentage_of_aum"
  ],
  "advisory_activities": [
    "educational_seminars",
    "financial_planning",
    "periodicals_newsletters",
    "portfolio_management_individuals",
    "selection_of_other_advisers"
  ],
  "wrap_fee_participant": true,
  "disclosure_yes_count": 0,
  "states_registered": [
    "AZ",
    "CA",
    "FL",
    "IA",
    "IL",
    "MN",
    "MO",
    "NC",
    "NE",
    "TX",
    "WI"
  ],
  "websites": [
    "https://anchor.fm/retiring-today",
    "https://breaker.audio/retiring-today",
    "https://eliteretirementplanning.com",
    "https://facebook.com/MerkleRetirementPlanning",
    "https://google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy9kNDNhZWVjL3BvZGNhc3QvcnNz",
    "https://linkedin.com/company/merkleretirementplanning/about",
    "https://merkleplan.com",
    "https://merkleretirementplanning.com",
    "https://open.spotify.com/show/73KPwWMgsY3zVzkSNw2L9f",
    "https://overcast.fm/itunes1482305666/retiring-today",
    "https://pca.st/jnoi36cu",
    "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/retiring-today/id1482305666?uo=4",
    "https://radiopublic.com/retiring-today-WxO1aO",
    "https://stitcher.com/podcast/retiring-today?refid=stpr",
    "https://youtube.com/channel/UCBCnot5ZGQSDOTLrDsasWVOw"
  ],
  "iapd_url": "https://adviserinfo.sec.gov/firm/summary/297942",
  "city_as_filed": "GRIMES",
  "url": "https://advisorcensus.com/firm/merkle-retirement-planning-grimes-ia-297942",
  "display_name": "Merkle Retirement Planning",
  "summary": "Merkle Retirement Planning is an SEC-registered investment advisory firm in Grimes, IA, registered since 2020, reporting $500 million to $1 billion in regulatory assets under management in its Form ADV filing dated March 30, 2026.",
  "citation": "AdvisorCensus. Merkle Retirement Planning (CRD 297942): Form ADV filing data as of October 2026.",
  "registration_type_label": "SEC-registered investment adviser",
  "compensation_labels": [
    "A percentage of assets under your management",
    "Hourly charges",
    "Fixed fees (other than subscription fees)"
  ],
  "advisory_activity_labels": [
    "Financial planning services",
    "Portfolio management for individuals and/or small businesses",
    "Selection of other advisers (including private fund managers)",
    "Publication of periodicals or newsletters",
    "Educational seminars/workshops"
  ],
  "quick_answers": [
    {
      "q": "How is Merkle Retirement Planning compensated?",
      "a": "On its Form ADV (Item 5.E, October 2026), Merkle Retirement Planning reports these compensation arrangements: a percentage of assets under its management; hourly charges; fixed fees (other than subscription fees)."
    },
    {
      "q": "Where is Merkle Retirement Planning located?",
      "a": "Merkle Retirement Planning's principal office is in Grimes, IA, according to its Form ADV."
    },
    {
      "q": "Is Merkle Retirement Planning registered with the SEC or a state?",
      "a": "Merkle Retirement Planning is an SEC-registered investment advisory firm, registered since 2020. Status as filed: Approved. CRD 297942."
    },
    {
      "q": "How much does Merkle Retirement Planning manage?",
      "a": "Merkle Retirement Planning reports $568,827,090 in regulatory assets under management in its Form ADV filing dated March 30, 2026 (100% discretionary)."
    },
    {
      "q": "How have Merkle Retirement Planning's assets and staff changed since 2021?",
      "a": "In the Form ADV data for Merkle Retirement Planning: Regulatory assets under management: $186,307,676 in the October 2021 data and $568,827,090 in the October 2026 data, up 205%. Total employees: 17 in October 2021 and 30 in October 2026. Assets under management move with markets as well as with clients coming and going."
    },
    {
      "q": "What types of clients does Merkle Retirement Planning serve?",
      "a": "By number of clients on Form ADV Item 5.D: individuals (other than high net worth individuals) (728); high net worth individuals (287); corporations or other businesses not listed above (3)."
    },
    {
      "q": "Which custodians does Merkle Retirement Planning use?",
      "a": "Merkle Retirement Planning's most recent Form ADV filing (Schedule D, Section 5.K(3)) lists Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. as a custodian holding 10% or more of its separately managed account assets."
    },
    {
      "q": "Does Merkle Retirement Planning report any disciplinary disclosures?",
      "a": "Reports no disclosure items on Form ADV Item 11. The detail of any item is on the firm's SEC record: https://adviserinfo.sec.gov/firm/summary/297942"
    },
    {
      "q": "What changed in Merkle Retirement Planning's recent Form ADV filings?",
      "a": "In the April 2026 filing data: Employees performing advisory functions went from 7 to 10. Regulatory assets under management went from $428,547,783 to $568,827,090 (+33%)."
    }
  ],
  "filing_history": [
    {
      "period": "2021-10-01",
      "regulatory_assets_under_management": 186307676.0,
      "total_employees": 17,
      "filing_date": "2021-03-16"
    },
    {
      "period": "2022-10-01",
      "regulatory_assets_under_management": 223752239.0,
      "total_employees": 16,
      "filing_date": "2022-09-28"
    },
    {
      "period": "2023-10-01",
      "regulatory_assets_under_management": 260602196.0,
      "total_employees": 16,
      "filing_date": "2023-03-19"
    },
    {
      "period": "2024-10-01",
      "regulatory_assets_under_management": 334796134.0,
      "total_employees": 16,
      "filing_date": "2024-03-25"
    },
    {
      "period": "2025-10-01",
      "regulatory_assets_under_management": 428547783.0,
      "total_employees": 30,
      "filing_date": "2025-03-31"
    },
    {
      "period": "2026-10-01",
      "regulatory_assets_under_management": 568827090.0,
      "total_employees": 30,
      "filing_date": "2026-03-30"
    }
  ],
  "recent_changes": [
    {
      "period": "2026-04-01",
      "period_label": "April 2026",
      "notes": [
        "Employees performing advisory functions went from 7 to 10.",
        "Regulatory assets under management went from $428,547,783 to $568,827,090 (+33%)."
      ]
    },
    {
      "period": "2026-02-01",
      "period_label": "February 2026",
      "notes": [
        "Registered or notice-filed in AZ, CA, FL, IL, MN, MO, NC, NE, TX, WI."
      ]
    }
  ],
  "fees_from_brochure": null,
  "custodians": [
    {
      "name": "Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.",
      "name_as_filed": "CHARLES SCHWAB & CO., INC.",
      "affiliated": false
    }
  ],
  "custodians_note": "Custodians holding 10% or more of the firm's separately managed account assets, as filed on Form ADV (Schedule D, Section 5.K(3)). A custodian holds client assets; it does not endorse or supervise the firm. AdvisorCensus has no relationship with any custodian.",
  "markdown_url": "https://advisorcensus.com/firm/merkle-retirement-planning-grimes-ia-297942.md",
  "clients": [
    {
      "type": "individuals",
      "label": "Individuals (other than high net worth individuals)",
      "count": 728,
      "fewer_than_5": false,
      "raum": 366150784.0
    },
    {
      "type": "high_net_worth_individuals",
      "label": "High net worth individuals",
      "count": 287,
      "fewer_than_5": false,
      "raum": 199914653.0
    },
    {
      "type": "banking_thrift",
      "label": "Banking or thrift institutions",
      "count": null,
      "fewer_than_5": true,
      "raum": null
    },
    {
      "type": "pension_profit_sharing",
      "label": "Pension and profit sharing plans (but not the plan participants or government pension plans)",
      "count": null,
      "fewer_than_5": true,
      "raum": null
    },
    {
      "type": "charitable",
      "label": "Charitable organizations",
      "count": 1,
      "fewer_than_5": true,
      "raum": 12624.0
    },
    {
      "type": "state_municipal",
      "label": "State or municipal government entities (including government pension plans)",
      "count": null,
      "fewer_than_5": true,
      "raum": null
    },
    {
      "type": "other_investment_advisers",
      "label": "Other investment advisers",
      "count": null,
      "fewer_than_5": true,
      "raum": null
    },
    {
      "type": "insurance_companies",
      "label": "Insurance companies",
      "count": null,
      "fewer_than_5": true,
      "raum": null
    },
    {
      "type": "sovereign_wealth_foreign_official",
      "label": "Sovereign wealth funds and foreign official institutions",
      "count": null,
      "fewer_than_5": true,
      "raum": null
    },
    {
      "type": "corporations_other_businesses",
      "label": "Corporations or other businesses not listed above",
      "count": 3,
      "fewer_than_5": true,
      "raum": 2749029.0
    }
  ],
  "disclosure_line": "Reports no disclosure items on Form ADV Item 11.",
  "disclosure_items": [],
  "indexable": true,
  "suppressed": false,
  "claimed": false,
  "enhanced": false,
  "provided_by_the_firm": null,
  "source": {
    "name": "Form ADV",
    "as_of": "2026-10-01",
    "iapd_url": "https://adviserinfo.sec.gov/firm/summary/297942",
    "operator": "BH Monitor Services, LLC",
    "license": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
    "credit": "AdvisorCensus (advisorcensus.com), from SEC Form ADV data"
  }
}