# Merkle Retirement Planning

> 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.

- CRD: 297942
- Filed as: MERKLE RETIREMENT PLANNING
- Legal name: Elite Retirement Planning, LLC
- Registration: SEC-registered investment adviser (status as filed: Approved)
- Location: Grimes, IA
- Filing period: October 2026
- Form ADV filing dated: March 30, 2026
- SEC record (IAPD): https://adviserinfo.sec.gov/firm/summary/297942
- AdvisorCensus page: https://advisorcensus.com/firm/merkle-retirement-planning-grimes-ia-297942

## Quick answers

**How is Merkle Retirement Planning compensated?**
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). The amounts are in Item 5 of its Form ADV Part 2A brochure.

**Where is Merkle Retirement Planning located?**
Merkle Retirement Planning's principal office is in Grimes, IA, according to its Form ADV.

**Is Merkle Retirement Planning registered with the SEC or a state?**
Merkle Retirement Planning is an SEC-registered investment advisory firm, registered since 2020. Status as filed: Approved. CRD 297942.

**How much does Merkle Retirement Planning manage?**
Merkle Retirement Planning reports $568,827,090 in regulatory assets under management in its Form ADV filing dated March 30, 2026 (100% discretionary).

**How have Merkle Retirement Planning's assets and staff changed since 2021?**
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.

**What types of clients does Merkle Retirement Planning serve?**
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).

**Which custodians does Merkle Retirement Planning use?**
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.

**Does Merkle Retirement Planning report any disciplinary disclosures?**
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

**What changed in Merkle Retirement Planning's recent Form ADV filings?**
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%).

## From the Form ADV filing

### Compensation (Item 5.E)
- A percentage of assets under your management
- Hourly charges
- Fixed fees (other than subscription fees)

### Custodians (Schedule D, Section 5.K(3))
- Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

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.

### Regulatory assets under management (Item 5.F)
- Total: $568,827,090
- Discretionary: $568,827,090
- Non-discretionary: $0

### Clients (Item 5.D)

| Client type | Clients | Assets |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Individuals (other than high net worth individuals) | 728 | $366,150,784 |
| High net worth individuals | 287 | $199,914,653 |
| Banking or thrift institutions | Fewer than 5 | Not reported |
| Pension and profit sharing plans (but not the plan participants or government pension plans) | Fewer than 5 | Not reported |
| Charitable organizations | 1 | $12,624 |
| State or municipal government entities (including government pension plans) | Fewer than 5 | Not reported |
| Other investment advisers | Fewer than 5 | Not reported |
| Insurance companies | Fewer than 5 | Not reported |
| Sovereign wealth funds and foreign official institutions | Fewer than 5 | Not reported |
| Corporations or other businesses not listed above | 3 | $2,749,029 |

### Advisory services (Item 5.G)
- 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

### Firm details
- Registered since: 2020 (6 years)
- Employees: 30 total, 10 performing advisory functions
- Wrap fee program participation: Yes
- States registered or notice-filed: AZ, CA, FL, IA, IL, MN, MO, NC, NE, TX, WI
- Disclosures (Item 11): Reports no disclosure items on Form ADV Item 11.

### Websites listed on Form ADV (Item 1.I)
- anchor.fm/retiring-today
- breaker.audio/retiring-today
- eliteretirementplanning.com
- google.com/podcasts
- merkleplan.com
- merkleretirementplanning.com
- open.spotify.com/show/73KPwWMgsY3zVzkSNw2L9f
- overcast.fm/itunes1482305666/retiring-today
- pca.st/jnoi36cu
- podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/retiring-today/id1482305666
- radiopublic.com/retiring-today-WxO1aO
- stitcher.com/podcast/retiring-today
- Facebook @MerkleRetirementPlanning
- LinkedIn @merkleretirementplanning
- YouTube @UCBCnot5ZGQSDOTLrDsasWVOw

## Assets and staff over time

| Data period | Regulatory assets under management | Employees | Filing dated |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| October 2021 | $186,307,676 | 17 | March 16, 2021 |
| October 2022 | $223,752,239 | 16 | September 28, 2022 |
| October 2023 | $260,602,196 | 16 | March 19, 2023 |
| October 2024 | $334,796,134 | 16 | March 25, 2024 |
| October 2025 | $428,547,783 | 30 | March 31, 2025 |
| October 2026 | $568,827,090 | 30 | March 30, 2026 |

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.

## Changes in the filing (last 12 months)

### April 2026
- Employees performing advisory functions went from 7 to 10.
- Regulatory assets under management went from $428,547,783 to $568,827,090 (+33%).

### February 2026
- Registered or notice-filed in AZ, CA, FL, IL, MN, MO, NC, NE, TX, WI.

## Source

Form ADV as filed, October 2026. Values appear as filed. Cite as: AdvisorCensus. Merkle Retirement Planning (CRD 297942): Form ADV filing data as of October 2026.