Our Team
Jeff Griswold
Jeff is Merit Wealth's lead on all strategic matters — crafting the firm’s vision, establishing its exceptional standards, and managing key relationships. Previous to forming Merit Wealth Management in 2008, Jeff was a partner at an investment firm in Salem, Oregon and a financial advisor in Southern California. Since beginning his career in the financial services community as a stock broker (what he now jokingly refers to as the "dark-side"), he has taken ownership of every aspect of the model financial planning practice, from the operational details to the most strategic concepts. After working for large brokerage firms for several years Jeff began his most profound period of accomplishments as a fee-only Registered Investment Advisor firm representative.
Jeff grew up in Southern California. He attended Walla Walla University and the University of Redlands where he graduated with a bachelor's of science degree in Business & Management. Jeff also holds professional designations or has held (before giving them up to go fee-only) various securities licenses including the Series 7, 63 & 66.Jeff holds the Certified Private Wealth Advisor designation which he earned through the Investments and Wealth Institute and The University if Chicago’s Booth School of Business. He is also an Accredited Investment Fiduciary. An accreditation earned and awarded by the Center for Fiduciary Studies.
Jeff is an active member of several professional and not-for-profit organizations and currently serves as a member of the board of directors and treasurer for Seven Peaks School in Bend.
For over ten years Jeff has been a regular speaker for various business, medical and dental group events. His mission with Merit Wealth Management has been to build a firm that becomes a renowned destination of ideas, insights, and intelligence that enables business owners, doctors, and their families to make better decisions about their future. Jeff enjoys spending time with his kids, traveling, a good book and all of the outdoor activities Bend Oregon have to offer.
Brian J. Kallback, CFP®, CLU®, QPA, CTFA
Brian Kallback serves Merit Wealth’s clients with comprehensive financial planning and cash flow planning. In addition to the individual client service, Brian participates in conversations and discussions about qualified/non-qualified retirement plans for dentists, physicians and their team members.
Brian serves as the Program Director for Loras College’s CFP® Board Registered Minor in Financial Planning &Wealth Management. He teaches the program coursework, as well as personal finance, managerial finance, and general education courses within the Francis J. Noonan School of Business. He also serves as the faculty sponsor for Loras’ FPA Student Chapter, and is faculty academic advisor for the football and baseball teams and the Pickleball program.
He has spoken at the CFP Registered Programs’ Conference, the IPI Catholic Values’ Investing Conference, and for many industry organizations. Brian has acted as mentor within the CFP Board’s Mentoring Program, and participates in the CFP Board’s Item Writing Workshops. He is on Editorial Advisory Board for the Journal of Financial Planning and formally Plan Consultant. Brian served as an instructor for CFP Review programs and at the University of Iowa's Tippie School of Business' MBA program. He has been published in the Journal of Financial Planning, Plan Consultant, bizTimes, 401(k)Specialist.com, and WalletHub.com.
Prior to his time in academia, Brian worked in personal wealth management and qualified plan recordkeeping. Brian is pursuing a Ph.D. in History, with an emphasis on financial history. In his spare time, he enjoys relaxing with his wife, three children, and four pugs with reading, yard work, CrossFit, and running to keep him busy the rest of the time.
Cheryl Myrick, CFP®, ChFC®, AFC®
Cheryl grew up in Southern California and graduated from the University of California, Irvine with a BA in Economics. While relocating every few years with her Marine husband, she began to counsel military families in personal finance, earning the Accredited Financial Counselor® designation. Once her husband retired from the Marine Corps, she received a scholarship for CFP® coursework from the American College of Financial Services, ultimately earing both the Chartered Financial Consultant® and Certified Financial Planner® designations. As both a financial counselor and CFP®, she has worked with many families to help them achieve their financial goals. Cheryl is passionate about bringing her skills and experience to support clients in optimizing what they have to live the life they desire.
Jason Floyd, CFP®, CFT-I TM, MSFP
Jason enjoys the human side of financial planning and strives to connect with people to help understand their motivations, identify what drives them, and discover any issues. He assists Merit Wealth’s clients by helping them think, feel, communicate, and behave with money differently based upon the latest evidence based financial therapy research and techniques. Jason is also a self-described financial planning geek. In addition to becoming a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER professional, he obtained his master’s degree in financial planning (MSFP) earning a 4.00 GPA, with a concentration in financial therapy. Jason began his studies and career in accounting allowing him to bring a bit of a tax and accounting perspective to the table as well. Jason and his wife just had their first child! Outside of family and financial planning he enjoys creating projects with his 3D printer.
Melissa Leonard, CFP®
Melissa comes to Merit Wealth Management with over 10 years of experience in the financial services industry. Raised in the DC metropolitan area, Melissa attended Virginia Tech (Go Hokie!). After graduating with a B.S. in Applied Economic Management with a focus in Financial Planning, from a CFP Board Certified program, she went on to work at various financial planning firms in DC, New York, and Seattle. Since 2012, Melissa has worked with individuals and families from all walks of life and her most recent focus has been helping young professionals and families to be more financially intentional so they can live the life they want. Melissa lives in Seattle with her husband and golden retriever. She is an avid traveler, loves DIY home projects, discovering new music, and cooking with intentionality.
Brody Rosenfeld, CPA, CFP®
As the son of a successful financial advisor, Brody grew up learning about financial planning and its importance. He received a bachelor’s degree in accounting with a minor in economics, earning Magna Cum Laude honors (3.8 GPA) from Arcadia University in Glenside, Pennsylvania. While there, he spent a semester abroad in the United Kingdom at The University of Cambridge where he studied Finance & European History. Brody is a Certified Public Accountant, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERTM certificant, and has a FINRA Series 65 (investment adviser) certification. Over the past decade Brody has created hundreds of financial plans for high net worth families, managing relationships, creating Microsoft Excel driven financial planning solutions, and striving to live up to his reputation as an Excel Wizard. Brody briefly worked in public accounting before pivoting into Financial Planning. In his spare time Brody enjoys competitive axe throwing, brewing beer, learning about history, hiking, biking, & baking bread. Brody volunteers his time every week to pick up litter in his neighborhood, formed a local “trash team”, and volunteers with a local tree planting group. He is an avid Philadelphia Eagles fan, which we try not to hold against him.
Noah Hankin, CPA
Noah is a CPA and a CFP® candidate having completed both exams successfully in his first go around. The CFP® certification is pending the work experience he is accumulating with Foundation. At Merit Wealth, Noah is currently in a planning support role where he works alongside Jeff and the team while he begins his journey to becoming an additional wealth advisor for the firm. He brings a strong attention to detail, advanced excel skills, and financial planning experience to the table. Noah grew up in the Philadelphia area and currently resides near the beach in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He enjoys a diversity of hobbies included scuba diving, lobstering, kayaking, fishing, fish tanks, aquaponics, dogs, disc golf, ultimate frisbee, & cooking.
Barrett Liebman
Laila Howard
Originally from New Jersey, Laila studied Psychology at Rider University and excelled as a Bonner Scholar as well as served as Class President. Laila has extensive project management experience and ensures smooth workflows and optimal outcomes for the team at Merit Wealth Management. Outside of of work, Laila is deeply committed to volunteerism and enjoys exploring new culture through travel.
