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.
Madison Sharick, CFA, CFP®
Madison supports the Merit team in the development of our clients' financial plans and handles the firm’s 401(k) offering to business owners. Prior to joining Merit Wealth Management, Madison spent time as a director of financial planning, overseeing the creation of client financial plans and holding them to a high standard. Earlier years of her career were spent as an investment research analyst, managing portfolios on behalf of clients.
Madison holds the Chartered Financial Analyst® and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ designations. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Finance with a minor in French from the University of Pittsburgh.
Outside of the office, Madison enjoys spending time with her family, playing basketball, gardening, and blogging.
