Elite Retirement Planning provides financial planning, portfolio management for individuals and small businesses, selecting other managers, publishing newsletters, and educational seminars. Financial planning was provided to 1–10 clients last fiscal year.
Elite Retirement Planning reports 1,019 clients. They include 728 individual clients, 287 high-net-worth individuals, and 3 corporations and other businesses. Of its assets, 100.0% ($569M across 2,896 accounts) are managed with discretion. A wrap fee program the firm both sponsors and manages holds $1.71B. It advised 1 client without assets under management last fiscal year.
| Client type | Clients | Assets |
|---|---|---|
| Individuals (other than HNW) | 71% | 64% |
| High-net-worth individuals | 28% | 35% |
| Banking or thrift institutions | Fewer than 5 | 0% |
| Pension and profit-sharing plans | Fewer than 5 | 0% |
| Charitable organizations | <1% | <1% |
| Other client typesState or municipal government entities; Other investment advisers; Insurance companies; Sovereign wealth funds and foreign official institutions; Corporations and other businesses | <1% | <1% |
Client shares use reported counts. Client types without a reported count are excluded from that total.
Client breakdown and activity details
| Client type | Clients | Regulatory AUM | AUM share | Avg. per client |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Individuals (other than HNW) | 728 | $366M | 64.4% | $503K |
| High-net-worth individuals | 287 | $200M | 35.1% | $697K |
| Banking or thrift institutions | Fewer than 5 | $0 | 0.0% | — |
| Pension and profit-sharing plans | Fewer than 5 | $0 | 0.0% | — |
| Charitable organizations | Fewer than 5 | $12.6K | 0.0% | $12.6K |
| State or municipal government entities | Fewer than 5 | $0 | 0.0% | — |
| Other investment advisers | Fewer than 5 | $0 | 0.0% | — |
| Insurance companies | Fewer than 5 | $0 | 0.0% | — |
| Sovereign wealth funds and foreign official institutions | Fewer than 5 | $0 | 0.0% | — |
| Corporations and other businesses | Fewer than 5 | $2.75M | 0.5% | $916K |
| Total | 1,019 | $569M | 100% | — |
- Clients
- 728
- Regulatory AUM
- $366M
- AUM share
- 64.4%
- Avg. per client
- $503K
- Clients
- 287
- Regulatory AUM
- $200M
- AUM share
- 35.1%
- Avg. per client
- $697K
- Clients
- Fewer than 5
- Regulatory AUM
- $0
- AUM share
- 0.0%
- Avg. per client
- —
- Clients
- Fewer than 5
- Regulatory AUM
- $0
- AUM share
- 0.0%
- Avg. per client
- —
- Clients
- Fewer than 5
- Regulatory AUM
- $12.6K
- AUM share
- 0.0%
- Avg. per client
- $12.6K
- Clients
- Fewer than 5
- Regulatory AUM
- $0
- AUM share
- 0.0%
- Avg. per client
- —
- Clients
- Fewer than 5
- Regulatory AUM
- $0
- AUM share
- 0.0%
- Avg. per client
- —
- Clients
- Fewer than 5
- Regulatory AUM
- $0
- AUM share
- 0.0%
- Avg. per client
- —
- Clients
- Fewer than 5
- Regulatory AUM
- $0
- AUM share
- 0.0%
- Avg. per client
- —
- Clients
- Fewer than 5
- Regulatory AUM
- $2.75M
- AUM share
- 0.5%
- Avg. per client
- $916K
Total
- Clients
- 1,019
- Regulatory AUM
- $569M
- AUM share
- 100%
- Avg. per client
- —
- Clients outside the U.S.
- 0%
- Clients advised without assets under management last fiscal year
- 1
- Private funds advised
- 0
- Financial planning clients last fiscal year
- 1–10
Elite Retirement Planning is paid through a percentage of assets under management, hourly charges and fixed fees (other than subscription fees). The reviewed brochures do not disclose an asset-based fee rate. Read the SEC-filed brochure. The brochure also prices one other service, listed under fee details.
Fee details and sources
Other fees
- Financial planning and consulting
- Financial planning and consulting are billed at an hourly rate each adviser sets within a firm range, or at a fixed fee agreed in advance.
MRP Holdings, Inc. owns 75% or more of Elite Retirement Planning and is in turn owned by Loren Merkle (75% or more). The leadership team of Elite Retirement Planning includes Chief Compliance Officer Loren Merkle. It has 30 employees, 10 of them in advisory roles.
Leadership
- Loren MerkleChief Compliance Officer
- Loren MerkleManager
Investment adviser representatives
15 representatives listed in the SEC register as of 9 October 2026.
Staff
- 30 employees
- 10 in advisory functions
- 12 state-registered reps
- 19 insurance agents
- Owns 75% or more of Elite Retirement Planning, LLC
MRP Holdings, Inc.
Control person · since June 2018
- Owns 75% or more of MRP Holdings, Inc.
Loren Merkle
Control person · since June 2018
Elite Retirement Planning’s regulatory assets grew 3.1× from $186M (March 2021) to $569M (March 2026); clients rose from 536 to 1,019 and employees from 17 to 30.
Figures from each annual filing
| Filed | Regulatory AUM | Clients | Employees | Offices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 2026 | $569M | 1,019 | 30 | 1 |
| March 2025 | $429M | 864 | 30 | 1 |
| March 2024 | $335M | 911 | 16 | 1 |
| March 2023 | $261M | 700 | 16 | 1 |
| March 2022 | $224M | 601 | 16 | 1 |
| March 2021 | $186M | 536 | 17 | 1 |
Besides its headquarters, Elite Retirement Planning has 0 offices, with 1 listed address in Iowa.
Iowa · 1 listed address
- 1860 Se Princeton DR, GrimesHQ
Contact and registration details
- Legal name
- Elite Retirement Planning, LLC
- Headquarters
- 1860 Se Princeton DR, Grimes, IA 50111
- Website
- merkleretirementplanning.com
- Phone
- 515-278-4110
- @merkleretirementplanning
- SEC file
- 801-118564
- Structure
- Iowa LLC
- Fiscal year end
- December
Elite Retirement Planning uses Charles Schwab ($547M) as custodian for its separately managed accounts. Elite Retirement Planning does not have custody of client assets.
- Charles SchwabCharles Schwab & Co., Inc. · Westlake, TX · $547M100%
At year end, Elite Retirement Planning’s separately managed accounts were mostly in funds (75%) and stocks (21%).
What the accounts hold
- Stocks21%
- Funds75%
- Cash4%
How many clients does Elite Retirement Planning have?
Elite Retirement Planning has 1,019 clients and manages $569 million for them, as of March 2026. They include 728 individual clients, 287 high-net-worth individuals, and 3 corporations and other businesses.
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Items 5.D and 5.F, filed 30 March 2026
What services does Elite Retirement Planning offer?
Elite Retirement Planning provides financial planning, portfolio management for individuals and small businesses, selecting other managers, publishing newsletters, and educational seminars.
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Item 5.G, from the SEC's 2 October 2026 data file
Which custodians does Elite Retirement Planning use?
Elite Retirement Planning’s separately managed account assets are held at Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (Westlake, TX), with $547M. Only custodians holding at least a tenth of those assets are named.
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Schedule D, Section 5.K.(3), filed 30 March 2026
How many financial advisors does Elite Retirement Planning have?
Elite Retirement Planning has 12 investment adviser representatives registered with state securities authorities, out of 30 employees, and 10 perform investment advisory functions. 0 employees are registered representatives of a broker-dealer and 19 employees are licensed insurance agents.
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Items 5.A and 5.B, from the SEC's 2 October 2026 data file
What does Elite Retirement Planning invest in?
At the end of its last fiscal year, Elite Retirement Planning’s separately managed accounts held 75% registered funds (mutual funds, ETFs, BDCs), 21% exchange-traded equities and 4% cash and equivalents.
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Items 5.K.(1) and 7.B, from the SEC's 2 October 2026 data file
Who owns Elite Retirement Planning?
Elite Retirement Planning is owned through a holding company by Loren Merkle. Its direct owner is MRP Holdings, Inc. (75% or more).
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Schedules A and B, filed 30 March 2026
How does Elite Retirement Planning get paid?
Elite Retirement Planning is paid through a percentage of assets under management, hourly charges and fixed fees. Its Form ADV lists no commissions or performance-based fees among how it is paid.
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Item 5.E, from the SEC's 2 October 2026 data file
Is Elite Retirement Planning registered with the SEC?
Yes, Elite Retirement Planning has been registered with the SEC as an investment adviser since 27 April 2020. Its CRD number is 297942 and its SEC file number is 801-118564.
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Item 1, filed 30 March 2026; IAPD firm record
How do I contact Elite Retirement Planning?
Elite Retirement Planning’s main office is at 1860 Se Princeton DR, Grimes, IA 50111. Its phone number is 515-278-4110. Its website is merkleretirementplanning.com.