{"url":"https://nivawealth.com/firms/elite-retirement-planning-297942","iapdUrl":"https://adviserinfo.sec.gov/firm/summary/297942","regulatoryAum":568827090,"crd":"297942","adviserRoster":{"asOf":"2026-10-09","items":[{"crd":"7360220","suffix":null,"lastName":"Auderer","firstName":"Brady","middleName":"M"},{"crd":"7409200","suffix":null,"lastName":"Bertness","firstName":"Katharine","middleName":null},{"crd":"7519536","suffix":null,"lastName":"Bierma","firstName":"Ryan","middleName":"Nicklaus"},{"crd":"7217466","suffix":null,"lastName":"Danforth","firstName":"Haley","middleName":"Lauren"},{"crd":"4008891","suffix":null,"lastName":"Gray","firstName":"Melissa","middleName":"Ann"},{"crd":"6190334","suffix":null,"lastName":"Hanson","firstName":"KAILEY","middleName":"ANN"},{"crd":"6334771","suffix":null,"lastName":"HONKOMP","firstName":"CHAWN","middleName":"FRANCIS"},{"crd":"7529444","suffix":null,"lastName":"Huntrods","firstName":"Clint","middleName":"Simpson"},{"crd":"5276280","suffix":null,"lastName":"LYONS","firstName":"JEREMY","middleName":"ALAN"},{"crd":"7217477","suffix":null,"lastName":"Martens","firstName":"Allyson","middleName":"Elizabeth"},{"crd":"3144188","suffix":null,"lastName":"MERKLE","firstName":"LOREN","middleName":"JAMES"},{"crd":"6712106","suffix":null,"lastName":"MULLIN","firstName":"ALISHA","middleName":"LYNNE"},{"crd":"8251942","suffix":null,"lastName":"Nwachukwu","firstName":"Nkiru","middleName":"Dominique"},{"crd":"6762144","suffix":null,"lastName":"Perkins","firstName":"Stacey","middleName":"Lynn"},{"crd":"8276841","suffix":null,"lastName":"Stadsvold","firstName":"Isaac","middleName":null}],"total":15,"loadedAt":"2026-10-10T00:20:19.761928+00:00","sourceUrl":"https://reports.adviserinfo.sec.gov/reports/CompilationReports/IA_INDVL_Feed_10_09_2026.xml.zip"},"history":[{"filedOn":"2021-03-16","regulatoryAum":186307676,"clients":536,"employees":17,"offices":1},{"filedOn":"2022-03-31","regulatoryAum":223752239,"clients":601,"employees":16,"offices":1},{"filedOn":"2023-03-19","regulatoryAum":260602196,"clients":700,"employees":16,"offices":1},{"filedOn":"2024-03-25","regulatoryAum":334796134,"clients":911,"employees":16,"offices":1},{"filedOn":"2025-03-31","regulatoryAum":428547783,"clients":864,"employees":30,"offices":1},{"filedOn":"2026-03-30","regulatoryAum":568827090,"clients":1019,"employees":30,"offices":1}],"secFileNumber":"801-118564","legalName":"Elite Retirement Planning, LLC","displayName":"Elite Retirement Planning","slug":"elite-retirement-planning-297942","website":"https://merkleretirementplanning.com/","classification":{"segment":"individuals","segmentLabel":"Wealth management","type":"independent_wealth_manager","typeLabel":"RIA","feeDisclosure":"full"},"linkedinUrl":"https://www.linkedin.com/company/merkleretirementplanning/about/","founded":null,"organization":"Iowa limited liability company","fiscalYearEnd":"December","headquarters":{"street":"1860 Se Princeton DR","city":"Grimes","state":"IA","stateName":"Iowa","country":"United States","postalCode":"50111"},"tradeNames":[],"registration":{"secApproved":"27 April 2020","noticeFilings":null,"latestNoticeFiling":null},"wealthAumPerClient":557699.9379310345,"staff":{"employees":30,"advisory":10,"brokerDealerReps":0,"insuranceAgents":19,"promoters":0},"aum":{"regulatory":568827090,"discretionary":568827090,"discretionaryAccounts":2896,"nonDiscretionary":0,"nonDiscretionaryAccounts":0,"wrapProgram":1706481270,"nonUsClientsPct":0,"nonAumClients":1},"clientTypes":[{"label":"Individuals (other than HNW)","clients":728,"regulatoryAum":366150784},{"label":"High-net-worth individuals","clients":287,"regulatoryAum":199914653},{"label":"Banking or thrift institutions","clients":null,"fewerThan5":true,"regulatoryAum":0},{"label":"Pension and profit-sharing plans","clients":null,"fewerThan5":true,"regulatoryAum":0},{"label":"Charitable organizations","clients":1,"fewerThan5":true,"regulatoryAum":12624},{"label":"State or municipal government entities","clients":null,"fewerThan5":true,"regulatoryAum":0},{"label":"Other investment advisers","clients":null,"fewerThan5":true,"regulatoryAum":0},{"label":"Insurance companies","clients":null,"fewerThan5":true,"regulatoryAum":0},{"label":"Sovereign wealth funds and foreign official institutions","clients":null,"fewerThan5":true,"regulatoryAum":0},{"label":"Corporations and other businesses","clients":3,"fewerThan5":true,"regulatoryAum":2749029}],"feePrograms":[{"role":"other","program":"Financial planning and consulting","summary":"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.","sourceUrl":"https://files.adviserinfo.sec.gov/IAPD/Content/Common/crd_iapd_Brochure.aspx?BRCHR_VRSN_ID=1030796","versionId":1030796,"submittedOn":"2026-03-30","documentName":"MERKLE RETIREMENT PLANNING - 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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","sourceRef":{"doc":"adv1","section":"employees"}},{"question":"What services does Elite Retirement Planning offer?","answer":"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","sourceRef":{"doc":"adv1","section":"employees"}},{"question":"Which custodians does Elite Retirement Planning use?","answer":"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","sourceRef":{"doc":"adv1","section":"custodians"}},{"question":"How many financial advisors does Elite Retirement Planning have?","answer":"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","sourceRef":{"doc":"adv1","section":"employees"}},{"question":"What does Elite Retirement Planning invest in?","answer":"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","sourceRef":{"doc":"adv1","section":"employees"}},{"question":"Who owns Elite Retirement Planning?","answer":"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","sourceRef":{"doc":"adv1","section":"scheduleA"}},{"question":"How does Elite Retirement Planning get paid?","answer":"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","sourceRef":{"doc":"adv1","section":"employees"}},{"question":"Is Elite Retirement Planning registered with the SEC?","answer":"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","sourceRef":{"doc":"adv1","section":"identity"}},{"question":"How do I contact Elite Retirement Planning?","answer":"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.","source":"Form ADV Part 1A, Item 1.F, filed 30 March 2026","sourceRef":{"doc":"adv1","section":"offices"}}],"holdings":null,"notice":"Compiled from public SEC Form ADV filings on the dates in `sources`. Facts as filed; not a rating, ranking, or recommendation. Niva is not affiliated with this firm. Disciplinary history is deliberately not included here or on the page; the SEC publishes the complete record at the `iapdUrl` above."}