2,314 Merrill Advisors Recognized on the 2026 Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Advisor Lists

Merrill Wealth Management has taken the top spot in Forbes' 2026 wealth advisor rankings, with 2,314 advisors appearing on the "Best-in-State Wealth Advisors" list — more than any other firm, according to a May 5 announcement. The rankings, published by Forbes on April 7, are based on data as of June 30, 2025.

Additionally, 59 Merrill advisors were named to Forbes' "America's Top Wealth Advisors" list, which honors the top 250 advisors nationally. Among them, Merrill Private Wealth Advisor Jeff Erdmann, based in Greenwich, Connecticut, secured the #1 overall position. Three Merrill advisors placed in the top ten, including Michael Valdes (#8) from Tampa, Florida, and Rod Westmoreland (#10) from Atlanta, Georgia.

"This level of recognition across Forbes' rankings speaks to the caliber of our advisors. Congratulations to the thousands of Merrill advisors who made this year’s lists," said Kenneth Correa, Head of Business and Client Development at Merrill.

Other Merrill advisors in the national top 20 include Raj Sharma (#13, Boston), Noel Weil (#16, New York), Richard Jones (#18, Los Angeles), and Reza Zafari (#19, Los Angeles).

The rankings, compiled by SHOOK Research, are based on in-person, virtual, and telephone meetings evaluating best practices, client retention, experience, credentials, compliance records, firm nominations, and assets under management. Investment performance is not a criterion.

Merrill has also seen its advisors recognized on other 2026 lists, including 4,837 advisors and 1,844 teams on Forbes' "Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams" list, 23 advisors on Forbes' "America’s Top Women Wealth Advisors" list, and 341 on Barron’s "Top 1,500 Financial Advisors" list.