“I’m fortunate to work with such a high quality firm, and to do work that I love with people I respect.
Personally, I most enjoy working with successful professionals under 50 who are committed to their long term goals.
These highly motivated, high earners are still working toward their goals, understand the value of savings, and value an Advisor they can partner with to plan, protect and preserve their accumulating wealth so that they can focus on other priorities during this time in their life.”
Brian Merrill, CFP®
Vice President Corporate Development Officer, Chief Financial Officer
Brian was born and raised in Houston, graduating from Memorial High School in 1997. He proceeded to Southern Methodist University where he earned a BBA in Finance and Marketing (double major) in 2001.
Brian interned at Enron Corp. and then accepted a full time offer upon graduation. Two months after the infamous Enron collapse, Brian left to join his father at Tanglewood.
For his first three years at the firm, Brian served as an investment analyst doing research and assisting with portfolio management. In 2004 he started the “All Seasons Retirement Portfolios” program at Tanglewood, now named “Tanglewood Portfolios”.
In 2014, Brian purchased a 10% stake in Tanglewood and joined the firm as the third equity partner. With this change, Brian’s role transitioned to greater leadership, including his current role as Director of Marketing and serving as a key member of the firm’s Investment Committee. Brian continues to serve as Wealth Manager for firm clients.
Brian has co-written two books with his father, The Sure Road to Investment Success (2007) and Investing in Uncertain Times (2012). They released an updated and expanded 2nd Edition of Investing in Uncertain Times in 2018.
Over the years Brian has taken leadership positions for several non-profit groups in the Houston area. In 2014, he married the love of his life, Nikki. They have two sons Brendan (born in 2016) and Benjamin (born in 2019). The four of them live in the Memorial area of Houston.