Meridian acquires wealth manager

HJ Wealth of Plymouth Meeting to join with bank’s wealth advisory board

Meridian Bank of Malvern announced it has acquired HJ Wealth Management LLC of Plymouth Meeting.

HJ Wealth will join with the bank’s wealth advisory group to form Meridian Wealth Partners LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Meridian Bank. With the acquisition, expected to close on April 1, Meridian Wealth Partners’ total assets under management will approach $700 million.

HJ Wealth Management was founded in 2000 by CPAs Jay Heller and Brian Kohute. Their proprietary financial planning system, the Progression of Wealth, connects the management of wealth to meaningful personal goals.

“We are excited to add the depth and experience of HJ Wealth Management,” said Meridian Bank CEO Chris Annas. “Their Progression of Wealth platform has proven very successful in helping both individuals and companies with their investment and retirement portfolios. This addition will help us with our mission of bringing superior financial planning and wealth management services to a broad segment of customers. We look forward to continued organic growth and possible future acquisitions.”

Meridian Wealth Partners will be located in Meridian Bank’s offices opening later this year on Skippack Pike in Blue Bell, near the Blue Bell Inn.

“We have been looking for the right bank to partner with

for years,” Kohute said in a statement. “Since Meridian shares our same core values of trust, independence and a culture of putting clients first, we knew we finally found the right bank for our clients and for us.”

Headquartered in Malvern, Meridian Bank operates Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware with a full array of banking services.

SUBMITTED PHOTO Members of the Meridian Wealth Partners team, from left, are: Jay Heller, founder and CEO of HJ Wealth Management; Brian Kohute, president and chief investment officer of HJ Wealth Management; Chris Annas, founder and CEO of Meridian Bank; and Ed...