Firm profile

Merkle Retirement Planning

GRIMES, IACRD 297942Registration Status: ApprovedEffective since April 27, 2020SEC # 801-118564Latest ADV March 30, 2026

Merkle Retirement Planning is an SEC registered investment adviser organized as a limited liability company with a primary office location in Grimes, IA. Its latest Form ADV filing, dated March 30, 2026, reports $569M in regulatory assets under management, 30 employees, 1 office, and 2,896 accounts.

Assets Under Management
$569M
Employees
30
Offices
1 office
Total Clients
1,019

Associated firm names

2 names listed
  • ELITE RETIREMENT PLANNING, LLC
  • MERKLE RETIREMENT PLANNING

Leadership

1 roles identified
CCOLoren J. Merkle

Advisory services offered

5 types reported
Educational seminars/workshops
Financial Planning Services
Portfolio management for individuals and small businesses

Fee models offered

3 types reported
Asset based fees
Fixed fees
Hourly charges

Offices & Contact

Primary office

GRIMES, Iowa, United States

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Primary office regionOther reported regions

Shading shows states and countries with reported offices. Cities are listed below; shading does not indicate service coverage.

Iowa

GRIMESPrimary office

1 office records listed · 1 total offices reported. Counts can use different reporting dates. SEC filers may list only their largest 25 additional offices.

Contact and digital presence

ADV profile links

Regulatory Assets Under Management Breakdown

Total regulatory assets under management$569Mas of March 30, 2026
Discretionary100.0%
$569M
100% of total RAUM100.0%
Non-discretionary0.0%
$0
0% of total RAUM0.0%
All regulatory assets under management are discretionary.

Client Coverage Demographics

Top client segmentIndividuals represent 71.4% of total clients.
Top client categories% of clientsClients
1
Individuals
71.4%
728
2
HNWI
28.2%
287
3
Corporations
0.3%
3
4
Charitable
0.1%
1
Categories with <5 clients
Banking or thrift institutions<5 clients
Charitable Organizations<5 clients
Other categories<5 clients

Assets under management Growth by Quarter

Quarterly points use the latest ADV filing or SEC roster snapshot available in each quarter.

Total AUM$569M
Total Accounts2,896
10Y AUM Change+$428M (+302.7%)

Private Funds

Private funds reported by Merkle Retirement Planning

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Employee Growth by Quarter

Quarterly points use the latest ADV filing or SEC roster snapshot available in each quarter.

Total Employees30
Clients per Employee34:1
10Y Employee Change+13 (+76.5%)

Historical AUM and employee figures reflect available SEC Form ADV filings under this CRD. Filing gaps may reflect registration status changes, dormant periods, state registration periods, firm restructuring, or other reporting changes. Rialytix does not interpolate missing periods.


Ownership

Reported direct and indirect ownership ranges

Each range applies to a separate reported relationship and should not be added together.

Reported ownership ranges

Highlighted bands show the percentage range reported in Form ADV.

0%25%50%75%100%
MRP HOLDINGS, INC.Direct owner · Schedule AInterest in MERKLE RETIREMENT PLANNING
75%+
LOREN JAMES MERKLEIndirect owner · Schedule BInterest in MRP HOLDINGS, INC.
75%+

Bars represent the reported range at that individual ownership step, not an estimated percentage of the advisory firm. Indirect relationships may refer to intermediate entities rather than directly to Merkle Retirement Planning.

Reported ownership and control details

Form ADV · Filing date 2026-03-30 · Schedules A and B

4 entries
#Owner / person & roleInterest in entityReported interestControl personTitle / status acquiredSource
1LOREN JAMES MERKLEMANAGERIndividualMERKLE RETIREMENT PLANNINGLess than 5%Code NAYesMANAGER06/2018Schedule APDF page 21
2MRP HOLDINGS, INC.MEMBER AND DIRECT OWNERDomestic entityMERKLE RETIREMENT PLANNING75% or moreCode EYesMEMBER AND DIRECT OWNER06/2018Schedule APDF page 21
3LOREN JAMES MERKLECHIEF COMPLIANCE OFFICERIndividualMERKLE RETIREMENT PLANNINGLess than 5%Code NAYesCHIEF COMPLIANCE OFFICER04/2019Schedule APDF page 21
4LOREN JAMES MERKLEDIRECTOR, VICE PRESIDENT AND TREASURERIndividualMRP HOLDINGS, INC.75% or moreCode EYesDIRECTOR, VICE PRESIDENT AND TREASURER06/2018Schedule BPDF page 21

Less than 5% may include zero. Code F identifies a role without specifying a percentage. Reported interests may overlap and may not include every owner. Total indirect ownership is not calculated.

Compliance & Disclosures

Filing dated 3/30/2026 8:48:20 AM

Responses were selected by the RIA in its filing. Questions are shortened for readability; “you” refers to the reporting firm, and some questions also cover advisory affiliates.

RIA or supervised-person involvementThe RIA reported that none of the events below involve the firm or its supervised persons.RIA responseNo
AFelonies2 No

In the past ten years, have you or any advisory affiliate:

  • A1Been convicted of or pleaded guilty or no contest to a felony?No
  • A2Been charged with a felony?No
BMisdemeanors2 No

In the past ten years, have you or any advisory affiliate:

  • B1Been convicted of or pleaded guilty or no contest to a misdemeanor involving investments, an investment-related business, fraud, false statements or omissions, wrongful taking of property, bribery, perjury, forgery, counterfeiting, or extortion?No
  • B2Been charged with a misdemeanor of the kind listed above?No
CSEC or CFTC actions5 No

Has the SEC or CFTC ever:

  • C1Found you or an advisory affiliate made a false statement or omission?No
  • C2Found you or an advisory affiliate violated SEC or CFTC regulations or statutes?No
  • C3Found you or an advisory affiliate caused an investment-related business to have its authorization to do business denied, suspended, revoked, or restricted?No
  • C4Entered an order against you or an advisory affiliate in connection with investment-related activity?No
  • C5Imposed a civil money penalty on you or an advisory affiliate, or ordered you or an advisory affiliate to cease and desist from any activity?No
DOther regulatory actions5 No

Has any other federal regulatory agency, state regulatory agency, or foreign financial regulatory authority ever:

  • D1Found you or an advisory affiliate made a false statement or omission, or was dishonest, unfair, or unethical?No
  • D2Found you or an advisory affiliate violated investment-related regulations or statutes?No
  • D3Found you or an advisory affiliate caused an investment-related business to have its authorization to do business denied, suspended, revoked, or restricted?No
  • D4In the past ten years, entered an order against you or an advisory affiliate in connection with investment-related activity?No
  • D5Denied, suspended, or revoked your or an advisory affiliate’s registration or license, or otherwise prevented association with an investment-related business or restricted activities?No
ESelf-regulatory organization actions4 No

Has a self-regulatory organization or commodities exchange ever:

  • E1Found you or an advisory affiliate made a false statement or omission?No
  • E2Found you or an advisory affiliate violated its rules, other than a violation designated as a minor rule violation under an SEC-approved plan?No
  • E3Found you or an advisory affiliate caused an investment-related business to have its authorization to do business denied, suspended, revoked, or restricted?No
  • E4Disciplined you or an advisory affiliate by expulsion, suspension, barring association with other members, or otherwise restricting activities?No
FProfessional authorizations1 No
  • FHas an authorization to act as an attorney, accountant, or federal contractor granted to you or an advisory affiliate ever been revoked or suspended?No
GPending regulatory proceedings1 No
  • GAre you or any advisory affiliate now the subject of a regulatory proceeding that could result in a “Yes” answer to any part of C, D, or E?No
HCivil judicial actions and proceedings4 No

(1) Court actions

Has a domestic or foreign court:

  • H(1)(a)In the past ten years, enjoined you or an advisory affiliate in connection with investment-related activity?No
  • H(1)(b)Found that you or an advisory affiliate violated investment-related statutes or regulations?No
  • H(1)(c)Dismissed, pursuant to a settlement agreement, an investment-related civil action brought against you or an advisory affiliate by a state or foreign financial regulatory authority?No

(2) Pending civil proceedings

  • H(2)Are you or any advisory affiliate now the subject of a civil proceeding that could result in a “Yes” answer to any part of H(1)?No

* Metrics are based on the latest available data, including Form ADV filings, brochures, and relationship summaries pulled from the SEC IAPD, and may be subject to change. Learn what is included in the Rialytix data. Please refer to the firm's official disclosures for the most accurate information using their CRD number. This is not investment advice.