Click here to learn more about our financial professionals by visiting FINRA's BrokerCheck.

8100 Penn Avenue South
Suite 175
Bloomington, MN 55431

Jim Mertz

(952) 831-5660

 
When Markets React Behavioral Finance Should You Tap Retirement Savings to Fund College? Should You Ever Retire?

WELCOME TO MERTZ WEALTH STRATEGIES, A FINANCIAL ADVICE CENTER.

We believe great advice comes from individuals, not large companies.

14 year Five Star Wealth Manager*award winner.  

Mertz Wealth Strategies Inc. is a comprehensive retirement planning firm. We combine our knowledge of investments with our knowledge of the income tax laws to look for ways that help protect and grow your money efficiently.*

"It is not what you earn, but what you keep that matters." 

Click here for Monthly articles

Our mission is to help create and maintain wealth for our clients through long-term, effective, asset management. We will build client relationships based on trust, competent professional service, continual communication, and prompt personal service. We will assist our clients in setting financial goals, monitoring these goals, and keeping them informed of the process and achievement of the goals.

We have equipped our business with quality financial services technology and utilize our capabilities to the fullest. These investments in our business have allowed us to give our clients intensely personalized asset analysis, asset allocation, and investment services. Our success is based on research and personalized service. It is for these reasons that new clients come to us and current clients stay with us.

Thank you for visiting our virtual office. If you’d like a face-to-face, no-obligation appointment to see what we can do for you, please give us a call at 952-831-5660 or contact Jim at Jim@mertzwealth.com.

*The FIVE STAR Wealth Manager list is created by Crescendo Business Services LLC. The following prior year statistics use this format: YEAR: # Considered, # Winners, % of candidates, Issued Date, Research Period. 2024: 4,789, 624, 13%,  2023: 4,080, 633, 16%, 12/1/22, 3/14/22 - 10/18/22; 2022: 4544, 622, 14%, 12/1/21, 3/29/21 - 10/8/21; 2021: 4004, 630, 16%, 12/1/20, 3/30/20 - 10/23/20; 2020: 3606, 589, 16%, 12/1/19, 3/1/19 - 10/25/19; 2019: 3504, 671, 19%, 12/1/18, 3/23/18 - 10/23/18; 2018: 2622, 591, 23%, 12/1/17, 2/23/17 - 10/13/17; 2017: 2304, 836, 36%, 11/1/16, 2/25/16 - 10/14/16; 2016: 2083, 854, 41%, 11/1/15, 4/17/15 - 10/14/15; 2015: 2673, 825, 31%, 12/1/14, 4/17/14 - 10/14/14; 2014: 1931, 844, 44%, 12/1/13, 4/17/13 - 10/14/13; 2013: 2151, 863, 40%, 12/1/12, 4/17/12 - 10/14/12; 2012: 1256, 624, 50%, 11/1/11, 4/17/11 - 10/14/11.  

Award candidates are identified by one of three sources; firm nomination, peer nomination or prequalification. Wealth managers were evaluated across ten criteria: (a) Credentialed as an investment advisory representative or a registered investment advisor; (b) Actively employed as a credentialed professional in the financial services industry for a minimum of five years; (c) Favorable regulatory and complaint history review; (d) Fulfilled their firm review based on internal firm standards; (e) Accepting new clients; (f) One-year client retention rate; (g) Five-year client retention rate; (h) non-institutional discretionary and/or non-discretionary client assets administered; (i) Number of client households served. (j) Educational and professional designations. Favorable and unfavorable evaluations are included in the score.  

 Each wealth manager is reviewed for regulatory actions, civil judicial actions, and customer complaints. A favorable regulatory and complaint history is defined by Five Star Professional to mean that the wealth manager has not:  *Been subject to a regulatory action that resulted in a license being suspended or revoked, or payment of a fine; *Had more than a total of three settled or pending customer complaints filed against them with any regulatory authority or through Five Star Professional’s consumer complaint process; *Individually contributed to a financial settlement of a customer complaint filed with a regulatory authority; *Filed for personal bankruptcy; *Been convicted of a felony. Five Star Wealth Managers do not pay a fee to be considered or placed on the final list of Five Star Wealth Managers. Scores reflect an average of all respondents and are not representative of any one client's evaluation. 

 The Five Star award is not indicative of the wealth managers’ future performance. Wealth managers may or may not use discretion in their practice and therefore may not manage their clients’ assets. Working with a FIVE STAR Wealth Manager or any wealth manager is no guarantee as to future investment success, nor is there any guarantee that the selected wealth managers will be awarded this accomplishment by Five Star Professional in the future. The inclusion of a wealth manager on the Five Star Wealth Manager list should not be construed as an endorsement of the wealth manager by Five Star Professional or the magazine. Five Star Professional is not an advisory firm. For more information on the Five Star award and the research/selection methodology, go to: fivestarprofessional.com. 

Helpful Content

Social Security Tax Estimator

Social Security Tax Estimator

Estimate how much of your Social Security benefit may be subject to federal income tax.

Student Loan Payoff Calculator: Extra Payments Can Save You

Student Loan Payoff Calculator: Extra Payments Can Save You

See how extra payments toward your student loans could shorten your payoff timeline.

When Markets React

When Markets React

When markets shift, experienced investors stick to their strategy.

 

Insurance Needs Assessment: When You're Newly Married

Marriage changes everything, including your insurance needs.

Understanding Marginal Income Tax Brackets

An inside look at how marginal income tax brackets work.

Investing for Impact

Learn how to build a socially conscious investment portfolio and invest in your beliefs.

Retirement Traps to Avoid

Beware of these traps that could upend your retirement.

Deciding When to Take Social Security

One of the most common questions people ask about Social Security is when they should start taking benefits.

Building a Solid Financial Foundation

Sustain financial well-being or create wealth through these actions.

View all articles arrow

Historical Inflation

See how the purchasing power of a dollar has changed over time due to inflation.

How Much Do I Need To Retire?

How much is enough to retire? It depends on your lifestyle, timeline, and more. Use this calculator to get a personalized est

IRA Income

Estimate the potential monthly income your IRA balance could generate in retirement.

Should I Buy or Lease an Auto?

Compare the true costs of buying versus leasing a vehicle to find the better fit for you.

Federal Capital Gains Tax Estimator

Estimate your potential federal capital gains tax liability on the sale of an asset.

What Is My Net Worth?

Get a snapshot of your overall financial picture by calculating your total net worth.

View all calculators arrow

What to Do When You Lose Your Wallet

Ever lost your wallet? Frustrating. Here’s what you can do to keep yourself safe.

Stay Safe with a Business Owner's Policy

Learn the advantages of Business Owner's Policies with this highly educational and fun animated video.

Risk Tolerance: What’s Your Style?

Learn about what risk tolerance really means in this helpful and insightful video.

Should You Tap Retirement Savings to Fund College?

There are three things to consider before dipping into retirement savings to pay for college.

Should I Invest in Gold?

Learning more about gold and its history may help you decide whether it has a place in your portfolio.

Leaving Your Lasting Legacy

Want to do more with your wealth? You might want to consider creating a charitable foundation.

View all videos arrow