Biography

Biography

Louis Merkle III, CRC®

Professional
Louis was born in a working-class suburb of Cleveland, Ohio. He attended the University of Akron, where he majored in education and athletic training. In 1985, Louis joined the airline industry as a customer service agent for Continental Airlines. He quickly moved up the management ranks during the turbulent deregulation era of the industry. Successful management assignments included Las Vegas, San Francisco, and Newport Beach; later, in 1988, he moved to Houston to help manage the largest of the airline’s airport operations.

In 1993, Louis joined American Express Travel Related Services, focusing on quality emergency support for Fortune 100 companies. During this transitional year, Louis also worked for the American Express subsidiary, IDS Financial Services. After a year of extensive training, education, and licensing, Louis began building a financial advisory practice of his own. Ameriprise Financial, as it is known today, provided a framework that used his talents in working with people to achieve goals. During his 12-year tenure, Louis received multiple awards and recognition for providing high-quality, written financial advice and service to his clients.

In 2006, Louis formed the Merkle Financial Group in order to provide access to a truly independent and comprehensive approach to financial planning and fee-based asset management. Louis believes that for him to provide world-class service and guidance, he should be free from the influences present at many of the traditional Wall Street firms. Louis is also an Investment Adviser Representative of Commonwealth Financial Network®, Member FINRA/SIPC, a Registered Investment Adviser. Louis holds FINRA Series 7 and 63 securities registrations through Commonwealth, in addition to Health, Life, and Variable Contracts licenses in multiple states.

Personal
Louis and his wife, Jeanna, live in Northeast Houston, in the community of Kingwood. They are very happy to be part of this community and feel that it is a wonderful place to live and raise their two children, Evan and Molly. Louis and Jeanna are both active in the local schools, youth sports, and the Christian education of children at their church. In his free time, Louis enjoys working out, coaching youth sports, and playing golf.

summit-club_seal
 

Louis Merkle is proud to have been recognized as a Summit Club advisor for 2022—a distinction based on annual production that places him among the top 19 percent of advisors affiliated with Commonwealth Financial Network.

Each year, Commonwealth, the broker/dealer–RIA that helps us process investment transactions on your behalf, recognizes Summit Club advisors by inviting them to an exclusive gathering of their peers, leading industry experts, and Commonwealth home office staff. Summit Club advisors benefit from an intensive learning and networking experience designed to help them hone their expertise, share best practices, and provide ever-higher levels of service, education, and leadership to their clients.