Summit Financial Accelerates Strategic Growth With Stake in $700M Genex Consulting Partnership

St. Louis-area multi-family office joins Summit Financial to tap its scale, resources and cutting-edge technology platform

Summit Financial (“Summit”), ​​a preeminent investment advisory firm, in collaboration with Merchant Investment Management, LLC ("Merchant"), today announced that Genex Consulting ("Genex") has joined its network, marking Summit's first investment of 2025. This collaboration highlights the strength of the Summit-Merchant partnership as they take a stake in Genex, a $700 million wealth management firm. As Summit approaches $20 billion in assets under advisement, the firm achieved 70% year-over-year growth in 2024 reinforcing its commitment to scalable expansion and industry leadership.

Genex, led by principals Brian Redders, Michael Sluhan, CFP®, and Chad Hemphill, is a trusted multi-family office in Kirkwood, Missouri. Specializing in investment planning, retirement planning, executive compensation, risk management, estate planning and business consulting, Genex offers a personalized, comprehensive approach to wealth management. The firm equips individuals, families and business owners with the insights and strategies needed to achieve their long-term financial goals with confidence.

“Partnering with Summit marks a pivotal moment in our growth, enabling us to deepen relationships with clients and help them achieve their financial goals in new and meaningful ways,” said Redders. “At Genex, our mission has always been to deliver a wealth planning experience that provides life-changing clarity, allowing our clients to live their lives to the fullest. With Summit's extensive resources and expertise, we can continue to fulfill this mission while expanding the breadth of services we provide. This partnership gives us the tools and support to scale without compromising the high-touch, personalized service that has always been our hallmark.”

Summit empowers entrepreneurial advisors, like Genex, by combining the flexibility of independence with a comprehensive multi-family office ecosystem designed to accelerate professional growth by benefiting from its dedicated strategy group of in-house attorneys, tax specialists, financial planners and investment strategists.

“Bringing Genex and its core team into the Summit Financial family reinforces our commitment to supporting entrepreneurial advisors with a model that prioritizes independence, growth and long-term success,” said Stan Gregor, CEO of Summit Financial Holdings. “Our partnership approach goes beyond investment solutions — it’s about providing a collaborative, multi-family office experience that helps firms like Genex elevate their client relationships and achieve lasting impact. Summit is experiencing its best year of growth in our 40+ year history and the addition of Genex will keep that momentum going in 2025.”

“We’re thrilled to welcome Genex to our growing network of advisory firms,” added Keith Soltis, ChFC, CLTC, Summit’s director of wealth management. “Our focus is on equipping firms like Genex with the resources, strategies and operational support they need to maximize their potential. Whether it’s accessing alternative investments, navigating complex planning needs, or scaling their practice, Summit’s comprehensive platform positions advisors to deliver even greater value to their clients.”

A 2024 Forbes|SHOOK and Barron’s Top 100 RIA Firm, Summit remains committed to its founding principles of independence and powerful financial planning. Interested advisors and firm leaders can learn more about Summit’s all-inclusive platform of fully integrated industry-leading services, thought leaders and innovative technology—known as the SummitVantage™—at summitfinancial.com.

ABOUT SUMMIT FINANCIAL

Summit Financial (“Summit”) is a preeminent investment advisory firm with over 40 years of experience helping advisors elevate their businesses and deliver exceptional client experiences. Built by advisors for advisors, Summit champions independence while providing the tools, capital and resources needed to achieve growth and success.

Guided by a legacy of partnership, Summit and its affiliate firms prioritize personalized solutions and holistic financial planning tailored to individual needs and values. Whether it’s delivering objective advice to clients or offering advisors a pathway to long-term growth, Summit works to ensure that every offering reflects its commitment to independence and excellence. With a growing national footprint, Summit remains dedicated to turning aspirations into achievements and empowering advisors and clients alike to live life on their terms.

*Summit Financial, LLC, a SEC Registered Investment Adviser established November 2018, is the successor firm to Summit Equities, Inc. (registered with the SEC in 1991) and Summit Financial Resources, Inc. (registered with the SEC in 1983) for all of their investment advisory and financial planning business. Summit is wholly owned by Summit Financial Holdings, LLC ("SFH") which is owned by Stanley Gregor and Merchant Wealth Management Holdings 3, LLC (“MWMH”). MWMH is wholly owned by Merchant Wealth Partners, LLC, which is wholly owned by Merchant Investment Management, LLC.

Source: Forbes|SHOOK (October 2024) America’s Top RIA Firms. Barron's 2024 Top RIA Firms (October 2024). Rankings were determined based on an evaluation process conducted by Forbes|SHOOK (Oct. 2023-Oct. 2024) and Barron’s (Data as of 3/31/2024). Summit Financial, LLC, did not pay a fee to obtain or use these rankings.

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