In March 2021, Kyle Whittington, CFP® was named President of Meld Financial as Founder Mark McGarvey took the first step into retirement. Now, we are excited to announce that Kyle has transitioned to both Owner and President following Mark’s official retirement. In addition to a new owner, we are pleased to announce that Blake May, J.D., CFP®, became a partner in 2022.
While these might seem like major changes on the surface, they are in fact quite the opposite. Kyle and Blake were selected in part due to their ability to keep Meld on the same path that was forged by our founder. Kyle has already been at the helm of the company for over a year in his role as President, and Blake has excelled within the firm for over four years.
About Kyle Whittington, Owner and President of Meld Financial
Kyle has been President of Meld Financial since 2021 and has been an integral part of the firm for more than fifteen years. When he began his career with Meld, Kyle ran the trading desk. His role grew over the years, and he oversaw Meld’s Investment Department – designing and implementing investment plans for clients.
Prior to joining Meld, Kyle earned a Bachelor of Science in Commerce and Business Administration with a focus in Finance from the University of Alabama. He went on to achieve a Master of Science in Human Environmental Sciences with a focus in Financial Planning from the same university. This advanced degree is “designed for graduate students who seek to improve the lives of individuals, families and communities.” That description certainly matches Kyle’s commitment to helping Meld clients achieve their financial goals.
Kyle holds FINRA Series 7, 24, and 66 securities licenses, as well as a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ designation. With Kyle’s impressive credentials, it should come as no surprise that he has been instrumental in overseeing Meld’s comprehensive suite of wealth management services. In addition to the technical knowledge and trading experience to oversee Meld’s financial planning and investment services, Kyle is passionate about helping clients accomplish their goals and achieving sustainable growth for the company.
The Growth of Meld Financial Under Kyle’s Presidency
Since Kyle was named President in 2021, Meld Financial has flourished. Our firm has provided comprehensive wealth management services to a growing list of clients.
Under Kyle’s leadership, Meld has continued to grow according to Founder Mark McGarvey’s vision: “We will always recommend the same course of action we would choose for ourselves, given the same circumstances.” This vision is the foundation of the Meld philosophy, and Kyle has continuously upheld the ideals that make Meld Financial unique.
One way that Meld has implemented Mark’s vision is by transitioning to a fully independent Registered Investment Advisory [RIA] firm with Fidelity Investments acting as custodian of client funds. This change began in December 2021 and has allowed Meld to bring many processes in house and provide a more personalized experience for our clients.
Also under Kyle’s tenure, new opportunities have been added for advisors who demonstrate the talent, desire, and ability to help Meld and our clients succeed – like Blake May, J.D., CFP®, who became a partner in 2022.
About Blake May, Partner at Meld Financial
Prior to joining Meld, Blake earned a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts with a focus in Journalism from Auburn University. He went on to attend Cumberland School of Law where he earned his Juris Doctor degree. Blake joined the financial services industry in 2014 and holds FINRA Series 6, 63, and 65 securities licenses. In 2019, Blake also earned his CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ designation.
Blake joined Meld in 2018 as an Associate Wealth Manager. In the four years he has been with Meld, Blake has been integral in assisting clients in developing, implementing, and maintaining their financial plans. His areas of focus include retirement and education planning, as well as insurance, tax, and estate planning. At the beginning of 2022, Blake became a partner, and his leadership skills have been instrumental in carrying forward the goals of the firm.
The Future of Meld Financial
Meld Financial was founded with a client-centric goal to provide comprehensive wealth management services supported by an experienced team of tax, legal, and investment professionals. This goal has not changed. Under Kyle and Blake’s leadership, Meld will continue to uphold the high standards set over the last several decades.
Through nearly four decades of helping clients achieve their financial goals, Meld created a unique set of processes. Among these are Financial Fingerprint® – a comprehensive wealth management plan that is quick to assemble, easy to understand, and simple to modify as circumstances change – and SmartScreen™ – a data-driven investment screening program that identifies investments that meet Meld’s rigorous quality standards. As Meld continues to grow, we will hold fast to these processes and build new ones with our clients’ best interests at heart.
In the coming years, Meld plans to add additional opportunities for advisors to assume leadership roles in the company. We believe that adding these opportunities will help Meld grow while continuing to provide the level of service our clients have come to expect.
While there has been some change at Meld Financial in the last several years, one principle has not wavered. We are committed to helping our clients achieve their financial goals, and our future decisions will be made with our clients’ needs in mind.
We Look Forward to Continuing to Serve You
At Meld Financial, we are grateful to all our clients for your ongoing support. Thank you for entrusting us to guide you as you turn your financial goals into a reality. We are excited to share the news of our new ownership structure with you and look forward to continuing to support you for years to come.
