In September 2016, 6 Meridian was founded with a simple belief: clients deserve something different, something better.
Inspired by the pioneering spirit reflected in the Sixth Principal Meridian, which runs through Wichita, we set out to chart a different course. We built a team that could bring together planning, investments, tax considerations, estate strategies, business interests, and family goals to help simplify complexity and navigate the road ahead with clarity and confidence.
Ten years later, that belief remains at the center of everything we do.
Looking Back
Founding 6 Meridian required a tremendous leap of faith and an entrepreneurial mindset.
When our seven founding partners launched the practice, we began with zero clients and zero assets under management. We left the security of a large institution because we believed there was a better way to serve the people who trusted us. Like the pioneers who once relied on the Sixth Principal Meridian to guide them toward new opportunities, we set out to build a practice designed around our clients’ needs rather than the priorities of an institution.
BACK: Lisa Coon, Denice Robinson, Tom Kirk, Andrew Mies, Pam Smith, Stephanie Muprhy
We rebuilt our business one relationship at a time.
Today, we are privileged to serve individuals, families, business owners, executives, foundations, nonprofits, and multi-generational families across the country. Many of the relationships that trusted us from the beginning continue today, while others trace back decades before 6 Meridian was ever founded.
“At the end of the day, this business is about relationships. We want to know our clients, understand what matters most to them, and help them make important decisions with confidence. Many of the families we serve have trusted us for decades, and being invited into that journey is an honor.”
– Tom Kirk, Founding Partner
That trust is something we never take for granted.
Growth with Purpose
The last decade has brought meaningful growth, but that was never the goal. Growth has been the result of staying committed to our clients, people, and community.
Over the past ten years, we’ve:
- Grown from a team of 13 to 34
- Expanded our leadership team by adding a new generation of partners
- Built a dedicated paraplanner team to enhance the client experience and create greater continuity of service
- Expanded our investment management capabilities
- Deepened our team’s knowledge through advanced designations, certifications, and professional development
- Expanded our office footprint to support our growing team and the families we serve
- Continued to invest in technology, resources, and capabilities through our partnership with Hightower Advisors
Most importantly, we’ve intentionally built a deeper bench of talent designed to serve clients today and well into the future.
“I’m proud of our original team of 13 who left our previous employer to start 6 Meridian. We all bought into the vision of the practice we wanted to create, and it was, and has been, truly a team effort from day one. Seeing how our team has grown, both in size and capabilities, is a testament to our goal of building a team better equipped to serve the complex financial needs of our clients. It’s equally rewarding to see the clients who have been with us since the beginning and have grown alongside us over the past ten years. We’re deeply grateful to those who placed their faith in our team and chose to make the journey with us.”
– Bryan Green, Founding Partner
Modernization in Service of Clients
One of our defining moments came in 2020 when 6 Meridian became the first, and remains the only, advisory practice in Kansas to have exchange-traded funds (ETFs) listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
The goal was never simply to launch a product. It began with a client need.
Our investment management team identified challenges clients were facing and developed investment strategies designed to help address them. Since then, we’ve continued to expand our ETF lineup and investment capabilities while remaining focused on the same question that guided our founding: “What is best for our clients?”
That question extends far beyond investments.
At 6 Meridian, clients are supported by a coordinated team that includes advisors, paraplanners, client service professionals, and investment specialists working together on their behalf. We intentionally build a circle of support around every client, bringing together diverse perspectives and specialized knowledge to help navigate complex financial decisions.
“We recongnized that complex financial solutions are best delivered by a team of professionals with distinctive strengths and the ability to develop deep client relationships. The concept of a team was foreign in our industry at the time, but I knew it was the right way to serve clients.”
– Margaret Dechant, Founding Partner & CEO
We also work closely with each family’s trusted professionals, including estate planning attorneys, CPAs, and other advisors, to help ensure important decisions are connected and aligned across every aspect of their financial life. By coordinating the moving pieces and simplifying financial complexity, we help clients focus less on managing details and more on what matters most to them: their families, businesses, goals, and legacy.
Whether through pioneering investment solutions, expanded planning capabilities, or a growing team of professionals dedicated to serving clients, our focus remains the same today as it was ten years ago: helping families chart a course and navigate prosperity with confidence, so they can focus on what matters most.
Investing in Knowledge
We have always believed that informed clients make more confident decisions. Over the years, that commitment has grown into educational opportunities including our annual Investor Summit, webinars, market insights, Viewpoint newsletter, and ongoing conversations designed to help clients better understand the forces shaping their financial future.
At the same time, our team continues to invest heavily in its own education and development. Our wealth advisors and professionals regularly pursue advanced designations, certifications, and leadership opportunities. Team members have shared knowledge at national industry conferences, contributed thought leadership across the profession, and brought new perspectives back to the benefit of our clients.
Investing in Our Community
From the beginning, we believed success carried a responsibility to give back. Our team members serve on nonprofit boards, volunteer throughout the community, mentor future leaders, and support organizations that strengthen the places where we live and work.
Whether through charitable giving, board service, educational initiatives, or hands-on volunteerism, we remain committed to supporting the community that has supported us throughout this journey.
Looking Ahead
While this anniversary is an opportunity to celebrate the past, our focus remains firmly on the future. 6 Meridian was never built around a single advisor, partner, or generation of leaders. It was built to serve clients in perpetuity.
Today, clients are supported by a growing advisory team, a dedicated investment management team, paraplanners, client service professionals, and a broader circle of support working together on their behalf. We have intentionally built this depth so clients and their families can rely on consistent guidance, not just today, but for generations to come.
We are already serving second and third generations of many families and helping prepare the next generation for the responsibilities that lie ahead.
“At 6 Meridian, we have consistently focused on legacy and continuity of service, not only for our clients, but within our business as well.”
– Sarah Hampton, Founding Partner
That continuity matters. Because financial planning isn’t simply about managing wealth today. It’s about helping families create a framework that can grow alongside their ambitions and endure for generations.
Thank You
Ten years ago, our founders took a leap of faith. But none of this would have been possible without the clients, professional partners, employees, and community members who placed their trust in us along the way.
Thank you for allowing us to be part of your financial journey. Thank you for the confidence you’ve placed in our team.
And thank you for helping us build something that continues to honor the principles on which 6 Meridian was founded: to do more for our clients, our people, and our community.
We are grateful for the last ten years, and even more excited about what comes next.
