Kent Christian

Kent is a Partner focused on evaluating new investment opportunities and helping partner firms work through strategic and operational initiatives for growth and scale.

Before Merchant, Kent spent 10 years as president and CEO of Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network, where he was responsible for all strategic, financial, and business results for Wells Fargo Advisors’ independent financial advisor business.  Kent’s career in financial services spans more than three decades and includes positions at Wells Fargo, Bank of America, Raymond James, and PlanMember Financial.  He has held several national leadership roles in wealth management, sales and marketing, products, research, capital markets, and private banking.

Kent is active in both the industry and the community.  He currently serves on the Financial Services Institute (FSI) board of directors and previously served on the board of an executive committee of the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA).  He is a former board member of the United Way of Greater St. Louis (Missouri) and the United Way of Richmond and Petersburg (Virginia).

 Kent graduated with an AB in Economics from Duke University.