Business Details
29 Years
experience
Your Trusted Financial Partner in Knoxville
At Meridian Trust & Investment Company, we approach every client relationship with the same depth of care and commitment that defines our internal team dynamics. Our expertise spans retirement plan administration, financial planning, investment management, and trust services, delivered with an unwavering focus on personalized service. As fiduciaries, we prioritize client needs over sales targets, ensuring every recommendation aligns with individual financial objectives. With decades of collective experience, our team provides meticulous attention to detail while maintaining transparent fee structures.We specialize in serving physicians and other professionals facing complex financial challenges, offering tailored strategies that evolve with life's changing circumstances. Our continuity of care model ensures clients work with the same dedicated team members year after year, fostering long-term relationships built on trust and accountability.
Services
401(k) Plans
Financial Planning
Investment Management
Trust Services
Physician Services
Details
- Year established: 1997
Highlights and features
- We operate as fiduciaries with no product sales incentives
- Our team includes CFA charterholders and CPA specialists
- Specialized financial planning for physicians with complex needs
- Transparent fee reviews conducted with every client meeting
- Continuity of care through long-term advisor relationships
Services
401(k) Plans
We serve as Discretionary Trustee and Named Plan Administrator for retirement plans, handling all administrative responsibilities including plan design, compliance testing, and 5500 filings. Our team provides in-person participant education and personalized investment advice, ensuring employers can focus on business operations while we manage fiduciary responsibilities. Transparent fee structures and regular plan reviews maintain long-term effectiveness.
Financial Planning
Customized strategies address cash flow management, risk mitigation, and legacy planning through comprehensive financial roadmaps. Our advisors evaluate insurance suitability and coordinate with legal professionals to implement estate plans. Specialized services for physicians address student loan management, complex retirement plans, and hospital employment benefits while maintaining focus on long-term wealth preservation.
Investment Management
Personalized portfolio construction considers individual risk tolerance, tax situations, and liquidity needs. We select and monitor specific investments including stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and ETFs across various account types. Continuous performance evaluation and quarterly rebalancing ensure alignment with evolving financial goals while maintaining appropriate risk parameters through changing market conditions.
Trust Services
As experienced trustees, we execute estate plans with precision, coordinating tax preparation and beneficiary reporting. Our team collaborates with CPAs and attorneys to implement executorship directives while providing modern reporting tools for trust account transparency. Specialized expertise handles complex intergenerational wealth transfers and charitable remainder trusts with meticulous attention to legal requirements.
Physician Services
Tailored solutions address unique challenges faced by medical professionals, including high-deductible retirement plans, student loan debt management, and hospital employment benefits optimization. We simplify complex financial structures while providing time-critical advisors who understand demanding medical schedules. Specialized tax-efficient strategies maximize savings potential during peak earning years.
People
Tom Coulter
President & Founder
With over 40 years in finance, Tom founded Meridian in 1997 after graduating from University of Tennessee and working at Deloitte. He specializes in retirement planning and estate strategies, leveraging decades of experience to guide clients through complex financial decisions.
Dave Zandstra
Chief Investment Officer
As CFA charterholder, Dave leads investment strategy and asset selection. With 20+ years at Meridian, he manages individual accounts and investment roundtables, combining technical expertise with practical portfolio management experience from First Chicago Bank and First Tennessee Bank.
Susanne White
VP Retirement Plan Design
CPA and CEBS specialist with 25+ years at Meridian. She designs compliant retirement plans and serves as subject matter expert for IRA regulations. Her work ensures plan documents meet evolving compliance requirements while optimizing tax-efficient savings strategies for employers.
Will Coulter
Vice President
CPA and CFP professional with PwC technology development experience. He combines accounting expertise with technological innovation to deliver advisory services, focusing on personalized financial solutions that integrate with clients' broader wealth management goals.
Emmy Bellingrath
Financial Planner
CPA and CFP serving as retirement plan liaison. With KPMG audit background, she provides financial statement expertise while conducting education sessions that improve participant engagement with retirement planning tools and investment options.
Questions
What makes Meridian different from other financial advisors?
As fiduciaries, we never sell products and maintain complete independence. Our fee-only structure ensures recommendations align solely with client interests.
Do you specialize in any particular industries?
We have specialized expertise serving physicians and medical professionals with complex financial planning needs related to student loans, retirement plans, and tax strategies.
How often do you review investment portfolios?
We conduct quarterly investment reviews and annual comprehensive strategy sessions, with additional meetings available whenever significant life changes occur.
What retirement plan services do you offer employers?
We act as Discretionary Trustee, handling all administration, compliance testing, and fiduciary responsibilities while providing on-site participant education and personalized investment advice.
How do you handle estate planning?
Our trust officers coordinate with your legal and tax professionals to implement estate plans, managing executorship duties and providing beneficiary reporting through modern digital platforms.
