Meet Our Team

Christopher F. Mercado, MBA, CEPA, CFP®, CIMA®, AIFA®

National Managing Director

As national managing director of Mariner Advisor Network, Christopher is responsible for leading the business development initiatives within The Network, including the recruitment of new advisors, offices and institutions. Christopher also identifies M&A opportunities for both The Network and Network-affiliated offices that desire to grow through acquisition.

Beginning his career in 1996, Christopher has held positions in investment sales, equity trading, business consulting, and business development. He worked with firms including LPL Financial, Allianz Global Partners — Nicholas-Applegate Capital Management, First American Capital Management, EVEREN Securities, and Smith Barney. In 2012, he joined The Financial Services Network, an enterprise OSJ and hybrid RIA, and ultimately acquired the organization in 2016 with his two business partners. Identifying the need to continue to grow and evolve their business model in supporting independent advisors, they merged their organization with Mariner, forming what is now known as the Mariner Advisor Network.

Christopher is happily married and a proud father of three children. Outside of work, you can often find him on the sidelines coaching or cheering his kids in in a variety of sports. Philanthropically, he has been an active leader in various charitable organizations, and is a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer, having served as a business development volunteer in Guatemala, Central America.

Education

MBA, University of the Pacific
Bachelor’s degree in business management, California State University, San Marcos

Professional Qualifications

CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER®
Certified Exit Planning Advisor
Certified Investment Management Analyst®
Accredited Investment Fiduciary®
Accredited Investment Fiduciary Analyst®
Kolbe Certified Coach*
Series 65 – Uniform Investment Adviser Law Examination
Insurance licensed in California #0K54297

*The Kolbe certification signifies I have the knowledge and insight to use Kolbe Indexes and software to identify people’s natural talents and help individuals and organizations utilize those talents productively.

Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Center for Financial Planning, Inc. owns and licenses the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER®, and CFP® (with plaque design) in the United States to Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc., which authorizes individuals who successfully complete the organization’s initial and ongoing certification requirements to use the certification marks.

Back to Team Page