Melissa W. Adams
ACHIEVE RETIREMENT & WEALTH MANAGEMENT
RIDGEFIELD, CT 06877
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CRD#: 2147886
Professional summary
Melissa Walling Adams, CFP®, who also goes by Melissa Adorno Adams, Melissa Jan Ankers, Melissa Walling Ankers, Melissa Adorno Walling, Melissa J Walling, Melissa Jan Walling, is a registered financial advisor currently at ACHIEVE RETIREMENT & WEALTH MANAGEMENT, LLC located in Ridgefield, Connecticut.
Melissa is registered as an IAR (Investment Advisor Representative) and started their career in finance in 1991. Melissa has worked at 7 firms and has passed the Series 63, SIE, Series 7, Series 6 and Series 24 exams.
Biography
Melissa Adams is a Certified Financial Planner, Chartered Life Underwriter and Registered Investment Advisor with Merit Financial Partners, LLC (MFP), a fee only financial planning and Registered Investment Advisory firm. She strives to build long-term, trusting relationships with clients by bring them peace of mind as she guides them through wealth management and retirement planning strategies. She specializes in helping clients navigate through the transitions in their lives – Retirement and investment planning, college savings, divorce or the loss of a spouse.
Melissa has over 24 years experience in financial services industry with leadership roles at Manulife Financial, John Hancock and Prudential in the areas of retirement sales management and investment firm relationship management. Most recently, Melissa was the Senior Relationship Manager at Prudential Annuities where she was responsible for managing over 40 asset manager relationships representing over 170 billion in assets.
My professional and academic qualifications include:
CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER certification (CFP)
CHARTERED LIFE UNDERWRITER (CLU)
Registered Investment Advisor Agent
Bachelors of Art, Economics; Minors, Urban Studies and Law & Society, University of California, San Diego, CA
Retirement Strategy Program, University of Pennsylvania, The Wharton School, Pennsylvania, PA
Licenses: Series 7, 63, 24, Life, Accident and Health
Question & Answer
What are your service offerings?
Budgeting
Estate Planning
Debt Management
Insurance Planning
Life Transitions
Retirement Planning
Education Planning
Investment Planning
Comprehensive Financial Planni...
Do you have an area of expertise or specialization?
Annuities
Financial Psychology/Coaching
Investment Advice with Ongoing...
Retirement Planning & Distribu...
Tax Planning
Women's Financial Planning Iss...
Are you a "fiduciary"?
Yes
Aliases
Melissa Adorno Adams | Melissa Jan Ankers | Melissa Walling Ankers | Melissa Adorno Walling | Melissa J Walling | Melissa Jan Walling
Other business activities
Outside business activity is any business or activity undertaken by an advisor that is outside the scope of their relationship with their firm (e.g., consulting services, real estate, freelance work, teaching, etc.). Investors should stay informed about these activities to ensure no conflicts of interest.
1. No name 2. Own two family rental 3. 12/2012 4. co-owner with my husband, Chris Adams 5. No more than 2% 6. 2 hours 7. Co-owner with my husband, Chris Adams 8. Chris Adams 9. Yes 10. 190 High Ridge Avenue, Ridgefield, CT 11. NO 12. We receive rental income less expenses. 1. REI Equity Partners II, LLC 2. Invest Club investing in commercial real estate $25,000 investment 3. 8/1/14 4. Non-managing member 5. 0% 6. 0 7.Limited partner/investor
CRS (Client Relationship Summary) - RIA
Click below to view Melissa Walling Adams's CRS (Customer Relationship Summary).
Certified licenses
Advisors may have various certifications and credentials from different organizations. AdvisorCheck highlights these seven certifications - AIF®, CFP®, ChFC®, CFA, CLU®, CIMA®, CPWA®
CFP®
Start date: 1999
Experience
Current
July 31, 2025 - Present
ACHIEVE RETIREMENT & WEALTH MANAGEMENT, LLC
Office #1: 386 Main Street 2nd Floor, Ridgefield, CT, 06877RIA
CRD#: 336486
RIDGEFIELD, CT
Past
March 13, 2018 - August 5, 2025
MERIT FINANCIAL PARTNERS LLC
RIA
CRD#: 141359
WESTPORT, CT
Past
March 5, 2007 - July 3, 2017
AST INVESTMENT SERVICES, INC.
RIA
CRD#: 108897
SHELTON, CT
Past
March 5, 2007 - July 3, 2017
PRUDENTIAL ANNUITIES DISTRIBUTORS, INC
BD
CRD#: 21570
SHELTON, CT
Past
July 12, 2002 - December 31, 2006
JOHN HANCOCK DISTRIBUTORS LLC
RIA
CRD#: 5249
SANTA BARBARA, CA
Past
January 1, 2002 - March 1, 2007
JOHN HANCOCK DISTRIBUTORS LLC
BD
CRD#: 5249
SANTA BARBARA, CA
Past
August 30, 1996 - January 1, 2002
MANULIFE WOOD LOGAN, INC.
BD
CRD#: 19177
STAMFORD, CT
Past
July 5, 1991 - December 31, 1991
WOODBURY FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
BD
CRD#: 421
OAKDALE, MN
State Registrations and Notice Filings
Listed states reflect where the advisor is authorized to serve clients under state regulations.
IAR
means the advisor is registered as an Investment Advisor Representative in this state and is authorized to provide investment advice to clients there.Highlighted states indicate IAR registrations
IAR
Connecticut(7/31/2025)
IAR
Texas(7/31/2025)
Exams
State Security Law Exam
General Industry/Product Exam
General Industry/Product Exam
General Industry/Product Exam
Principal/Supervisory Exam
Current Firm
AR
ACHIEVE RETIREMENT & WEALTH MANAGEMENT, LLC
ACHIEVE RETIREMENT & WEALTH MANAGEMENT, LLC
CRD#: 336486 / SEC#: 801-134085
RIA
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Contact information
Main Address
386 Main Street 2nd Floor, Ridgefield, CT, 06877
Mailing Address
Phone number
(203) 642-6781
Established
Firm type
Fiscal year end
# of Employees
1
SEC notice filing (3 States and Territories)
Regulatory assets under management
| Total Number of Accounts | 121 |
| AUM (Assets Under Management) | $ 64,445,165 |
Red Flags
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Company Information
ACHIEVE RETIREMENT & WEALTH MANAGEMENT, LLC
CRD#: 336486Ridgefield, CT 06877TRUST BUT VERIFY
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Contact information
(xxx) xxx-xxxx
xxxxx@xxxx.xxx
