Chris Merla

Chris Merla serves as President and Chief Operating Officer of PareShah Partners, where he leads the firm's operations and partners closely with its advisors to help strengthen the financial outcomes of the clients and families they serve. With more than two decades of experience in the financial broker-dealer and registered investment advisor industry, Chris brings a rare combination of regulatory experience, operational discipline, and a genuine commitment to building trust — with staff, advisors, and clients alike.

Chris's career in financial services began in 2004 with NFP Advisor Services Group, where he spent nearly a decade advancing from Rep Support Specialist to Manager of Licensing & Registration. He went on to serve as a Senior Examiner with LPL Financial before stepping into executive leadership as Chief Operations Officer of Intrua Financial and, later, as the Chief Operations Officer for Lion Street Financial, where he led firm-wide initiatives in compliance, process improvement, and organizational efficiency. Most recently, he served as Head of Operations at Integrity before joining PareShah Partners.

Chris holds FINRA Series 7, 63, and 24 (Registered Principal) registrations and is a graduate of St. Edward's University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in business management and finance. He is an experienced public speaker and is known for his ability to translate complex regulatory requirements into practical, everyday solutions for the teams he supports.

At PareShah Partners, Chris's focus is straightforward: to help advisors do their best work on behalf of clients by ensuring the firm runs with integrity, efficiency, and care. He is based in Austin, Texas.