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Josh DeForest
Executive Managing Director
CFA, CFP®
jdeforest@merceradvisors.com
888.642.4636
Josh is an Executive Managing Director at Mercer Advisors leading the firm’s Southern Division and overseeing national wealth management operations and experience. In this role, he is accountable for delivering exceptional service and support to clients across nearly 20 offices. He works to equip the national advisor team with the tools and resources they need to strive to do high-quality work for Mercer Advisors’ clients. One of 450+ employee-owners of the firm, Josh is a member of the executive leadership team and serves on the firm’s investment committee.
Josh joined Mercer Advisors in 2010, after beginning his financial services career in 2007. Rising through the ranks, he has held roles as a client service specialist, investment analyst, wealth advisor, and director.
Both a Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA®) and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® (CFP®) Professional, Josh has been recognized by Forbes as one of America’s Top Next-Gen Wealth Advisors (2021), the Best-In-State Top Next-Gen Wealth Advisors (2023), and the Best-In-State Wealth Advisors (2024)*. Josh graduated from Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California with degrees in economics and Spanish.
Based in the Scottsdale office, Josh is a native of Phoenix, where he resides with his wife and three boys. They are a family of soccer fanatics to the point that theirs is the house with a soccer field painted in the front yard.
*Disclosure
*The Forbes ranking of Best-In-State Wealth Advisors, developed by SHOOK Research, is based on an algorithm of qualitative criteria, gained through telephone, virtual and in-person due diligence interviews, and quantitative data. Those advisors that are considered have a minimum of seven years’ experience, and the algorithm evaluates best practices, such as service models, investing models, compliance records as well as revenue trends, assets under management and industry experience. Portfolio performance is not a criterion due to varying client objectives and lack of audited data. Neither Forbes nor SHOOK receive a fee in exchange for rankings.
*The Forbes Next-Gen Wealth Advisors rankings, developed by SHOOK Research, is based on an algorithm of qualitative criterion—mostly gained through telephone, virtual, and in-person due diligence interviews—and quantitative data. Those advisors that are considered have a minimum of four years’ experience, and the algorithm weighs factors like revenue trends, assets under management, compliance records, industry experience and those that encompass the highest standards of best practices. Portfolio performance is not a criterion due to varying client objectives and lack of audited data. Neither Forbes nor SHOOK receive a fee in exchange for rankings.
*Please Note: Limitations. Neither rankings and/or recognitions by unaffiliated rating services, publications, media, or other organizations, nor the achievement of any professional designation, certification, degree, or license, membership in any professional organization, or any amount of prior experience or success, should be construed by a client or prospective client as a guarantee that he/she will experience a certain level of results if Mercer Advisors or its investment professionals are engaged, or continues to be engaged, to provide investment advisory services. A fee was not paid by either Mercer Advisors or its investment professionals to receive the award or ranking. The award or ranking is based upon specific criteria and methodology (see ranking criteria/methodology). No ranking or recognition should be construed as an endorsement by any past or current client of Mercer Advisors or its investment professionals.