Scott Neal

Meet Scott

Scott is a Sr. Wealth Advisor based in Lexington, Kentucky. He is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional and Certified Public Accountant.

Scott began his career in financial services at Deloitte following his service as an Army officer, during which he taught accounting for Boston University and the University of Maryland while stationed in Germany. He later became a senior manager at a regional CPA firm before founding his own financial planning practice in 1986. His firm, D. Scott Neal, Inc., became a registered investment advisor in 1995 and joined Mercer Advisors in 2025.

Scott earned a MBA from Eastern Kentucky University, where he was a Distinguished Military Graduate. His commitment to serving the whole person led him to earn a Master of Divinity with an emphasis in Pastoral Care.

Scott’s specialties

At Mercer Advisors, all of our wealth advisors provide a highly personalized approach, backed by a team of specialists that ensure every part of your financial list is addressed. Additionally, Scott has focused experience in these areas:

Planning for retirement, from high-earning years to long-term income strategies
Family businesses navigating succession, liquidity, and legacy goals
Advising physicians with insurance, debt, and investment strategies
Guiding higher education professionals in maximizing benefits and preparing for retirement
Supporting nonprofit organizations with investment management, governing, and growth strategies to help advance their mission

His working style

Working with Scott is personal and straightforward. He listens carefully, asks direct questions, and takes time to understand what truly matters before offering advice. Clients can expect clear thinking, honest conversations, and guidance grounded in long‑term interests, not trends or short‑term pressure. Highly accessible and steady during uncertainty, Scott responds directly, prepares thoughtfully, and helps clients separate emotion from reality so they can make decisions that preserve independence and future choices.

Scott in real life

How do you give back?

Volunteerism through local not-for-profit organizations. I am an active member of Rotary and chairman of the local scholarship committee.

Any words you try to live by?

“Life is short. We don’t have much time to gladden the hearts of those who walk this way with us. So, be swift to love and make haste to be kind.” Attributed to Henri-Frederic Amiel.

What keeps you busy outside of work?

My family first. But in my spare time I read, think, and read some more. I read mostly non-fiction and current events along with some theology thrown in here and there. I am a Theory of Constraints Jonah and apply those principles to problem solving.