Meet Scott
Scott joined Mercer Advisors through the acquisition of Sanford Advisory Services in 2022. Prior, he worked with Sanford Advisory for 22 years, starting as an intern and working his way up to partner. Todd Sanford inspired his passion for helping families and growing their business. As a detail-oriented person, Scott prides himself on keeping his clients’ finances properly structured, prioritized, and focused on long-term objectives. He values trusted relationships and understands the responsibility of advocating for clients, anticipating needs, and having difficult conversations. Scott holds a B.S. degree in finance from Valparaiso University and is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional.
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
- Multi-generational planning that aligns with your values and minimizes tax impact
- Financial strategy for clients who are divorced and divorcing, including asset division and long-term planning
- Life changes after the loss of a spouse, from estate transitions to long-term planning
- Complexities of inherited wealth, from taxes to legacy
His working style
Scott is known for being a good listener and leading clients toward achievement of their goals through persistent execution.
Scott in real life
What keeps you busy outside of work?
I have coached youth sports (soccer and hockey) for 30 years.
Any words you try to live by?
“If you fail to prepare, prepare to fail.”
Why do you like working at Mercer Advisors?
Mercer Advisors provides the platform to perform with excellence that many of my peers do not have the ability to replicate.
Meet Scott’s Teammates
Madeline Bradley
Sr. Client Service Specialist
What Scott Says
Madi is the perfect partner for me in serving our clients. We hold each other accountable and have the same sense of competitiveness to push each other toward providing quality outcomes for each of our clients.
Tami Leffingwell
Manager, Client Service
What Scott Says
Tami is like a family member to me, as we serve our greater family of clients together. She has been a constant in my career for 25 years and is the most reliable person I know to help me and our clients.
Brent Kerstetter
Sr. Wealth Advisor, Director
What Scott Says
Brent has been my business partner in serving our clients for 25 years. He is the kind of person who will always back me up, help out, or be there when nobody else would. His commitment translates to how he treats our clients.
Ready to learn more?
Explore More
Smart Tax Strategies for Investors: Capital Gains and Tax Loss Harvesting Explained
October 15, 2025