Access Wealth Planning and EKS Associates, two New Jersey financial advisory firms that both have more than 20 years experience in the business, announced their merger this week.

"This is a unique marriage in that it unites EKS Associates, which will remain a 'fee only' financial planning division, with Access Wealth Planning, which will continue to offer a full range of 'fee-based' services," Lawrence Zagarola, Managing Director of Roseland-based Access Wealth Planning, said in a statement.

Based in Princeton, EKS is led by Eleanor Szymanski, who for many years had a leadership role with the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors and who teaches and speaks often on wealth management topics.

The combined company has 20 employees, 500-plus clients and more than $400 million in assets.  

           
The firm will operate from both Roseland and Princeton.