.elementor-kit-5{--e-global-color-primary:#0E2747;--e-global-color-secondary:#D4AF5A;--e-global-color-text:#4B5565;--e-global-color-accent:#8A6A22;--e-global-color-mernavyd:#0A1C33;--e-global-color-mergoldl:#E2C27A;--e-global-color-mercream:#F6F3EC;--e-global-color-merborder:#E4DED0;--e-global-color-mermuted:#C9D2DF;--e-global-typography-primary-font-family:"Cormorant Garamond";--e-global-typography-primary-font-size:54px;--e-global-typography-primary-font-weight:600;--e-global-typography-primary-line-height:1.08em;--e-global-typography-secondary-font-family:"Manrope";--e-global-typography-secondary-font-size:20px;--e-global-typography-secondary-font-weight:700;--e-global-typography-secondary-line-height:1.3em;--e-global-typography-text-font-family:"Manrope";--e-global-typography-text-font-size:16px;--e-global-typography-text-font-weight:400;--e-global-typography-text-line-height:1.65em;--e-global-typography-accent-font-family:"Manrope";--e-global-typography-accent-font-size:15px;--e-global-typography-accent-font-weight:700;background-color:#FFFFFF;color:#4B5565;font-family:"Manrope", Sans-serif;}.elementor-kit-5 e-page-transition{background-color:#FFBC7D;}.elementor-section.elementor-section-boxed > .elementor-container{max-width:1240px;}.e-con{--container-max-width:1240px;}.elementor-widget:not(:last-child){--kit-widget-spacing:20px;}.elementor-element{--widgets-spacing:20px 20px;--widgets-spacing-row:20px;--widgets-spacing-column:20px;}{}h1.entry-title{display:var(--page-title-display);}.site-header .site-branding{flex-direction:column;align-items:stretch;}.site-header{padding-inline-end:0px;padding-inline-start:0px;}.site-footer .site-branding{flex-direction:column;align-items:stretch;}@media(max-width:1024px){.elementor-section.elementor-section-boxed > .elementor-container{max-width:1024px;}.e-con{--container-max-width:1024px;}}@media(max-width:767px){.elementor-section.elementor-section-boxed > .elementor-container{max-width:767px;}.e-con{--container-max-width:767px;}}
/* Start custom CSS *//* ===== Meridian Advisory Partners: shared styles ===== */

/* Header */
/* Logo left, menu in the true centre, search + button right */
.mer-mainbar .mer-logo, .mer-mainbar .mer-header-right { flex: 1 1 0; min-width: 0; }
.mer-logo img { display: block; height: auto; }
.mer-mainbar .mer-logo { min-width: 170px; }
@media (max-width: 1024px) {
  .mer-mainbar .mer-nav { order: 3; flex: 0 0 auto; }
  .mer-mainbar .mer-header-right { flex: 0 0 auto; --width: auto; width: auto; min-width: 0; }
  .mer-mainbar > .e-con-inner { gap: 8px; }
}
.mer-nav .elementor-nav-menu--main .elementor-item { white-space: nowrap; }
.mer-btn .elementor-button { transition: background-color .25s ease, color .25s ease, transform .25s ease; }
.mer-btn .elementor-button:hover { transform: translateY(-2px); }
/* Pill button with arrow in a navy circle */
.mer-btn-arrow .elementor-button-icon {
  width: 42px; height: 42px; border-radius: 50%; background: #0E2747; color: #D4AF5A;
  display: inline-flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center; font-size: 15px;
  transition: background-color .25s ease, color .25s ease, transform .25s ease;
}
.mer-btn-arrow .elementor-button-icon svg { width: 15px; height: 15px; fill: currentColor; }
.mer-btn-arrow .elementor-button:hover .elementor-button-icon { background: #D4AF5A; color: #0E2747; transform: translateX(3px); }
.mer-btn-arrow .elementor-button-content-wrapper { align-items: center; }
.mer-mainbar .mer-header-right { min-width: max-content; }
@media (min-width: 1025px) and (max-width: 1365px) {
  .mer-nav .elementor-nav-menu--main .elementor-item { padding-left: 8px !important; padding-right: 8px !important; font-size: 14px !important; }
  .mer-mainbar .mer-header-right { gap: 12px !important; }
  .mer-mainbar .mer-btn-arrow .elementor-button { font-size: 14px !important; padding-left: 18px !important; }
  .mer-mainbar .mer-btn-arrow .elementor-button-icon { width: 36px; height: 36px; }
}

/* Subheading (eyebrow): text followed by two stacked lines.
   On light sections add class mer-eyebrow--light so the second line turns navy. */
.mer-eyebrow { --mer-line-1: #D4AF5A; --mer-line-2: #FFFFFF; }
.mer-eyebrow--light { --mer-line-2: #0E2747; }
.mer-eyebrow .elementor-heading-title { display: flex; align-items: center; gap: 14px; }
.mer-eyebrow .elementor-heading-title::before {
  content: ""; flex: none; width: 38px; height: 7px;
  background:
    linear-gradient(var(--mer-line-1), var(--mer-line-1)) right top / 28px 2px no-repeat,
    linear-gradient(var(--mer-line-2), var(--mer-line-2)) right bottom / 38px 2px no-repeat;
}

/* Gold accent word with brush underline */
.mer-accent { font-style: italic; font-weight: 500; color: #E2C27A; position: relative; display: inline-block; white-space: nowrap; }
.mer-accent::after {
  content: ""; position: absolute; left: -3%; right: -3%; bottom: -0.04em; height: 0.2em; pointer-events: none;
  background: url("data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' viewBox='0 0 200 14' preserveAspectRatio='none'%3E%3Cpath d='M3 9 C 45 3, 120 2, 197 6' stroke='%23D4AF5A' stroke-width='4.5' fill='none' stroke-linecap='round'/%3E%3Cpath d='M12 12 C 70 7, 140 8, 188 10' stroke='%23D4AF5A' stroke-width='2' fill='none' stroke-linecap='round' opacity='.55'/%3E%3C/svg%3E") no-repeat center / 100% 100%;
}

/* Hero */
.e-con .mer-hero-text { max-width: 640px !important; }
@media (max-width: 767px) { .mer-hero-text br { display: none; } }
.mer-hero-text p { margin: 0; }
.mer-trust { display: flex; align-items: center; gap: 18px; }
.mer-trust-icons { display: flex; }
.mer-trust-icons span {
  width: 52px; height: 52px; border-radius: 50%; background: #0E2747; border: 2px solid rgba(212, 175, 90, .85);
  display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center; margin-left: -12px; box-shadow: 0 6px 16px rgba(0,0,0,.25);
}
.mer-trust-icons span:first-child { margin-left: 0; }
.mer-trust-icons svg { width: 24px; height: 24px; }
.mer-trust p { margin: 0; font-family: 'Manrope', sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.55; color: #C9D2DF; }

/* Notched note card, bottom-right of the hero */
.e-con.mer-hero-note {
  position: absolute; right: 0; bottom: 0; width: 600px; max-width: calc(100% - 32px);
  background: #FFFFFF; border-top-left-radius: 30px; z-index: 2;
}
.e-con.mer-hero-note::before, .e-con.mer-hero-note::after {
  content: ""; position: absolute; width: 30px; height: 30px; inset: auto; border-radius: 0; opacity: 1; mix-blend-mode: normal;
  background: radial-gradient(circle at 0 0, transparent 29.5px, #FFFFFF 30px);
}
.e-con.mer-hero-note::before { right: 0; top: -30px; }
.e-con.mer-hero-note::after { left: -30px; bottom: 0; }
.e-con.mer-hero-note-card::before {
  content: ""; position: absolute; inset: 22px auto 22px 26px; width: 3px; height: auto;
  border-radius: 3px; background: #0E2747; opacity: 1; mix-blend-mode: normal;
}
.mer-hero-note-card > .elementor-element { padding-left: 20px; }
.mer-hero-note-card p { margin: 0; }

@media (max-width: 1024px) {
  .e-con.mer-hero-note { position: relative; width: 100%; max-width: 100%; margin-top: 40px; padding: 0 !important; background: transparent; }
  .e-con.mer-hero-note::before, .e-con.mer-hero-note::after { display: none; }
}
@media (max-width: 767px) {
  .mer-trust-icons span { width: 44px; height: 44px; }
  .mer-trust-icons svg { width: 20px; height: 20px; }
  .mer-trust p { font-size: 14px; }
  .mer-trust p br { display: none; }
}

/* Button with a thin diagonal (↗) arrow after the text */
.mer-btn-diag .elementor-button-icon { display: inline-flex; align-items: center; }
.mer-btn-diag .elementor-button-icon i, .mer-btn-diag .elementor-button-icon svg { display: none; }
.mer-btn-diag .elementor-button-icon::before {
  content: ""; width: 18px; height: 18px; background: currentColor; transition: transform .25s ease;
  -webkit-mask: url("data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' viewBox='0 0 24 24' fill='none' stroke='black' stroke-width='1.8' stroke-linecap='round' stroke-linejoin='round'%3E%3Cpath d='M5 19L19 5'/%3E%3Cpath d='M7 5h12v12'/%3E%3C/svg%3E") center / contain no-repeat;
          mask: url("data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' viewBox='0 0 24 24' fill='none' stroke='black' stroke-width='1.8' stroke-linecap='round' stroke-linejoin='round'%3E%3Cpath d='M5 19L19 5'/%3E%3Cpath d='M7 5h12v12'/%3E%3C/svg%3E") center / contain no-repeat;
}
.mer-btn-diag .elementor-button:hover .elementor-button-icon::before { transform: translate(2px, -2px); }

/* ===== Engagement steps card (4 columns, + connectors) ===== */
.e-con.mer-step { position: relative; border-right: 1px solid #E4DED0; }
.e-con.mer-step--last { border-right: 0; }
.e-con.mer-step:not(.mer-step--last)::after {
  content: ""; position: absolute; z-index: 2; right: -23px; top: 108px; width: 46px; height: 46px; border-radius: 50%;
  border: 1px solid #E4DED0; box-sizing: border-box;
  background:
    linear-gradient(#0E2747, #0E2747) center / 16px 1.5px no-repeat,
    linear-gradient(#0E2747, #0E2747) center / 1.5px 16px no-repeat,
    #FFFFFF;
}
.mer-step-num .elementor-heading-title { display: flex; align-items: center; gap: 14px; letter-spacing: 1px; }
.mer-dots { display: inline-flex; gap: 4px; }
.mer-dots span { width: 13px; height: 13px; border-radius: 50%; background: #0E2747; }
.mer-dots span + span { background: #D4AF5A; }
.mer-step-text p { margin: 0; }
@media (max-width: 1024px) {
  .e-con.mer-step:not(.mer-step--last)::after { display: none; }
  .e-con.mer-step { border-right: 0; border-bottom: 1px solid #E4DED0; }
  .e-con.mer-step:nth-child(odd) { border-right: 1px solid #E4DED0; }
  .e-con.mer-step:nth-last-child(-n+2) { border-bottom: 0; }
}
@media (max-width: 767px) {
  .e-con.mer-step, .e-con.mer-step:nth-child(odd) { border-right: 0; border-bottom: 1px solid #E4DED0; }
  .e-con.mer-step--last { border-bottom: 0; }
  .e-con.mer-step:nth-last-child(2) { border-bottom: 1px solid #E4DED0; }
}

/* ===== About section ===== */
.mer-accent--light { color: #B08A3E; }
.e-con .mer-about-intro { max-width: none; }
.mer-about-intro p { margin: 0; }
.mer-about-img img { display: block; width: 100%; }

/* Checklist with thin circle-check icons */
.mer-checks { list-style: none; margin: 22px 0 0; padding: 0; display: flex; flex-direction: column; gap: 14px; }
.mer-checks li { position: relative; padding-left: 40px; color: #0E2747; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.5; }
.mer-checks li::before {
  content: ""; position: absolute; left: 0; top: -2px; width: 26px; height: 26px; background: #B08A3E;
  -webkit-mask: url("data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' viewBox='0 0 24 24' fill='none' stroke='black' stroke-width='1.4' stroke-linecap='round' stroke-linejoin='round'%3E%3Cpath d='M21 11.1V12a9 9 0 1 1-5.3-8.2'/%3E%3Cpath d='M21 4.5 12 13.5l-3-3'/%3E%3C/svg%3E") center / contain no-repeat;
          mask: url("data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' viewBox='0 0 24 24' fill='none' stroke='black' stroke-width='1.4' stroke-linecap='round' stroke-linejoin='round'%3E%3Cpath d='M21 11.1V12a9 9 0 1 1-5.3-8.2'/%3E%3Cpath d='M21 4.5 12 13.5l-3-3'/%3E%3C/svg%3E") center / contain no-repeat;
}

/* Accordion: all items inside ONE bordered box, separated by thin lines */
.mer-acc .e-n-accordion {
  border: 1px solid #E4DED0; border-radius: 12px; background: #FFFFFF; padding: 4px 30px;
}
.mer-acc .e-n-accordion-item { border: 0; border-bottom: 1px solid #E4DED0; background: transparent; }
.mer-acc .e-n-accordion-item:last-child { border-bottom: 0; }
.mer-acc .e-n-accordion-item-title {
  padding: 20px 0 !important; border: 0 !important; background: transparent !important;
  justify-content: space-between !important; cursor: pointer;
}
.mer-acc .e-n-accordion-item-title-header { flex: 1 1 auto; text-align: left; }
.mer-acc .e-n-accordion-item-title-text { color: #0E2747; }
/* Thin plus / minus drawn in CSS */
.mer-acc .e-n-accordion-item-title-icon { position: relative; width: 24px !important; min-width: 24px; height: 24px; flex: none; }
.mer-acc .e-n-accordion-item-title-icon > span { display: none !important; }
.mer-acc .e-n-accordion-item-title-icon::before,
.mer-acc .e-n-accordion-item-title-icon::after {
  content: ""; position: absolute; left: 0; top: 50%; width: 24px; height: 1.2px; margin-top: -0.6px;
  background: #0E2747; transition: transform .3s ease;
}
.mer-acc .e-n-accordion-item-title-icon::after { transform: rotate(90deg); }
.mer-acc .e-n-accordion-item[open] .e-n-accordion-item-title-icon::after { transform: rotate(0deg); }
/* Open body: divider under the title */
.mer-acc .e-n-accordion-item > .e-con {
  margin: 0 !important; padding: 26px 0 30px !important; border: 0 !important; width: auto !important; --width: auto; max-width: none;
  border-top: 1px solid #E4DED0 !important; border-radius: 0 !important; background: transparent !important;
}
.mer-acc .e-n-accordion-item > .e-con p { margin: 0 0 16px; }
@media (max-width: 767px) { .mer-acc .e-n-accordion { padding: 0 20px; } }

/* Photo column: quote over the photo + overlapping gold card */
.e-con.mer-about-media { position: relative; padding-bottom: 60px !important; }
.mer-about-media .mer-about-img { width: 76% !important; max-width: 76%; }
.mer-about-media .mer-about-quote { position: absolute !important; left: 28px; bottom: 100px; max-width: 46%; z-index: 1;
  text-shadow: 0 2px 18px rgba(0,0,0,.35); }
.e-con.mer-about-card { position: absolute !important; right: 2%; bottom: 0; width: 290px !important; --width: 290px; overflow: hidden; z-index: 2;
 }
.mer-about-wave img { display: block; width: 100%; mix-blend-mode: multiply; opacity: .75; }
.mer-ticks { list-style: none; margin: 0; padding: 0; display: flex; flex-direction: column; gap: 9px; }
.mer-ticks li { position: relative; padding-left: 28px; font-family: 'Manrope', sans-serif; font-size: 15px; color: #0E2747; }
.mer-ticks li::before { content: ""; position: absolute; left: 2px; top: 4px; width: 12px; height: 7px;
  border-left: 1.6px solid #0E2747; border-bottom: 1.6px solid #0E2747; transform: rotate(-45deg); }
.mer-btn-split .elementor-button { width: 100%; }
.mer-btn-split .elementor-button-content-wrapper { justify-content: space-between; width: 100%; }
@media (max-width: 1024px) {
  .mer-about-media .mer-about-img { width: 100% !important; max-width: 100%; }
  .e-con.mer-about-media { padding-bottom: 0 !important; }
  .e-con.mer-about-card { position: relative !important; right: auto; width: 100% !important; --width: 100%; margin-top: 20px; }
  .mer-about-media .mer-about-quote { bottom: auto; top: calc(var(--mer-img-h, 560px) - 120px); }
}
@media (max-width: 767px) { .mer-about-media .mer-about-quote { top: 300px; max-width: 80%; left: 20px; } }
/* Fade the wave image into the gold card (transparent at top, solid gold below) */
.mer-about-wave { position: relative; }
.mer-about-wave::after {
  content: ""; position: absolute; inset: 0; pointer-events: none;
  background-image: linear-gradient(180deg, rgba(212, 175, 90, 0) 30%, #D4AF5A 92%);
}
.mer-about-img img { object-position: 50% 30% !important; }

/* ===== Services: white cards on cream ===== */
.mer-svc-grid > .e-con.mer-svc { flex: 0 0 calc((100% - 48px) / 3); transition: transform .3s ease, box-shadow .3s ease; }

.mer-svc-top { display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: space-between; }
.mer-svc-icon { width: 64px; height: 64px; border-radius: 50%; background: #F5F0E6; color: #B08A3E;
  display: inline-flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center; transition: background-color .3s ease, color .3s ease; }
.mer-svc-icon svg { width: 30px; height: 30px; }
.mer-svc:hover .mer-svc-icon { background: #0E2747; color: #D4AF5A; }
.mer-svc-num { font-family: 'Cormorant Garamond', serif; font-size: 34px; font-weight: 500; color: #D9CFB8; line-height: 1; }
.mer-svc-q p { margin: 0; }
.mer-svc-list { list-style: none; margin: 22px 0 0; padding: 22px 0 0; border-top: 1px solid #EDE6D6; display: flex; flex-direction: column; gap: 11px; }
.mer-svc-list li { position: relative; padding-left: 22px; font-family: 'Manrope', sans-serif; font-size: 15px; color: #0E2747; line-height: 1.5; }
.mer-svc-list li::before { content: ""; position: absolute; left: 0; top: 9px; width: 7px; height: 7px; border-radius: 50%; background: #D4AF5A; }
.mer-svc > .elementor-widget-html:last-child { margin-top: auto; }
.mer-svc-link { display: inline-flex; align-items: center; gap: 10px; margin-top: 28px; font-family: 'Manrope', sans-serif;
  font-size: 15px; font-weight: 700; color: #0E2747 !important; text-decoration: none; }
.mer-svc-link span { width: 14px; height: 14px; background: currentColor; transition: transform .25s ease;
  -webkit-mask: url("data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' viewBox='0 0 24 24' fill='none' stroke='black' stroke-width='1.8' stroke-linecap='round' stroke-linejoin='round'%3E%3Cpath d='M5 19L19 5'/%3E%3Cpath d='M7 5h12v12'/%3E%3C/svg%3E") center / contain no-repeat;
          mask: url("data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' viewBox='0 0 24 24' fill='none' stroke='black' stroke-width='1.8' stroke-linecap='round' stroke-linejoin='round'%3E%3Cpath d='M5 19L19 5'/%3E%3Cpath d='M7 5h12v12'/%3E%3C/svg%3E") center / contain no-repeat; }
.mer-svc-link:hover { color: #8A6A22 !important; }
.mer-svc-link:hover span { transform: translate(2px, -2px); }
@media (max-width: 1024px) { .mer-svc-grid > .e-con.mer-svc { flex-basis: calc((100% - 24px) / 2); } }
@media (max-width: 767px) { .mer-svc-grid > .e-con.mer-svc { flex-basis: 100%; } }
/* Services heading block centred */
.mer-svc-head, .mer-svc-head .elementor-heading-title, .mer-svc-intro { text-align: center; }
.mer-svc-head .mer-eyebrow .elementor-heading-title { justify-content: center; }
.e-con .mer-svc-intro { max-width: 640px !important; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; }
.mer-svc-intro p { margin: 0; }
.mer-svc-icon { color: #8A6A22; }
.mer-svc-icon svg { width: 30px; height: 30px; stroke-width: 1.5; }
.mer-svc-num { color: #8A6A22; font-size: 36px; }

.mer-svc > .mer-svc-cta { margin-top: auto; padding-top: 28px; }
.mer-svc-btn {
  display: inline-flex; align-items: center; gap: 8px; padding: 11px 20px; border-radius: 999px;
  background: #FFFFFF; color: #0E2747 !important; text-decoration: none; border: 1px solid #E4DED0;
  font-family: 'Manrope', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: 600; line-height: 1;
  transition: background-color .25s ease, color .25s ease;
}
.mer-svc-btn span { width: 13px; height: 13px; background: currentColor; transition: transform .25s ease;
  -webkit-mask: url("data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' viewBox='0 0 24 24' fill='none' stroke='black' stroke-width='2' stroke-linecap='round' stroke-linejoin='round'%3E%3Cpath d='M6 6l6 6-6 6'/%3E%3Cpath d='M13 6l6 6-6 6'/%3E%3C/svg%3E") center / contain no-repeat;
          mask: url("data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' viewBox='0 0 24 24' fill='none' stroke='black' stroke-width='2' stroke-linecap='round' stroke-linejoin='round'%3E%3Cpath d='M6 6l6 6-6 6'/%3E%3Cpath d='M13 6l6 6-6 6'/%3E%3C/svg%3E") center / contain no-repeat; }
.mer-svc-btn:hover { background: #0E2747; border-color: #0E2747; color: #FFFFFF !important; }
.mer-svc-btn:hover span { transform: translateX(3px); }
@media (min-width: 1025px) and (max-width: 1365px) {
  .e-con.mer-svc { padding-left: 28px !important; padding-right: 28px !important; }
  .mer-svc-q p { font-size: 14.5px; }
}

/* ===== Footer ===== */
.mer-footer { color: #AEB9C9; }
.mer-foot-lead { margin: 0; font-family: 'Manrope', sans-serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.7; color: #E6EAF0; }
.mer-foot-lead a { color: #FFFFFF; text-decoration: underline; text-decoration-color: rgba(212,175,90,.7); text-underline-offset: 5px; }
.mer-foot-lead a:hover { color: #E2C27A; }
.mer-foot-social { display: flex; gap: 12px; }
.mer-foot-social a { width: 42px; height: 42px; border: 1px solid rgba(255,255,255,.28); border-radius: 6px; display: inline-flex;
  align-items: center; justify-content: center; color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; transition: all .25s ease; }
.mer-foot-social a:hover { background: #D4AF5A; border-color: #D4AF5A; color: #0E2747; }
.mer-foot-links { list-style: none; margin: 0; padding: 0; display: flex; flex-direction: column; gap: 14px; }
.mer-foot-links a { font-family: 'Manrope', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; color: #C9D2DF; text-decoration: none; transition: color .2s ease, padding .2s ease; }
.mer-foot-links a:hover { color: #E2C27A; padding-left: 4px; }
.e-con.mer-foot-col { flex: 0 1 auto; width: auto !important; }
.mer-foot-logo img { display: block; height: auto; }
.mer-foot-meta { margin: 0; font-family: 'Manrope', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.75; color: #C9D2DF; }
.mer-foot-meta strong { color: #FFFFFF; font-weight: 600; }
.mer-foot-meta a { color: #C9D2DF; text-decoration: none; }
.mer-foot-meta a:hover { color: #E2C27A; }
.e-con.mer-foot-legal { border-top: 1px solid rgba(255,255,255,.1); }
.mer-foot-legal p { margin: 0 auto; max-width: 900px; text-align: center; font-family: 'Manrope', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.6; color: #8C99AD; }
.mer-foot-social svg { width: 16px; height: 16px; }
@media (min-width: 1025px) { .mer-foot-logo { position: relative; top: -50px; } }

/* ===== Who We Serve ===== */
.mer-serve-head { display: flex; align-items: center; gap: 18px; padding-bottom: 24px; border-bottom: 1px solid #EDE6D6; }
.mer-serve--featured .mer-serve-head { border-bottom-color: rgba(14, 39, 71, 0.18); }
.mer-serve-icon { flex: none; width: 54px; height: 54px; border-radius: 50%; background: #0E2747; color: #D4AF5A;
  display: inline-flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center; }
.mer-serve-icon svg { width: 26px; height: 26px; }
.mer-serve-head h3 { margin: 0; font-family: 'Cormorant Garamond', serif; font-size: 26px; font-weight: 600; line-height: 1.12; color: #0E2747; }
.mer-serve-checks { list-style: none; margin: 22px 0 0; padding: 0; display: flex; flex-direction: column; gap: 10px; }
.mer-serve-checks li { position: relative; padding-left: 26px; font-family: 'Manrope', sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5; color: #4B5565; }
.mer-serve--featured .mer-serve-checks li { color: #0E2747; }
.mer-serve-checks li::before { content: ""; position: absolute; left: 2px; top: 5px; width: 11px; height: 6px;
  border-left: 1.8px solid #0E2747; border-bottom: 1.8px solid #0E2747; transform: rotate(-45deg); }
.mer-serve > .mer-svc-cta { margin-top: auto; padding-top: 26px; }
.mer-svc-btn--dark { background: #0E2747; border-color: #0E2747; color: #FFFFFF !important; }
.mer-svc-btn--dark:hover { background: #FFFFFF; border-color: #FFFFFF; color: #0E2747 !important; }
/* Photo card */
.e-con.mer-serve-photo { overflow: hidden; }
.mer-serve-photo > .mer-serve-img { flex: 1 1 auto; min-height: 300px; }
.mer-serve-img, .mer-serve-img .elementor-widget-container { height: 100%; }
.mer-serve-img img { display: block; width: 100%; height: 100% !important; object-fit: cover; object-position: 70% 50%; }
.mer-serve-cta { position: relative; padding: 0 24px 30px; text-align: center; }
.mer-serve-stripes { display: block; height: 22px; margin: 0 -24px 26px;
  background: repeating-linear-gradient(180deg, #FFFFFF 0 3px, transparent 3px 7px); opacity: .55; }
.mer-serve-cta p { margin: 0; font-family: 'Manrope', sans-serif; font-size: 17px; font-weight: 600; line-height: 1.55; color: #0E2747; }
.mer-serve-cta a { color: #0E2747; text-decoration: underline; text-underline-offset: 4px; }
.mer-serve-cta a:hover { color: #FFFFFF; }
@media (max-width: 1024px) { .mer-serve-photo > .mer-serve-img { min-height: 0; flex: none; } .mer-serve-img img { height: 380px !important; } }
@media (max-width: 767px) { .mer-serve-img img { height: 300px !important; } }
/* Box buttons: soft shadow so they stand out on white cards */
.mer-svc-btn { background: #D4AF5A; border-color: #D4AF5A; box-shadow: 0 6px 16px rgba(14, 39, 71, 0.14); }
.mer-svc-btn:hover { box-shadow: 0 8px 22px rgba(14, 39, 71, 0.22); }
.mer-serve-col > .e-con.mer-serve { flex: 1 1 0; }
@media (min-width: 1025px) and (max-width: 1365px) { .e-con.mer-step { padding-left: 32px !important; padding-right: 32px !important; } .mer-step-text p { font-size: 15.5px; } }

/* ===== M.E.R.I.D.I.A.N. Method ===== */
.mer-m-grid { display: grid; grid-template-columns: repeat(4, 1fr); gap: 1px; background: rgba(255,255,255,.12); border: 0 !important; border-radius: 0 !important;
  border: 1px solid rgba(255,255,255,.12); border-radius: 20px; overflow: hidden; }
.mer-m-tile { background: #0B1F39; padding: 34px 32px 36px; display: flex; flex-direction: column; transition: background-color .3s ease; }
.mer-m-tile:hover { background: #102A4D; }
.mer-m-top { display: flex; align-items: flex-start; justify-content: space-between; margin-bottom: 26px; }
.mer-m-letter { font-family: 'Cormorant Garamond', serif; font-size: 72px; font-weight: 500; line-height: .9; color: #D4AF5A; }
.mer-m-num { font-family: 'Manrope', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: 600; letter-spacing: 1.5px; color: rgba(255,255,255,.45); padding-top: 6px; }
.mer-m-tile h3 { margin: 0 0 10px; font-family: 'Cormorant Garamond', serif; font-size: 28px; font-weight: 600; line-height: 1.15; color: #FFFFFF; }
.mer-m-desc { margin: 0 0 22px; font-family: 'Manrope', sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.6; color: #AEB9C9; }
.mer-m-q { margin: auto 0 0; padding-top: 18px; border-top: 1px solid rgba(255,255,255,.12);
  font-family: 'Cormorant Garamond', serif; font-style: italic; font-size: 20px; line-height: 1.35; color: #E2C27A; }
@media (max-width: 1024px) { .mer-m-grid { grid-template-columns: repeat(2, 1fr); } }
@media (max-width: 767px) { .mer-m-grid { grid-template-columns: 1fr; } .mer-m-tile { padding: 28px 24px; } .mer-m-letter { font-size: 60px; } }
@media (min-width: 768px) {
  .mer-m-desc { min-height: 3.2em; }
  .mer-m-q { margin-top: 0; min-height: calc(2.7em + 18px); }
}
@media (min-width: 1025px) and (max-width: 1365px) { .mer-m-tile { padding-left: 26px; padding-right: 26px; } .mer-m-q { font-size: 18px; } }
/* Method tiles: questions on one line, descriptions on two */
.mer-m-q { min-height: 0 !important; white-space: nowrap; font-size: 19px; }
.mer-m-desc { min-height: 0 !important; }
@media (min-width: 1025px) and (max-width: 1365px) { .mer-m-desc { font-size: 13.5px; } .mer-m-q { font-size: 17px; } .e-con .mer-method .mer-about-intro p, .mer-method .mer-about-intro p { font-size: 15.5px; } }

/* ===== Engagement process timeline ===== */
.mer-p-widget { width: 100%; }
.mer-p-wrap { display: flex; flex-direction: column; gap: 56px; }
.mer-p-row { position: relative; display: grid; grid-template-columns: repeat(3, 1fr); gap: 28px; padding-bottom: 46px; }
.mer-p-row::after { content: ""; position: absolute; left: 0; right: 0; bottom: 0; height: 2px;
  background: repeating-linear-gradient(90deg, #0E2747 0 18px, transparent 18px 32px); opacity: .55; }
.mer-p-row::before { content: ""; position: absolute; left: 0; bottom: -3px; width: 8px; height: 8px; border-radius: 50%; background: #0E2747; }
.mer-p-card { position: relative; background: #F5F0E6; border-radius: 18px; padding: 44px 40px 56px; min-height: 290px; }
.mer-p-card h3 { margin: 0 0 16px; font-family: 'Cormorant Garamond', serif; font-size: 30px; font-weight: 600; line-height: 1.15; color: #0E2747; }
.mer-p-card p { margin: 0 0 26px; max-width: 360px; font-family: 'Manrope', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.7; color: #4B5565; }
.mer-p-gate { display: inline-flex; align-items: center; gap: 10px; font-family: 'Manrope', sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: 600; color: #0E2747; max-width: 62%; }
.mer-p-gate em { font-style: normal; font-size: 11px; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: 1.5px; text-transform: uppercase;
  background: #D4AF5A; color: #0E2747; padding: 5px 10px; border-radius: 999px; flex: none; }
/* number circle notched out of the card's bottom edge, pinned to the timeline */
.mer-p-num { position: absolute; right: 38px; bottom: -40px; width: 96px; height: 96px; border-radius: 50%;
  background: #F5F0E6; border: 10px solid #FFFFFF; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center;
  font-family: 'Cormorant Garamond', serif; font-size: 36px; font-weight: 600; color: #0E2747; z-index: 2; }
.mer-p-pin { position: absolute; right: 85px; bottom: -46px; width: 2px; height: 10px; background: #0E2747; z-index: 1; }
.mer-p-pin::before { content: ""; position: absolute; left: -2px; top: -4px; width: 6px; height: 6px; border-radius: 50%; background: #0E2747; }
.mer-p-card:hover .mer-p-num { background: #0E2747; color: #D4AF5A; }
.mer-p-num { transition: background-color .25s ease, color .25s ease; }
@media (max-width: 1024px) {
  .mer-p-row { grid-template-columns: 1fr; gap: 64px; padding-bottom: 0; }
  .mer-p-row::after, .mer-p-row::before, .mer-p-pin { display: none; }
  .mer-p-wrap { gap: 64px; }
  .mer-p-card p { max-width: none; }
}
@media (max-width: 767px) { .mer-p-card { padding: 32px 24px 56px; min-height: 0; } .mer-p-num { right: 24px; width: 84px; height: 84px; font-size: 30px; } .mer-p-gate { max-width: 60%; } }
.mer-p-gate { max-width: none; white-space: nowrap; }
.mer-p-num { font-family: 'Manrope', sans-serif; font-size: 28px; font-weight: 600; letter-spacing: -0.5px; }
@media (max-width: 767px) { .mer-p-gate { white-space: normal; max-width: 62%; } }
/* Timeline lines removed on request */
.mer-p-row::after, .mer-p-row::before, .mer-p-pin { display: none !important; }
.mer-p-row { padding-bottom: 40px; }
/* Number now sits inside the card in a keyhole cut-out (ring + neck to the bottom edge, soft fillets) */
.mer-p-row { padding-bottom: 0; }
.mer-p-wrap { gap: 28px; }
.mer-p-card { padding-bottom: 40px; min-height: 330px; }
.mer-p-num { right: 34px; bottom: 26px; width: 104px; height: 104px; border: 10px solid #FFFFFF; z-index: 3; }
.mer-p-cut { position: absolute; right: 68px; bottom: 0; width: 36px; height: 78px; background: #FFFFFF; z-index: 2; }
.mer-p-cut i, .mer-p-cut b { position: absolute; bottom: 0; width: 18px; height: 18px; }
.mer-p-cut i { left: -18px; background: radial-gradient(circle at 0 0, #F5F0E6 17.5px, #FFFFFF 18px); }
.mer-p-cut b { right: -18px; background: radial-gradient(circle at 100% 0, #F5F0E6 17.5px, #FFFFFF 18px); }
@media (max-width: 767px) {
  .mer-p-card { min-height: 0; padding-bottom: 140px; }
  .mer-p-num { right: 24px; width: 92px; height: 92px; }
  .mer-p-cut { right: 52px; }
}
.mer-p-card { padding-bottom: 150px; min-height: 0; } @media (max-width: 767px) { .mer-p-card { padding-bottom: 140px; } }
/* Smaller number ring, less bottom space */
.mer-p-card { padding-bottom: 112px; }
.mer-p-num { width: 86px; height: 86px; border-width: 8px; bottom: 22px; right: 32px; font-size: 23px; }
.mer-p-cut { right: 59px; width: 32px; height: 64px; }
@media (max-width: 767px) { .mer-p-card { padding-bottom: 116px; } .mer-p-num { right: 22px; width: 82px; height: 82px; } .mer-p-cut { right: 47px; } }
/* Gate on two lines (pill above, text below) and clear space before the number ring */
.mer-p-gate { display: flex; flex-direction: column; align-items: flex-start; gap: 10px; white-space: normal; max-width: calc(100% - 110px); }
.mer-p-card { padding-bottom: 64px; }
@media (max-width: 767px) { .mer-p-card { padding-bottom: 120px; } .mer-p-gate { max-width: none; } }
.mer-p-gate { max-width: calc(100% - 140px); line-height: 1.5; }

/* ===== Meet your adviser ===== */
.mer-adv-widget { width: 100%; }
.mer-adv { display: grid; grid-template-columns: 0.9fr 1.1fr; gap: 96px; align-items: center; }
.mer-adv-media { position: relative; padding: 0 28px 28px 0; }
.mer-adv-frame { position: absolute; top: 28px; left: 28px; right: 0; bottom: 0; border: 1px solid #D4AF5A; border-radius: 22px; }
.mer-adv-photo { position: relative; border-radius: 22px; overflow: hidden; aspect-ratio: 4 / 4.6;
  background: radial-gradient(120% 90% at 50% 20%, #FFFFFF 0%, #EFE8D9 70%, #E4D8C0 100%); box-shadow: 0 30px 60px rgba(14, 39, 71, 0.12); }
.mer-adv-photo img { position: absolute; inset: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; object-fit: cover; object-position: 50% 15%; mix-blend-mode: multiply; }
.mer-adv-badge { position: absolute; left: -28px; bottom: 64px; background: #0E2747; color: #FFFFFF; border-radius: 16px;
  padding: 22px 28px 22px 24px; display: flex; align-items: center; gap: 16px; box-shadow: 0 22px 44px rgba(14, 39, 71, 0.28); }
.mer-adv-badge-line { width: 3px; align-self: stretch; border-radius: 3px; background: #D4AF5A; }
.mer-adv-badge p { margin: 0; font-family: 'Manrope', sans-serif; font-size: 12.5px; font-weight: 600; letter-spacing: 2px; text-transform: uppercase; line-height: 1.8; color: #E2C27A; }
.mer-adv-eyebrow { display: flex; align-items: center; gap: 14px; font-family: 'Manrope', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 500;
  letter-spacing: 2px; text-transform: uppercase; color: #8A6A22; margin-bottom: 18px; }
.mer-adv-eyebrow::before { content: ""; flex: none; width: 38px; height: 7px;
  background: linear-gradient(#D4AF5A, #D4AF5A) right top / 28px 2px no-repeat, linear-gradient(#0E2747, #0E2747) right bottom / 38px 2px no-repeat; }
.mer-adv-body h2 { margin: 0 0 26px; font-family: 'Cormorant Garamond', serif; font-size: 56px; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.08; color: #0E2747; }
.mer-adv-lead { margin: 0 0 24px; padding-left: 22px; border-left: 2px solid #D4AF5A; font-family: 'Cormorant Garamond', serif;
  font-style: italic; font-size: 26px; line-height: 1.4; color: #0E2747; }
.mer-adv-body > p:not(.mer-adv-lead) { margin: 0 0 16px; font-family: 'Manrope', sans-serif; font-size: 16.5px; line-height: 1.75; color: #4B5565; }
.mer-adv-card { margin-top: 30px; padding: 24px 28px; background: #FFFFFF; border: 1px solid #E4DED0; border-radius: 16px;
  display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: space-between; gap: 20px; flex-wrap: wrap; }
.mer-adv-id h3 { margin: 0 0 4px; font-family: 'Cormorant Garamond', serif; font-size: 30px; font-weight: 600; line-height: 1.1; color: #0E2747; }
.mer-adv-id span { font-family: 'Manrope', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 600; letter-spacing: 1.5px; text-transform: uppercase; color: #8A6A22; }
.mer-adv-tags { list-style: none; margin: 0; padding: 0; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; gap: 8px; }
.mer-adv-tags li { font-family: 'Manrope', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: 600; color: #0E2747; background: #F5F0E6;
  border: 1px solid #E7DDC8; padding: 7px 14px; border-radius: 999px; }
.mer-adv-cta { margin-top: 30px; display: flex; align-items: center; gap: 26px; flex-wrap: wrap; }
.mer-adv-btn { display: inline-flex; align-items: center; gap: 10px; background: #D4AF5A; color: #0E2747 !important; text-decoration: none;
  font-family: 'Manrope', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; padding: 16px 28px; border-radius: 999px;
  box-shadow: 0 10px 24px rgba(14, 39, 71, 0.14); transition: background-color .25s ease, color .25s ease, transform .25s ease; }
.mer-adv-btn span { width: 15px; height: 15px; background: currentColor;
  -webkit-mask: url("data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' viewBox='0 0 24 24' fill='none' stroke='black' stroke-width='1.8' stroke-linecap='round' stroke-linejoin='round'%3E%3Cpath d='M5 19L19 5'/%3E%3Cpath d='M7 5h12v12'/%3E%3C/svg%3E") center / contain no-repeat;
          mask: url("data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' viewBox='0 0 24 24' fill='none' stroke='black' stroke-width='1.8' stroke-linecap='round' stroke-linejoin='round'%3E%3Cpath d='M5 19L19 5'/%3E%3Cpath d='M7 5h12v12'/%3E%3C/svg%3E") center / contain no-repeat; }
.mer-adv-btn:hover { background: #0E2747; color: #FFFFFF !important; transform: translateY(-2px); }
.mer-adv-mail { font-family: 'Manrope', sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: 600; color: #0E2747 !important; text-decoration: underline;
  text-decoration-color: #D4AF5A; text-underline-offset: 5px; }
@media (max-width: 1024px) { .mer-adv { grid-template-columns: 1fr; gap: 64px; } .mer-adv-media { max-width: 520px; } .mer-adv-badge { left: -12px; } }
@media (max-width: 767px) { .mer-adv-body h2 { font-size: 38px; } .mer-adv-lead { font-size: 22px; } .mer-adv-badge { left: 12px; bottom: 24px; padding: 16px 18px; } .mer-adv-card { padding: 20px; } }

/* ===== Why Meridian (dark image card) ===== */
.mer-why-gridwrap, .mer-why-gridwrap > .elementor-widget-container { height: 100%; }
.mer-why-grid { display: grid; grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr; grid-template-rows: repeat(3, 1fr); height: 100%;
  border-left: 1px solid rgba(255,255,255,.14); }
.mer-why-cell { padding: 56px 48px; border-right: 1px solid rgba(255,255,255,.14); border-bottom: 1px solid rgba(255,255,255,.14);
  display: flex; flex-direction: column; justify-content: center; transition: background-color .3s ease; }
.mer-why-cell:nth-child(2n) { border-right: 0; }
.mer-why-cell:nth-last-child(-n+2) { border-bottom: 0; }
.mer-why-cell:not(.mer-why-cell--empty):hover { background: rgba(212, 175, 90, 0.07); }
.mer-why-top { display: flex; align-items: flex-start; justify-content: space-between; margin-bottom: 30px; }
.mer-why-icon { width: 62px; height: 62px; border-radius: 10px; background: #D4AF5A; color: #0E2747; display: inline-flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center; }
.mer-why-icon svg { width: 30px; height: 30px; }
.mer-why-num { font-family: 'Manrope', sans-serif; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 500; color: rgba(255,255,255,.65); }
.mer-why-cell h3 { margin: 0 0 12px; font-family: 'Cormorant Garamond', serif; font-size: 30px; font-weight: 600; line-height: 1.15; color: #FFFFFF; }
.mer-why-cell p { margin: 0; font-family: 'Manrope', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.65; color: #C9D2DF; }
.mer-why-lead p { margin: 0; max-width: 420px; }
.mer-why-intro .mer-btn-arrow .elementor-button { align-self: flex-start; }
@media (max-width: 1024px) {
  .mer-why-grid { border-left: 0; border-top: 1px solid rgba(255,255,255,.14); }
  .mer-why-cell--empty { display: none; }
  .mer-why-cell, .mer-why-cell:nth-child(2n) { border-right: 0; border-bottom: 1px solid rgba(255,255,255,.14); }
  .mer-why-grid { grid-template-rows: none; }
  .mer-why-cell { padding: 36px 0; }
}
@media (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1024px) { .mer-why-grid { grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr; column-gap: 32px; } }
@media (max-width: 767px) { .mer-why-grid { grid-template-columns: 1fr; } }
@media (max-width: 1024px) { .e-con.mer-why { background-attachment: scroll !important; } }
/* Why Meridian: round icons, no hover tint, text shadow for legibility on the lighter overlay */
.mer-why-icon { border-radius: 50%; }
.mer-why-cell:not(.mer-why-cell--empty):hover { background: transparent; }
.mer-why-cell h3, .mer-why-cell p, .mer-why-num, .mer-why-intro .elementor-heading-title, .mer-why-lead p { text-shadow: 0 2px 14px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.55); }
.mer-why-icon { box-shadow: 0 8px 20px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.3); }

/* ===== Illustrative engagements ===== */
.mer-sc-widget { width: 100%; }
.mer-sc-grid { display: grid; grid-template-columns: repeat(2, 1fr); gap: 24px; }
.mer-sc { background: #FFFFFF; border: 1px solid #E7DDC8; border-radius: 18px; padding: 38px 40px 34px; display: flex; flex-direction: column;
  transition: box-shadow .3s ease, border-color .3s ease; }
.mer-sc:hover { box-shadow: 0 24px 50px rgba(14, 39, 71, 0.08); border-color: #D9C9A6; }
.mer-sc-top { display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: space-between; gap: 16px; margin-bottom: 18px; }
.mer-sc-cat { display: inline-flex; align-items: center; gap: 12px; font-family: 'Manrope', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: 600;
  letter-spacing: 2px; text-transform: uppercase; color: #8A6A22; }
.mer-sc-cat b { display: inline-flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center; width: 34px; height: 34px; border-radius: 50%;
  background: #0E2747; color: #D4AF5A; font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: 0; }
.mer-sc-flag { font-family: 'Manrope', sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: 600; letter-spacing: 1.5px; text-transform: uppercase;
  color: #6B5119; border: 1px solid #CDB98E; padding: 6px 12px; border-radius: 999px; }
.mer-sc h3 { margin: 0 0 22px; font-family: 'Cormorant Garamond', serif; font-size: 32px; font-weight: 600; line-height: 1.15; color: #0E2747; }
.mer-sc-steps { margin: 0 0 26px; display: flex; flex-direction: column; gap: 0; }
.mer-sc-steps > div { display: grid; grid-template-columns: 116px 1fr; gap: 16px; padding: 14px 0; border-top: 1px solid #EFE8D8; }
.mer-sc-steps dt { font-family: 'Manrope', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: 1.5px; text-transform: uppercase; color: #8A6A22; padding-top: 3px; }
.mer-sc-steps dd { margin: 0; font-family: 'Manrope', sans-serif; font-size: 15.5px; line-height: 1.65; color: #4B5565; }
.mer-sc-steps > div:last-child dd { color: #0E2747; font-weight: 500; }
.mer-sc-tags { list-style: none; margin: auto 0 0; padding: 0; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; gap: 8px; }
.mer-sc-tags li { font-family: 'Manrope', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: 600; color: #0E2747; background: #F5F0E6;
  border: 1px solid #E7DDC8; padding: 7px 14px; border-radius: 999px; }
@media (max-width: 1024px) { .mer-sc-grid { grid-template-columns: 1fr; } }
@media (max-width: 767px) { .mer-sc { padding: 28px 22px; } .mer-sc h3 { font-size: 27px; } .mer-sc-steps > div { grid-template-columns: 1fr; gap: 4px; } .mer-sc-top { flex-wrap: wrap; } }

/* ===== FAQ ===== */
.mer-faq-widget { width: 100%; }
.mer-faq-grid { display: grid; grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr; gap: 56px; align-items: stretch; }
.mer-faq-list { display: flex; flex-direction: column; gap: 14px; }
.mer-faq-item { background: #FFFFFF; border-radius: 14px; box-shadow: 0 6px 20px rgba(14, 39, 71, 0.05); overflow: hidden; }
.mer-faq-item summary { list-style: none; cursor: pointer; display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: space-between; gap: 18px;
  padding: 20px 22px 20px 26px; font-family: 'Manrope', sans-serif; font-size: 17px; font-weight: 600; line-height: 1.4; color: #0E2747;
  transition: background-color .25s ease, color .25s ease; }
.mer-faq-item summary::-webkit-details-marker { display: none; }
.mer-faq-item summary i { flex: none; position: relative; width: 38px; height: 38px; border-radius: 50%; background: #F5F0E6; transition: background-color .25s ease; }
.mer-faq-item summary i::before, .mer-faq-item summary i::after { content: ""; position: absolute; left: 50%; top: 50%; width: 13px; height: 1.8px;
  margin: -0.9px 0 0 -6.5px; background: #0E2747; transition: transform .25s ease, background-color .25s ease; }
.mer-faq-item summary i::after { transform: rotate(90deg); }
.mer-faq-item[open] summary { background: #0E2747; color: #E2C27A; }
.mer-faq-item[open] summary i { background: #D4AF5A; }
.mer-faq-item[open] summary i::after { transform: rotate(0deg); }
.mer-faq-a { padding: 20px 26px 24px; }
.mer-faq-a p { margin: 0; font-family: 'Manrope', sans-serif; font-size: 15.5px; line-height: 1.75; color: #4B5565; }
/* Photo with a notched top-right corner holding the question bubble */
.mer-faq-media { position: relative; min-height: 560px; }
.mer-faq-photo { position: absolute; inset: 0; border-radius: 24px; overflow: hidden;
  -webkit-mask: radial-gradient(circle at calc(100% - 70px) 70px, transparent 92px, #000 93px);
          mask: radial-gradient(circle at calc(100% - 70px) 70px, transparent 92px, #000 93px); }
.mer-faq-photo img { width: 100%; height: 100%; object-fit: cover; object-position: 35% 50%; display: block; }
.mer-faq-bubble { position: absolute; top: -10px; right: -10px; width: 150px; height: 150px; display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center; }
.mer-faq-bubble svg { width: 118px; height: 118px; }
.mer-faq-cta { position: absolute; left: 40px; bottom: 40px; max-width: 360px; background: #0E2747; border-radius: 20px; padding: 32px 34px;
  box-shadow: 0 24px 50px rgba(14, 39, 71, 0.28); }
.mer-faq-cta h3 { margin: 0 0 22px; font-family: 'Cormorant Garamond', serif; font-size: 32px; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.15; color: #FFFFFF; }
@media (max-width: 1024px) { .mer-faq-grid { grid-template-columns: 1fr; gap: 40px; } .mer-faq-media { min-height: 480px; } }
@media (max-width: 767px) { .mer-faq-media { min-height: 420px; } .mer-faq-cta { left: 16px; right: 16px; bottom: 16px; padding: 24px; } .mer-faq-cta h3 { font-size: 26px; }
  .mer-faq-item summary { font-size: 16px; padding: 18px 16px 18px 20px; } .mer-faq-bubble { width: 110px; height: 110px; } .mer-faq-bubble svg { width: 86px; height: 86px; }
  .mer-faq-photo { -webkit-mask: radial-gradient(circle at calc(100% - 50px) 50px, transparent 68px, #000 69px); mask: radial-gradient(circle at calc(100% - 50px) 50px, transparent 68px, #000 69px); } }
.mer-faq-item { border: 1px solid #EDE6D6; box-shadow: 0 6px 20px rgba(14, 39, 71, 0.06); } .mer-faq-item summary i { background: #F5F0E6; }
.mer-faq-photo { -webkit-mask: none !important; mask: none !important; } .mer-faq-bubble { display: none; }

/* ===== Insights / blog ===== */
.mer-blog-widget { width: 100%; }
.mer-blog-grid { display: grid; grid-template-columns: repeat(3, 1fr); }
.mer-blog-card { padding: 0 36px; border-left: 1px solid #EDE6D6; display: flex; flex-direction: column; }
.mer-blog-card:first-child { padding-left: 0; border-left: 0; }
.mer-blog-card:last-child { padding-right: 0; }
.mer-blog-img { display: block; border-radius: 18px; overflow: hidden; aspect-ratio: 16 / 11; margin-bottom: 26px; }
.mer-blog-img img { width: 100%; height: 100%; object-fit: cover; display: block; transition: transform .6s ease; }
.mer-blog-card:hover .mer-blog-img img { transform: scale(1.05); }
.mer-blog-meta { display: flex; align-items: center; gap: 14px; margin-bottom: 16px; }
.mer-blog-cat { font-family: 'Manrope', sans-serif; font-size: 12.5px; font-weight: 700; color: #0E2747; background: #F5F0E6;
  border: 1px solid #E7DDC8; padding: 5px 12px; border-radius: 999px; }
.mer-blog-date { font-family: 'Manrope', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; color: #6B7686; }
.mer-blog-card h3 { margin: 0 0 14px; font-family: 'Cormorant Garamond', serif; font-size: 30px; font-weight: 600; line-height: 1.2; }
.mer-blog-card h3 a { color: #0E2747 !important; text-decoration: none; background: linear-gradient(#D4AF5A, #D4AF5A) left bottom / 0 1px no-repeat; transition: background-size .35s ease; }
.mer-blog-card:hover h3 a { background-size: 100% 1px; }
.mer-blog-card p { margin: 0 0 22px; font-family: 'Manrope', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.7; color: #4B5565; }
.mer-blog-more { margin-top: auto; display: inline-flex; align-items: center; gap: 8px; font-family: 'Manrope', sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: 700;
  color: #0E2747 !important; text-decoration: none; }
.mer-blog-more span { width: 13px; height: 13px; background: currentColor; transition: transform .25s ease;
  -webkit-mask: url("data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' viewBox='0 0 24 24' fill='none' stroke='black' stroke-width='1.8' stroke-linecap='round' stroke-linejoin='round'%3E%3Cpath d='M5 19L19 5'/%3E%3Cpath d='M7 5h12v12'/%3E%3C/svg%3E") center / contain no-repeat;
          mask: url("data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' viewBox='0 0 24 24' fill='none' stroke='black' stroke-width='1.8' stroke-linecap='round' stroke-linejoin='round'%3E%3Cpath d='M5 19L19 5'/%3E%3Cpath d='M7 5h12v12'/%3E%3C/svg%3E") center / contain no-repeat; }
.mer-blog-more:hover { color: #8A6A22 !important; }
.mer-blog-more:hover span { transform: translate(2px, -2px); }
@media (max-width: 1024px) { .mer-blog-grid { grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr; row-gap: 48px; } .mer-blog-card:nth-child(3) { padding-left: 0; border-left: 0; } .mer-blog-card:nth-child(2) { padding-right: 0; } }
@media (max-width: 767px) { .mer-blog-grid { grid-template-columns: 1fr; row-gap: 44px; } .mer-blog-card { padding: 0 !important; border-left: 0; } .mer-blog-card h3 { font-size: 26px; } }
/* equal-width blog columns: dividers drawn in the gap */
.mer-blog-grid { column-gap: 72px; }
.mer-blog-card, .mer-blog-card:first-child, .mer-blog-card:last-child { padding: 0 !important; border-left: 0 !important; position: relative; }
.mer-blog-card + .mer-blog-card::before { content: ""; position: absolute; left: -36px; top: 0; bottom: 0; width: 1px; background: #EDE6D6; }
@media (max-width: 1024px) { .mer-blog-grid { column-gap: 48px; } .mer-blog-card + .mer-blog-card::before { left: -24px; } .mer-blog-card:nth-child(3)::before { display: none; } }
@media (max-width: 767px) { .mer-blog-card + .mer-blog-card::before { display: none; } }
.mer-blog .mer-blog-cat { background: #FFFFFF; } .mer-blog-card + .mer-blog-card::before { background: #E4D8C0; }

/* ===== Contact form section ===== */
.e-con.mer-ct > .e-con-inner { border-radius: 28px; overflow: hidden; box-shadow: 0 30px 70px rgba(14, 39, 71, 0.12); border: 1px solid #EDE6D6; }
.e-con.mer-ct > .e-con-inner { gap: 0; }
.mer-ct-eyebrow { display: flex; align-items: center; gap: 14px; font-family: 'Manrope', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 500;
  letter-spacing: 2px; text-transform: uppercase; color: #D4AF5A; margin-bottom: 18px; }
.mer-ct-eyebrow::before { content: ""; width: 38px; height: 7px; flex: none;
  background: linear-gradient(#D4AF5A, #D4AF5A) right top / 28px 2px no-repeat, linear-gradient(#FFFFFF, #FFFFFF) right bottom / 38px 2px no-repeat; }
.mer-ct-info h2 { margin: 0 0 18px; font-family: 'Cormorant Garamond', serif; font-size: 46px; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.1; color: #FFFFFF; }
.mer-ct-lead { margin: 0 0 34px; font-family: 'Manrope', sans-serif; font-size: 16.5px; line-height: 1.75; color: #C9D2DF; }
.mer-ct-steps { list-style: none; margin: 0 0 36px; padding: 0; display: flex; flex-direction: column; gap: 22px; }
.mer-ct-steps li { display: flex; gap: 18px; align-items: flex-start; }
.mer-ct-steps li > span { flex: none; width: 38px; height: 38px; border-radius: 50%; border: 1px solid #D4AF5A; color: #D4AF5A;
  display: inline-flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center; font-family: 'Cormorant Garamond', serif; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 600; }
.mer-ct-steps h4 { margin: 4px 0 4px; font-family: 'Manrope', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; color: #FFFFFF; }
.mer-ct-steps p { margin: 0; font-family: 'Manrope', sans-serif; font-size: 14.5px; line-height: 1.6; color: #AEB9C9; }
.mer-ct-contact { list-style: none; margin: 0; padding: 26px 0 0; border-top: 1px solid rgba(255,255,255,.14); display: flex; flex-direction: column; gap: 12px; }
.mer-ct-contact li { font-family: 'Manrope', sans-serif; font-size: 15px; color: #E6EAF0; display: flex; gap: 14px; }
.mer-ct-contact b { width: 62px; flex: none; font-size: 12px; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: 1.5px; text-transform: uppercase; color: #D4AF5A; padding-top: 2px; }
.mer-ct-contact a { color: #FFFFFF !important; text-decoration: none; }
.mer-ct-contact a:hover { color: #E2C27A !important; }
.mer-ct-ftitle { margin: 0; font-family: 'Cormorant Garamond', serif; font-size: 34px; font-weight: 600; line-height: 1.15; color: #0E2747; }
.mer-ct-fnote { margin: 4px 0 18px; font-family: 'Manrope', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; color: #6B7686; }
.mer-ct-secure { margin: 14px 0 0; font-family: 'Manrope', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; color: #6B7686; padding-left: 22px; position: relative; }
.mer-ct-secure::before { content: ""; position: absolute; left: 0; top: 2px; width: 14px; height: 14px; background: #8A6A22;
  -webkit-mask: url("data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' viewBox='0 0 24 24' fill='none' stroke='black' stroke-width='2' stroke-linecap='round' stroke-linejoin='round'%3E%3Crect x='4' y='11' width='16' height='10' rx='2'/%3E%3Cpath d='M8 11V7a4 4 0 0 1 8 0v4'/%3E%3C/svg%3E") center / contain no-repeat;
          mask: url("data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' viewBox='0 0 24 24' fill='none' stroke='black' stroke-width='2' stroke-linecap='round' stroke-linejoin='round'%3E%3Crect x='4' y='11' width='16' height='10' rx='2'/%3E%3Cpath d='M8 11V7a4 4 0 0 1 8 0v4'/%3E%3C/svg%3E") center / contain no-repeat; }
/* Elementor form fields */
.mer-form .elementor-field-group > label { font-family: 'Manrope', sans-serif; font-size: 13.5px; font-weight: 600; color: #0E2747; margin-bottom: 8px; }
.mer-form .elementor-mark-required .elementor-field-label::after { color: #B08A3E; }
.mer-form .elementor-field-textual, .mer-form select.elementor-field { font-family: 'Manrope', sans-serif; font-size: 15px; color: #0E2747;
  background: #FBF8F2 !important; border: 1px solid #E4DED0 !important; border-radius: 12px !important; padding: 13px 16px !important; min-height: 50px;
  transition: border-color .2s ease, box-shadow .2s ease, background-color .2s ease; }
.mer-form textarea.elementor-field-textual { min-height: 120px; }
.mer-form .elementor-field-textual:focus, .mer-form select.elementor-field:focus { outline: 0; background: #FFFFFF !important; border-color: #D4AF5A !important;
  box-shadow: 0 0 0 4px rgba(212, 175, 90, 0.18); }
.mer-form .elementor-field-textual::placeholder { color: #9AA3B1; }
.mer-form .elementor-select-wrapper::before { color: #8A6A22; }
.mer-form .elementor-field-type-acceptance label { font-family: 'Manrope', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.55; color: #4B5565; }
.mer-form .elementor-field-type-acceptance input { accent-color: #0E2747; width: 17px; height: 17px; margin-right: 10px; }
.mer-form .elementor-field-type-submit { margin-top: 8px; }
.mer-form .elementor-button { background: #D4AF5A !important; color: #0E2747 !important; border-radius: 999px !important; padding: 17px 30px !important;
  font-family: 'Manrope', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; box-shadow: 0 10px 24px rgba(14, 39, 71, 0.14); transition: background-color .25s ease, color .25s ease; }
.mer-form .elementor-button:hover { background: #0E2747 !important; color: #FFFFFF !important; }
.mer-form .elementor-message-success { color: #0E2747; font-family: 'Manrope', sans-serif; }
@media (max-width: 1024px) { .e-con.mer-ct > .e-con-inner { border-radius: 22px; } }
@media (max-width: 767px) { .mer-ct-info h2 { font-size: 36px; } .mer-ct-ftitle { font-size: 28px; } }
.mer-ct-steps li > span { font-family: 'Manrope', sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: 700; }

/* ===== Final responsive pass (keep last) ===== */
@media (max-width: 1024px) {
  /* Process: one even grid instead of separate rows */
  .mer-p-wrap { display: grid; grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr; gap: 24px; }
  .mer-p-row { display: contents; }
  .mer-p-card { min-height: 0; padding-bottom: 48px; }
  /* Why: no stray line under the final item */
  .mer-why-cell:last-child { border-bottom: 0 !important; padding-bottom: 12px; }
}
@media (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1024px) {
  .mer-why-cell:nth-last-child(3) { border-bottom: 0 !important; padding-bottom: 12px; }
}
@media (max-width: 767px) {
  /* Headings break naturally and evenly on phones */
  .elementor-heading-title br, .mer-svc-intro br { display: none; }
  .elementor-heading-title, .mer-adv-body h2, .mer-ct-info h2, .mer-ct-ftitle, .mer-faq-cta h3 { text-wrap: balance; }
  .e-con .mer-hero-text { max-width: 100% !important; }

  /* Hero: readable text over the skyline, full-width buttons */
  .e-con.mer-hero::before { background-image: linear-gradient(180deg, rgba(10,28,51,.94) 35%, rgba(10,28,51,.62) 72%, rgba(10,28,51,.5) 100%) !important; }
  .mer-hero-content .mer-btn, .mer-hero-content .mer-btn .elementor-button { width: 100%; }
  .mer-hero-content .mer-btn .elementor-button { justify-content: center; text-align: center; }
  .mer-trust { gap: 14px; }
  .mer-trust p { color: #FFFFFF; text-shadow: 0 1px 10px rgba(0,0,0,.6); }

  /* Process */
  .mer-p-wrap { grid-template-columns: 1fr; gap: 20px; }
  .mer-p-card { padding: 30px 24px 44px; }
  .mer-p-gate { max-width: calc(100% - 112px); }

  /* Footer logo lines up with the text */
  .mer-foot-logo { margin-left: 0 !important; }

  /* Form: 16px stops iPhone zooming in on focus; checkbox beside its text */
  .mer-form .elementor-field-textual, .mer-form select.elementor-field { font-size: 16px; }
  .mer-form .elementor-field-type-acceptance .elementor-field-subgroup,
  .mer-form .elementor-field-type-acceptance .elementor-field-option { display: flex; align-items: flex-start; width: 100%; }
  .mer-form .elementor-field-type-acceptance input { flex: none; width: 22px; height: 22px; margin: 1px 12px 0 0; }
  .mer-form .elementor-button { width: 100%; justify-content: center; }

  /* Larger tap areas */
  .mer-blog-more, .mer-adv-mail { padding: 10px 0; }
  .mer-svc-btn { padding: 12px 20px; font-size: 14px; }
}
@media (max-width: 360px) {
  .mer-hero-content .elementor-widget-heading h1 { font-size: 38px !important; }
  .mer-trust { flex-direction: column; align-items: flex-start; }
  .mer-p-gate { max-width: calc(100% - 104px); }
}
@media (max-width: 767px) { .mer-serve { padding-left: 20px !important; padding-right: 20px !important; } .mer-serve-checks li { font-size: 14px; padding-left: 24px; } }/* End custom CSS */