Meet the Meridian Team: Hello, Kira
Financial advisor Kira Topeka joined Meridian in 2020 and now helps clients build personalized financial plans and navigate life’s many transitions. Her work is grounded in understanding what matters most to each individual and guiding them toward their goals with clarity and confidence.
Originally from a small suburb outside Boston, Kira grew up a loyal fan of all things Boston sports—go Bruins! She attended Boston University, where she majored in Mass Communication and minored in Sociology and rode for BU’s equestrian team all four years.
After college, she moved to the Mid-Atlantic to pursue her passion for riding horses, eventually leaving barn life and landing at The Great Meadow Foundation in The Plains, VA, before starting at Meridian in the fall of 2020.
While her non-profit work was mission-driven, she often felt like she wasn’t making the tangible impact she had hoped for. At Meridian, that changed. She is able to see the real, positive difference she makes in her clients’ lives.
She works closely with Sarah Irving, who has been both a mentor and an invaluable teammate. They share a passion for helping people find success—not just in their finances, but in building a life that feels meaningful and fulfilling.
Kira is especially passionate about helping clients strike a healthy balance between planning for the future and enjoying the present by encouraging people to save smartly without sacrificing the joy of living. She’s seen too many individuals delay experiences in pursuit of long-term goals and believes that financial planning should support both stability and spontaneity.
Kira also values the environment at Meridian, where she’s surrounded by intelligent, driven, and compassionate colleagues. She believes that the people around you shape who you are, and she’s proud to be part of a team that inspires her every day.
Outside of work, you might find Kira at the barn with her horse, running a race, photographing an event, or travelling. She recently purchased a home in Fauquier with her boyfriend, Tyler. They are proud pet parents to a Great Dane (Wilson), a lab mix (Joy), and a cat (Radley).
What are your favorite hobbies?
- Horseback riding: I was sitting on ponies before I could walk and my love for horses has never waned. I rode in college and then spent a gap year between college and the real world riding at big farm in Maryland. Currently, I own a 7 year old American Paint Horse named Pepperbox, “Peppy” for short. Together, we dabble in eventing, hunter/jumpers, and trail riding.
- Photography: My love for photography really started in high school, using film cameras and developing images in a dark room. Now, I have a photography business, primarily covering equestrian competitions, but I also enjoy events and portraits.
- Running: Running is my newest hobby – I started running 5ks in 2022, mostly because I liked collecting medals. The more I ran, the more I wanted to increase the distances. I have completed three half marathons and I am aiming for another crack at the Richmond half marathon in November.
- Hiking: There is nothing better than a good hike! I try to include a hike whenever I am travelling, it is such a great way to explore a new place. Some of my favorites include Old Rag in the Shenandoah National Park just down the road, the Pyrenees on the boarder of France and Spain, and Angels Landing in Zion National Park in Utah. Up next: Half Dome in California’s Yosemite National Park this fall!
What is your favorite book/movie?
A cliché, but my favorite movie is The Town – it is a go-to when I am feeling homesick for Boston.
What was your first job?
My first job was working at a small farm stand a few miles from where I grew up. I worked at the register, and my favorite part was when children came in to buy penny candy.
What are your bucket list vacation spots?
Australia! I want to dive the Great Barrier Reef and explore as much of the country as I can.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
“Never work in a vacuum” – my mother, who always highlighted the importance not insolating yourself, and looking to others not as competition, but as a way to develop your ideas, grow and learn.
