Nathan Gilbert
529 to Roth IRA Transfer Rules for Leftover College Funds
Some might call it a champagne problem, but overfunding a 529 College Savings plan can be a concern for some parents and grandparents. Until recently, the options for using leftover funds were somewhat limited. You could change beneficiaries to another family member, but if you j
Nathan GilbertAug 26, 2026
No Correlation: Why Stocks and Bonds Don’t Always Move Together
We have often said in this space that diversification means you always own something you hate. A more technical way to define diversification is owning assets that have little correlation with each other. Ideally, you don’t want to own things that move in the same direction at th
Nathan GilbertJul 22, 2026
Custodial Roth IRA for Kids: Why a Summer Job Could Fund a Lifetime of Growth
School’s Out (a great Alice Cooper song) I hear that song in my head every time our kids’ schools end for the summer. I have to admit it’s mainly from watching the movie Dazed and Confused vs. being a huge fan of Alice Cooper. Note that this movie is from 1993, and I am not […]
Nathan GilbertJun 1, 2026
Timing the Market: Sell in May and Go Away?
There are lots of different ways to say, ‘I think I can time the market.’ Here are a few examples: I will get back in when things feel better I am waiting for a big downturn before I invest It feels like the market’s due for a pullback This rally doesn’t feel sustainable Once rat
Nathan GilbertMay 5, 2026
The Practical Guide to Living Trusts and Estate Planning
When reviewing clients’ financial plans, we often discuss estate planning and the benefits that can come from getting things in order ahead of time (aka before dying). Often, the conversation starts with trying to avoid taxes, but for most of us (with less than $15 million or $30
Nathan GilbertMar 24, 2026
Where Are My Tax Forms Again?
It’s hard to believe it is already tax season, but here we are! If you aren’t paying attention to the calendar, you can certainly tell by the number of tax prep company ads that are all over the place. My favorite one involves someone riding a bike through a city while on a cell
Nathan GilbertFeb 17, 2026
It’s ALMOST Tax Season
Every year, we get questions about tax forms from clients. By far the most common one is, “When will I get them?” The answer is: “not yet!” And, in fact, the IRS won’t even start accepting tax returns until January 26th, and you do not get any extra refunds for trying to file ear
Nathan GilbertJan 16, 2026
2026 Retirement Contribution Limits: 401(k), IRA, HSA, and Catch-Up Rules
As we reach the last day of 2025, we can all start to look to next year, which brings new retirement contribution limits. I am sure that was the first thing on your New Year’s resolution list! 2026 Retirement Contribution Limits Overview If you are someone who maxes out retiremen
Nathan GilbertDec 31, 2025
What Is a Stock Split?
With the recent Netflix stock split announcement, we thought it might be a good idea to address stock splits and the reasons companies decide to split their stock. If you aren’t already aware, Netflix (NFLX) announced a forward split at a rate of 10:1 last week. So, if you are a
Nathan GilbertNov 18, 2025
Cheers to 10 Years!
Following up on my founding partner, Sarah Yakel’s blog from last week, I wanted to take the opportunity to reflect and be thankful for Meridian’s 10 years of existence as well. In true partnership fashion, we did a blind draw to figure out who would cover what topic! We are both
Nathan GilbertSep 23, 2025
Using College Savings for Retirement
If you have children and are fortunate enough to be able to save for their post-high school education in advance, a 529 savings account is often a great and popular option. However, there is some concern about leftover money that is not used for qualified education expenses, whet
Nathan GilbertAug 20, 2025
Understanding Step-Up in Cost Basis
I hope everyone is enjoying the start of summer and finding ways to keep kids and grandkids busy! In our household, that is always the tradeoff when school is out – less stressful mornings in exchange for kids constantly saying, ‘I’m bored and/or hungry!’ Speaking of kids and gra
Nathan GilbertJun 24, 2025