Insights, Advice & a Whole Lot More
Hello, Reilly, Meridian’s Newest Support Advisor
The first thing you notice about Reilly is her huge welcoming smile, and after just a short conversation with her, it’s hard not to notice that she’s an old soul, wise way beyond her years. Reilly Skorupski believes when something feels hard, you have to attack it head-on. And jo
Liz Witt-LeeAug 31, 2026
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
AI Is Driving the Market Conversation. But What Drives the Economy?
I had a strange experience the other weekend. I had some time to kill in the Tysons area and decided to pop into Tysons Corner Center. My last trip to a mall had been a very different experience, with more empty stores than shoppers. So, I was surprised to find Tysons packed. Peo
Kira TopekaAug 19, 2026
Do You Know What Spoofing Is? And 5 Questions to Test Your Knowledge on Fraud Awareness
Headlines these days are full of stories of people being taken advantage of by scammers or people trying to commit fraud. A few weeks ago, the small town where my family is from was hit hard by a flood – and while the community outreach in the aftermath was heartwarming, it was h
Liz Witt-LeeAug 10, 2026
Warrenton Financial Advisor Named 2026 AdvisorHub Finalist
Meridian Financial Partners’ Nathan Gilbert Named a Finalist on AdvisorHub’s 2026 Advisors to Watch List; Firm Also Recognized on USA TODAY’s Best Financial Advisory Firms List Warrenton financial advisory firm earns two national honors in 2026 WARRENTON, VA, July 23, 2026. Merid
Liz Witt-LeeAug 5, 2026
More Than Just Investments: 5 Financial Planning Decisions
When most people think about financial planning, they think about investing. Questions like, “What should I invest in?” or “Is this a good stock?” are some of the most common ones we hear. Investments are certainly important, but they’re only one piece of the puzzle. In fact, som
Dan FortunatoAug 3, 2026
Where Should My Next Dollar Go?
At almost 7 and 10 years old, my kids are finally starting to grasp the concept of earning money via chores (and what chores pay the most). I’m happy to report that over the summer, the piggy banks have started to fill up. Which naturally lends itself to one of the most common qu
Sarah IrvingJul 28, 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
The Beautiful Game Plan (or From Pitch to Portfolio?)
Last month, my husband and our boys made a quick trip to Dallas to watch Argentina take on Austria. They happened to be sitting in the Argentinian supporters’ section—which they described as absolutely electric. Even better, they were there to watch Lionel Messi score the goals t
Sarah YakelJul 13, 2026
Great Company. Disappointing Stock. How Can Both Be True?
Over the past couple of months, I’ve had several clients ask a version of the same question. “Amazon is down. Microsoft is down. Nvidia reported incredible earnings. Why aren’t these stocks going up?” It’s a fair question. After all, these are some of the strongest businesses in
Kira TopekaJul 7, 2026
Understanding the “Step-Up in Cost Basis”: Help Your Family Keep More of Your Wealth
One of the most valuable tax benefits available to families is something called a step-up in cost basis. While the name may sound technical, the concept is actually quite simple and can have a significant impact on how much of an inheritance your loved ones ultimately keep. Your
Dan FortunatoJun 29, 2026
Meridian News: New Team Members, USA TODAY Recognition and New Video
Welcome Our Newest Team Members to Meridian We’re excited to welcome Reilly Skorupski to Meridian as our newest Support Advisor. Reilly graduated from George Mason University in May 2026 with a degree in Finance and brings valuable experience in financial planning, investment ana
Liz Witt-LeeJun 22, 2026