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The Meridian blog

Insights, Advice & a Whole Lot More

Welcome to the official blog of Meridian Financial Partners. We'd love to hear your comments as well as your questions. Oh, and our attorneys want you to read these disclosures.
The Rest of the Story, part 2
Investing & Markets

The Rest of the Story, part 2

Back in July of 2020, we wrote a blog about the narrowness of the nascent market recovery from the COVID drop. We referenced the late Paul Harvey (and my dad and his awesome 1970s walnut box speakers…) and Mr. Harvey’s dramatic catchphrase: “Now you know…the rest of the story”… A

Sarah YakelSarah YakelJul 11, 2023
Kid posing with the dog
Planning Basics

One Size Fits All Does Not Fit All

Rules of thumb, they exist for every facet of our lives and can be helpful as benchmarks. But how accurate and applicable are they actually? Recently I read about the 5-2-1-0 rule of thumb for kids — 5 servings of fruits and vegetables a day, no more than 2 hours of screen time d

Sarah IrvingSarah IrvingJun 27, 2023
AI vs Financial Advisors
Planning Basics

Will AI Replace Financial Advisors?

AI (Artificial Intelligence) has been increasingly in the news, on social media, and whether you like it or not, a part of your everyday life. Much of AI is a great thing, with AI programs capable of identifying potential cancer cells long before human radiologists can see it. Ot

Kira TopekaKira TopekaJun 13, 2023
Tips for a Smooth Summer Travel Experience
Planning Basics

Tips for a Smooth Summer Travel Experience

Summer is officially just a few days away and many of us eagerly look forward to our much-anticipated travel plans. Whether you’re embarking on a relaxing beach vacation, exploring new cities, or immersing yourself in nature’s beauty, it’s essential to ensure that your summer tra

Sarah YakelSarah YakelJun 13, 2023
2 Bay Dan Beers
Planning Basics

The Transfer Process (Not always easy, but usually worth it)

Transferring your investment account(s) to a new firm can be intimidating and sometimes a reason to not make any change and leave things as they are. The two most popular reasons for transfer are 1) switching to a new advisor or firm and 2) changing jobs/retiring. While both type

Nathan GilbertNathan GilbertJun 6, 2023
A Tale of Two Markets
Investing & Markets

A Tale of Two Markets

We just got back from a quick trip to the beach. Melanie had wanted to take her good friends to the beach, and they had a wonderful time making memories as they close out their junior year of high school together. (Melanie’s version) While their trip was filled with sleeping in,

Sarah YakelSarah YakelMay 31, 2023
Light at the End of the Tunnel?
Family & Life Events

Light at the End of the Tunnel?

After months in and out of the headlines, the issues surrounding the debt ceiling have come into sharp focus, as the U.S. could become unable to pay its bills as soon as June 1. There’s nothing like an impending deadline to force action. Source: https://www.visualcapitalist.com/r

Sarah IrvingSarah IrvingMay 22, 2023
Taking Care with Intergenerational Planning
Family & Life Events

Taking Care with Intergenerational Planning

Happy belated Mother’s Day to all the moms and mother figures out there! Our weekend was filled with gardening, making homemade pizzas, and I was surprised with breakfast in bed which happened to be a pancake in the shape of my head. Nothing says “I love you Mom” like having your

Sarah IrvingSarah IrvingMay 17, 2023
The Goods on Giving
Planning Basics

The Goods on Giving

Today is Give Local Piedmont! Now in its 10th year, the Give Local Piedmont fundraising drive presented by the Northern Piedmont Community Foundation partnered with the PATH Foundation is a day of inspiring community members to give to support the many non-profit organizations ba

Kira TopekaKira TopekaMay 9, 2023
Nothing Like Waiting Till the Last Minute
Planning Basics

Nothing Like Waiting Till the Last Minute

As with many things in business and in life, deals/projects/agreements/settlements don’t get done in advance of a deadline. Once a deadline is looming, things generally get done at the 11th hour. I have a golfing friend who is perennially late to every tee time, so my other frien

Nathan GilbertNathan GilbertMay 2, 2023
Testing, testing…
Planning Basics

Testing, testing…

Today the Yakel kids start SAT testing…only Ben is excited—he likes filling in all of the bubbles with his number two pencil. The older kids dread it…probably because they are facing a day full of questions like this: For all you math people, you can check your answer at the end

Sarah YakelSarah YakelApr 25, 2023
Dog smiling
Tax Planning

The Cheese Tax

10 Fun Tax Facts to Brighten Your Tax Day Happy Tax Day! While taxes may not be the most exciting topic, there are some interesting and fun tax facts that you may not know about: The first income tax in the US was introduced in 1861 to help pay for the Civil War. The tax […]

Sarah YakelSarah YakelApr 18, 2023