Insights, Advice & a Whole Lot More
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
Is There a Role for AI in Financial Services?
It’s hard to ignore. Wherever we turn, AI (Artificial Intelligence) is in our faces whether it is taking headlines in the news, using algorithms to make recommendations based off shopping or search history, correcting grammar in digital communications, tracking our sleep and/or f
Sarah IrvingJun 16, 2026
Designing Your Next Chapter: The Next 8,000 Days
This weekend, my middle son Ethan graduates from high school. Like most parents, I’m not entirely sure how we got here so quickly. It feels like just yesterday he was jumping in piles of leaves, playing around with his brother, or fishing, boating, catching insects…generally doin
Sarah YakelJun 3, 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
Your Financial Admin Night: 6 Tasks Worth Finally Getting Done
“I’ll do it later.” How many times have you said that? How many times have you heard your spouse, friends, children, parents, etc., say that? According to a 2018 study by Joseph R. Ferrari and Thomas P. Tibbett, 20% of the US population consider themselves “chronic procrastinator
Kira TopekaMay 27, 2026