Insights, Advice & a Whole Lot More
How To Tell Good Debt Versus Bad Debt
It might sound strange, but not all debt is “bad.” Certain types of debt can actually provide opportunities to improve your financial future. To make smart decisions about if, when, and how much to borrow, you need to understand the difference between “good” and “bad” debt and ho
Sarah YakelJan 19, 2021
Refi, Should I?
Happy 2021! Per Nathan’s last blog, I only have a couple of more weeks to say that, so I’m soaking it up. Cheers to everyone who has set their goals or resolutions for this year whether they be physical, mental, or financial in nature. From a financial perspective, it is exciting
Sarah IrvingJan 12, 2021
Happy New Year! (And when do we stop saying that?)
I hope you and yours had a wonderful holiday season and your new year is off to a great start. Despite not being able to see most family as usual, our young children made the season very exciting/exhausting as always! As our children get older, I have found that the number of Chr
Nathan GilbertJan 5, 2021
Little Bits of Joy
My recently received edition of Entertainment Weekly started with this glum opening editor’s note: “Nobody with a lick of sense should wax nostalgic about 2020. Should some future soul discover this letter many decades hence, when humanity lives in climate-controlled domed cites
Sarah YakelDec 22, 2020
What is an independent RIA (Registered Investment Advisor)?
As the year comes to a close, the team here at Meridian has been collaborating together on our individual and firm key objectives for 2021. We take this opportunity every year to revisit the values, philosophy, and mission as a company as well as to set goals for ourselves and a
Sarah IrvingDec 15, 2020
Do I Even Need a Trust?
We at Meridian often get a lot of questions around trusts and what they can and can’t do. While we are not attorneys and do not draft wills or trusts, we do need to be aware of what estate planning options are available to our clients. “Do I even need a trust?” is probably the […
Nathan GilbertDec 8, 2020
It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year
Finally, Christmas music is legal…and so are outdoor Christmas lights and decorating Christmas trees. The rules of the holiday season dictate no signs of Christmas until after Thanksgiving, and all Christmas artifacts must be removed by January 2nd. 😊 At the Yakel household, we
Sarah YakelDec 1, 2020The Gift that Keeps on Giving
This holiday the season the Irving family calendar is not as jam packed as it has been in previous years, partly I’m thankful for and also partly it feels a little strange. However, this quieter holiday season (as quiet as it can be with a 1 and 4 year old 😊) will provide some u
Sarah IrvingNov 25, 2020
What’s In A Sector?
For the first time in a long time, the Value portion of the S&P 500 outperformed the Growth portion. Granted, it was only over one week, but it could signal a reversal of a trend that has essentially been happening since 2006. Credit to Jeff Weniger at WisdomTree for his analysis
Nathan GilbertNov 17, 2020
Over and Out
This election season has been a challenge, driving Crush to binge on chips… However, with the election (yet perhaps not the end of the debate) behind us, hopefully we can start to mend fences and live in peace with each other. With the market soaring to all time highs today on th
Sarah YakelNov 10, 2020
Time for a Break
Here we are – the day many Americans went into 2020 thinking would be the biggest event of the year….and then the pandemic happened. Given the unforeseen circumstances of this year, this election feels heavily weighted no matter what side you are on. However, as important as elec
Sarah IrvingNov 3, 2020
How We Think About Elections & Investment Decisions
Each time a U.S. presidential election approaches, we revisit with clients our views about the impact on our investment outlook and portfolio positioning. Here is a quick review of how we think about elections in general within the context of our overall investment approach. Why
Nathan GilbertOct 27, 2020