Insights, Advice & a Whole Lot More
Meet the Team: Hello, Tyler
A Fauquier local through and through, Meridian Investment Analyst, Tyler Fetherolf, grew up in Bealeton and graduated from Liberty High School. A passion and talent for baseball and numbers put him on the path to Averett University in pursuit of a career in sports marketing. Afte
Liz Witt-LeeOct 9, 2025
Meridian Financial Partners’ Nathan Gilbert Named One of AdvisorHub’s 250 Financial Advisors to Watch
Meridian Financial Partners is proud to announce that Nathan S. Gilbert, Founding Partner, has been recognized by AdvisorHub as one of the 250 Financial Advisors to Watch in its prestigious 2025 rankings. AdvisorHub’s annual Advisors to Watch list highlights advisors and teams na
Liz Witt-LeeOct 6, 2025
Converting a Traditional IRA to a Roth IRA
To convert or not to convert – pay the tax now or pay them later? These are just a few questions many investors are asking themselves and for good reason. Converting part of a traditional IRA into a Roth IRA means you pay income tax now in exchange for tax-free growth and tax-fre
Sarah IrvingOct 6, 2025
Uncovering Forgotten 401(k)s
The average person has between 10 and 16 jobs in their lifetime, according to a 2019 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics survey. Millennials and Gen Z are changing jobs more frequently than Baby Boomers did. The changing culture, economy, job market, working from home opportunities,
Dan FortunatoSep 30, 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
Reflections on 10 Years of Meridian Financial Partners
Next week, Meridian celebrates our tenth anniversary—and how things have changed… 😊 From 2015: To 2017: To 2021: To 2025: We’ve seen our children get taller, our team expand with talent, and Meridian flourish, now managing over a half-billion dollars for 575 families and organiz
Sarah YakelSep 16, 2025
Meet the Meridian Team: Hello, Kira
Financial advisor Kira Topeka joined Meridian in 2020 and now helps clients build personalized financial plans and navigate life’s many transitions. Her work is grounded in understanding what matters most to each individual and guiding them toward their goals with clarity and con
Liz Witt-LeeSep 10, 2025
Getting Emotionally Ready for Retirement
My husband turns a magical age soon – a fairly big one, where people seriously start to contemplate retiring. There’s been a lot of talk in our house over the last 6 months, maybe a year, about getting ready for “the big day.” Of course, we are considerate of the money side of th
Liz Witt-LeeAug 26, 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
Meet the Meridian Team: Hello, Heather
Caring for people is at the heart of everything Meridian’s Director of Operations, Heather Riggs does. She joined the firm in 2021 after pivoting from a decades-long operations career in the home restoration industry. Known for cultivating strong team camaraderie, Heather thrives
Liz Witt-LeeAug 12, 2025
How Do Long-Term Financial Goals Differ from Short-Term Financial Goals?
When it comes to personal finance, setting goals is one of the most effective ways to ensure financial stability and growth. However, it’s important to understand that not all financial goals are created equal. Financial goals can be divided into two broad categories: short-term
Dan FortunatoAug 1, 2025
Planning for a Happy Retirement: Thinking Beyond Finances
The past two weeks have been very emotional as an advisor—I’m not sure if it is because I’m in a reflective mood as Meridian nears our 10th anniversary in September. Or perhaps it is because of two solid weeks of meetings with clients about their financial plans, and everyone is
Sarah YakelJul 30, 2025