Insights, Advice & a Whole Lot More
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
Rule of 72 and Other Investing Rules-of-Thumb
I love trivia – it combines a few of my favorite things – getting together with friends, random knowledge, and being right. My trivia team (Scott’s Tots) has been enjoying really great questions at Great Mane Brewery’s A+ Trivia, and recently one of the categories was “The Number
Kira TopekaJul 22, 2025
What the One Big Beautiful Bill Act means for you
Big Bill, Big Changes On July 4th, as most Americans were attending BBQs and pool parties and gearing up for their local fireworks display (or multiple, as in my colleague’s cases), a sweeping budget reconciliation bill, otherwise known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” was si
Sarah IrvingJul 15, 2025
Meet the Meridian Team: Hello, Dan
Financial Advisor Dan Fortunato came to Meridian in 2024 with a desire to help people solve their financial puzzles and put together efficient ways to plan for their goals. Coming to Meridian was purposeful – after six years leading youth as a Pastor in California and Virginia, a
Dan FortunatoJul 8, 2025
Caregiving, Preparing, and Communicating
What my mother’s journey with dementia taught our family about being prepared for caregiving My experience as a caregiver through my mother’s dementia journey had a profound impact on me. Almost a year (to the day) after her passing, I’m not sure how I made it out of the fire. If
Liz Witt-LeeJul 1, 2025