Insights, Advice & a Whole Lot More
Protecting Yourself from Scams in a Digital World
With April being National Financial Literacy month, we’ve been writing about things you should know about as a financially literate adult…and how to protect yourself and your money from the innumerable bad actors in the world is super important. So, for today’s blog, we wanted to
Liz Witt-LeeApr 28, 2025
Fiduciary vs. Financial Advisor: the Difference and Why It Matters
Before I ever had any inclination to work in the financial industry, I remember an older co-worker of mine, telling a group of us younger fellows that he was about to give us a piece of advice. The advice was that if we ever were to have somebody manage our money, we needed to ma
Dan FortunatoApr 22, 2025
Smart Saving for Kids: How to Use 529 Plans, Custodial Roth IRAs, and Custodial Accounts
As Sarah mentioned in her blog last week, April is Financial Literacy Month! This annual observance aims to raise public awareness about the importance of financial literacy and encourage smart money management habits. As with so many habits, starting good money management and sa
Kira TopekaApr 15, 2025
Staying Steady Through Uncertainty – A Resource We Found Helpful
Hartford Funds recently put out a great article called The Price of Panic which we found a helpful read. They partner with MIT AgeLab who researches a lot around the psychology of investing and investor behavior. We found it helpful and hope you do too. Download the article. The
Nathan GilbertApr 11, 2025
The Benefits of Financial Literacy and Working with a Financial Advisor
The month of April feels like a breath of fresh air to our family (figuratively and literally). Spring brings longer days, warmer temperatures, beautiful scenery, and the chance to celebrate new life at my dad’s farm. The month of April is also very special as it is Financial Lit
Sarah IrvingApr 8, 2025
IRA Eligibility and Deadlines
As the tax filing deadline of April 15th gets ever closer, many savers are looking for last minute tax deductions to reduce their tax bill for the 2024 tax year. And, there may be some things you can still do prior to the filing deadline that might help. Tax Deductible IRA or SEP
Nathan GilbertApr 1, 2025
Does International Investing Make Sense?
While 2025 has been full of surprises, the double-digit outperformance of international stocks over United States stocks was on very few economists’ bingo cards for this year! Following another strong year of outperformance in the US economic growth and market returns, non-U.S. e
Sarah YakelMar 25, 2025
What are the NYSE, NASDAQ, S&P 500, Bond Market, and Dow?
Anytime we turn on the news we tend to hear about how the Dow Jones Industrial Average is up 20 points or the NASDAQ is down 75 points. If we don’t hear it on tv, we at least see the tickers popping up on the bottom of our computer screens letting us know when the […]
Dan FortunatoMar 18, 2025
Does money buy happiness?
It’s a questions that psychologists, economists, philosophers, and Meridian advisors alike have sought to answer. Over the past few years, studies have found that in general, yes, money does buy happiness. But the real answer is more nuanced than that. Revisiting the $75,000 Happ
Kira TopekaMar 11, 2025
Financial Moves You Can Still Make Before Filing Your Taxes This Year
Tax season is in full swing, 1099s are all finally released, and while you may be preparing to file, there are still some last-minute financial moves you can make to maximize your refund or reduce your tax liability before April 15th 2025. 1. Contribute to an IRA One of the best
Sarah IrvingMar 4, 2025
Short-Term Investment Options in Volatile Markets
Greetings from Meridian, and we hope you are all enjoying some slightly warmer weather wherever you are. In Virginia, it feels like we are turning a corner toward Spring, but we might be in for one more cold snap as per usual. As market volatility increases, so does the temptatio
Nathan GilbertFeb 25, 2025
Renting vs. Owning a Home: The Pros and Cons
When it comes to finding a place to live, one of the most significant decisions many people face is whether to rent or to buy a home. Both options come with distinct advantages and disadvantages, and the decision often depends on personal circumstances, financial goals, and lifes
Dan FortunatoFeb 17, 2025