Insights, Advice & a Whole Lot More
Happy Holidays!
Happy Holidays from our Meridian family to yours! We are taking a break from the blog next week, so have a happy and safe New Year’s celebration, and we look forward to seeing you in 2025! — Sarah Yakel Blog Disclosure
Sarah YakelDec 24, 2024
Top Financial Headlines of 2024
In honor of all of the year-in-review lists that are coming our way as we near the end of the year, we wanted to go over some of the top financial headlines of 2024. While this is not an exhaustive list, it does highlight a lot of what was on investors’ minds. It might not […]
Nathan GilbertDec 20, 2024
Financial Year-End To-Do List
Somehow, New Year’s Eve is only three weeks away! As the year comes to a close, we want to make sure those year-end to-dos are ticked off before the clock strikes midnight on December 31st. Take Your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) If you’re required to take your IRS Required
Kira TopekaDec 10, 2024
Fiduciary vs Financial Advisor: Know What You’re Getting
These past few weeks have been a whirlwind and I know that the remaining weeks of 2024 will be as well. Before Thanksgiving, I had the opportunity to join two of my colleagues at the annual Charles Schwab IMPACT conference in San Francisco where some of the brightest minds in the
Sarah IrvingDec 4, 2024
Giving Thanks in 2024
While this year seems to have flown by, we wanted to take a moment this Thanksgiving to reflect on what we’re thankful for. From our families to yours, wishing you a very happy Thanksgiving. Sarah Yakel: I’m always thankful for my family and friends, but this year, I’ve been real
Nathan GilbertNov 26, 2024
NOT YET! Good Debt vs. Bad Debt and the Holiday Season
I’ve started grocery shopping with my air pods in…not to be anti-social but because—as a Christmas purist—I firmly believe that there should be NO Christmas music before Thanksgiving. If you start listening now, then you’ll hear “All I Want for Christmas” 2,954,359 times before D
Sarah YakelNov 19, 2024
What Happened to Your High-Yield Savings Account?
It’s never pleasant to get a notification from your bank informing you that the interest rate on your high-yield savings account is decreasing. But, it is becoming more common. According to the FDIC, the national average interest rate on a traditional savings account is 0.45%, wi
Kira TopekaNov 14, 2024
What Elections Mean for the Markets
Did you hear there was an election coming up? I think I drew the short straw in the rotation of blog writing when I ended up with the investing-in-an-election-year topic. Nonetheless, it is probably the most common question we are getting from clients and prospects right now. Sho
Nathan GilbertOct 29, 2024
Estate Planning: Understanding Inherited IRAs and the SECURE Act
With October being Estate Planning Month, we wanted to address IRAs (individual retirement accounts). Until the SECURE Act, IRAs were relatively easy to incorporate into an estate plan. As long as beneficiaries are named after the IRA owner dies, the assets are automatically and
Sarah YakelOct 21, 2024
Estate Planning Essentials: Documents You Shouldn’t Overlook
As we reach the halfway point of National Estate Planning Awareness Month, it’s a great time to revisit the key documents that should be included in any comprehensive estate plan. While trusts are essential (as Nathan discusses in detail here), wills, powers of attorney, and heal
Kira TopekaOct 15, 2024
Handling an Inheritance: From Grief to Guidance
As I was writing this week’s blog, I realized that my last one was also about a sensitive topic (divorce), so I promise my next one will be a LOT lighter! Nevertheless, navigating the loss of a loved one and in turn, inheriting assets can be both a financial blessing and an emoti
Sarah IrvingOct 9, 2024
Happy Estate Planning Awareness Month!
It seems like anything and everything has a “month” these days. A quick Google search reveals that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Cybersecurity Awareness Month, Polish American Heritage Month, National Learning and Development Month. October also contains World Mental
Nathan GilbertOct 1, 2024