Money IQ
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 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
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
Gen Ed 101: Financial Literacy for College Students
Last week, we dropped Melanie off at her new home for the next four years: James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. She has had a whirlwind of a week, meeting tons of new people, learning how to co-exist in a suite with 5 other girls (and share a bathroom with 11 girls
Sarah YakelAug 27, 2024
Back to School Reading List
We asked around the office for their back to school reading recommendations. But when we asked people to choose their favorites, that turned out to be a hard task for our group of readers. As Sarah Yakel said, “I can’t say these are my favorite books of all time—I read too much t
Kira TopekaAug 19, 2024
Tax Season is Over, Three Tips to Make Next Year’s Easier!
I think it is fair to say that the longer days and nicer weather have mentally moved my family into summer mode whether I am ready for it or not. I’m still just trying to get through May (aka Maycember for all of my fellow parents out there). “Maycember – a term that describes th
Sarah IrvingMay 14, 2024
Understanding T+1 (Transaction Date + 1 Business Day)
You may have seen this message: T+1 on 5/28. Here’s the quick translation: Transaction date + 1 business day starts on May 28th. First, thank you to one of our readers for this great subject suggestion. As always, let us know if there are any blog topics you’d like to learn more
Nathan GilbertMay 7, 2024
Did You Miss It?
Woops, did you miss the deadline? If you are an organization in Virginia with 25 or more employees and have been in operations for 2 or more years, February 15th was the deadline to register for Virginia’s state sponsored plan, RetirePath or to certify an exemption if already off
Sarah IrvingFeb 20, 2024
Girl Math
A recent trend has taken over TikTok called “Girl Math” that has been all over my “for you page”. It has amassed millions of views from people all over the world, including a few in the Meridian office, and even has it’s own theme song. Girl math is essentially a type mental acco
Sarah YakelAug 8, 2023
Tips for a Smooth Summer Travel Experience
Summer is officially just a few days away and many of us eagerly look forward to our much-anticipated travel plans. Whether you’re embarking on a relaxing beach vacation, exploring new cities, or immersing yourself in nature’s beauty, it’s essential to ensure that your summer tra
Sarah YakelJun 13, 2023