The Meakem Group

The Meakem Group Financial planning doesn't have to be a big deal. Our approach starts with a conversation.

Securities offered through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advisory services offered through Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. Important Disclosure Information: http://raymondjames.com/smicd.htm

The Meakem Group is not a registered broker/dealer and is independent of Raymond James Financial Services

“Is it too late to make progress on my financial goals this year?”This is a great time to take meaningful steps. Here ar...
09/07/2026

“Is it too late to make progress on my financial goals this year?”

This is a great time to take meaningful steps. Here are three opportunities worth a look right now:

- Review your retirement contribution limits. Are you maximizing what you can be putting away for the future? If not, consider how you can get closer to the max. Note that if you were born in 1966 or 1976, your contribution limits may have increased this year.
- If you have Flex Spending or HSA dollars that evaporate if you don’t use them by year-end, make sure you understand the rules and deadlines. Consider scheduling medical, dental, vision, or other eligible appointments before calendars fill up later in the year.
- Are you considering a Roth conversion? Now may be a good time to look at your cash flow and expected income. Speak with your tax and financial advisors about whether a Roth conversion makes sense this year and how much you may want to convert.

Thoughtful planning can help you get closer to your financial goals, and the end of summer is a great time to reflect on your next steps.

09/03/2026

When you’re paying off school loans, it can feel like every available dollar should go toward the debt.

But you’re also trying to build emergency savings, contribute toward retirement, manage your monthly expenses, and prepare for the life you want next.

That’s where financial coaching can help. It gives you a clearer view of what your money needs to accomplish right now and where thoughtful tradeoffs may make sense.

The goal isn’t to ignore your loans or delay everything else until they’re gone. It’s to create a realistic path that helps you make progress in more than one area of your financial life.

Watch our full conversation about balancing debt, savings, retirement, and other major financial goals:

https://themeakemgroup.com/how-to-balance-competing-financial-goals-without-putting-your-life-on-hold/

08/27/2026

As you move into the empty nest, helping your kids understand real-world costs prepares them for independence. That includes charging them rent if they come home after college.

Helping them learn what life costs before being fully on their own makes the transition easier.

Want help sorting your budget as an empty nester? Check out this video for more tips:

https://themeakemgroup.com/what-really-changes-financially-when-you-have-an-empty-nest/

Tax talk in August?? Yep, you read that right, and you’ll be glad you did. Getting a jump on your tax documents means le...
08/26/2026

Tax talk in August?? Yep, you read that right, and you’ll be glad you did. Getting a jump on your tax documents means less stress in April, less clutter right now, and maybe even more opportunities for deductions.

Read the latest blog to learn what you can do right now to make life easier during tax season (and also, how to keep track of all those pesky receipts).

https://themeakemgroup.com/3-summer-tax-prep-tips-that-also-help-you-declutter/

08/20/2026

When you become an empty nester, your expenses start to separate in a way they didn’t before.

Now a future retirement that used to seem so foreign and far away can actually be imagined.

It’s a good time to start thinking about what retirement spending could look like.

See more ways to think through your empty nest budget in this video:

https://themeakemgroup.com/what-really-changes-financially-when-you-have-an-empty-nest/

It’s too soon to start decorating for Halloween, but it’s not too soon to start thinking about October–specifically, abo...
08/19/2026

It’s too soon to start decorating for Halloween, but it’s not too soon to start thinking about October–specifically, about Medicare Open Enrollment, which begins on October 15.

It often takes more time than you’d think to gather plan documents, prescription lists, and provider information, which is why we recommend starting now. It can help you make thoughtful, empowered decisions during the enrollment window (instead of feeling like it’s just one more thing to get around to).

Swipe through for tips on what to do now, whether you're approaching retirement, still in the workforce, or helping a loved one navigate their options. ➡️

You’re never too young to learn how to be Smart About Money™, even if you haven’t quite learned what sound a cow makes y...
08/17/2026

You’re never too young to learn how to be Smart About Money™, even if you haven’t quite learned what sound a cow makes yet.

Claire’s baby, Auggie, enjoyed his first office visit almost as much as we enjoyed the baby cuddles! This little guy has no idea yet how many honorary aunties are going to teach him about saving for retirement.

08/13/2026

When you become an empty nester, you may still be paying for expenses that don’t show up clearly in your budget.

Streaming and online shopping accounts, cell phone plans, and car insurance. They’re often shared with your kids.

This video is about identifying those invisible costs to help you plan your new budget as an empty nester and help your kids see what independence really costs.

We dive deeper into what an empty nester’s budget can really look like in another video. You can find that here:

https://themeakemgroup.com/what-really-changes-financially-when-you-have-an-empty-nest/

Did you know that, according to the National Retail Federation, the average U.S. family spends over $850 on back-to-scho...
08/12/2026

Did you know that, according to the National Retail Federation, the average U.S. family spends over $850 on back-to-school shopping every year? Yikes!

Here’s a money-saving tip: instead of buying it all at once, get only what your child needs for the first month of school.

Retailers routinely drop prices after the rush has ended, so waiting means you may be able to get the rest of your child’s school supplies at a discount. Plus, the must-haves might change once your student sees how they use their supplies (or what their friends are wearing).

This is also a fantastic teachable moment for older kids. Involve them in the process and let them choose their own clothes and supplies to see how far they can stretch their budget.

08/06/2026

When you become an empty nester, some household costs go down, but other expenses replace them in different ways.

This video explains how your budget shifts during the empty nest transition and why paying attention before and after helps you see what’s really changing.

Then there’s separating visible costs, with the invisible. Watch the video about that and other things that can catch empty nesters off guard:

https://themeakemgroup.com/what-really-changes-financially-when-you-have-an-empty-nest/

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4800 Hampden Lane, Suite 810
Bethesda, MD
20814

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+12407434971

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