Profile
“My age is actually a strength. I assure clients that I’ll be there for decades to come, guiding them through each stage of their financial journey”
Michael Lee,
Farther
Sarah Irving truly fell into the wealth advising industry. With interests in both the performing arts and numbers, Irving undertook a Bachelor’s degree in acting with a minor in business administration. Her acting experience paired perfectly with the soft skills necessary to become a top financial advisor, allowing her to empathize with clients and think on the spot.
“In my first role out of college at a boutique financial services consultancy firm, I began to see the benefits my acting training provided me when managing client relationships,” she explains.
“I had to actively listen, take the time to understand the clients’ true needs, engage and empathize with individuals from different backgrounds, and many times come up with creative and compliant solutions for my clients.”
A pivotal moment arrived in 2017, when a chance encounter with an opportunity at Meridian Financial Partners changed the course of Irving’s career. Drawn to the firm’s transparent culture and the founders’ forward-thinking vision, the decision to join Meridian marked the beginning of a new chapter for Irving.
One of the most significant challenges in her current role is finding the right balance between working "in" the business and working "on" the business, particularly as her responsibilities as a partner at the firm expand and the business grows.
As she continues to hone her leadership skills, Irving acknowledges the valuable lessons found in these challenges and remains focused on ensuring she provides the highest level of service to her clients, as well as the support and tools to her team needs to be successful.
"I love my day to day responsibilities as a financial advisor, and being the best advisor possible for my clients has always been my priority. However, as I continue to grow my leadership capacity at Meridian, my focus will have expand beyond the practitioner role into managerial and entrepreneurial responsibilities. I know shifting this focus will not only aid in our firm's growth, but our capability in serving our current and future clients beyond where we can today."
Achieving partnership at Meridian stands out as a career-defining milestone for Irving. This accomplishment not only affirmed a deep commitment to the firm’s mission but also provided a platform to help shape her future. Earning her CFP® designation was another transformative achievement, elevating both expertise and credibility within the industry.
Relatability is key for Irving, who understands the shifting needs of her clients in an information age, always looking for an opportunity in the market to take advantage of. She also enjoys sharing her knowledge with clients to ameliorate their understanding of the financial industry.
“My relative inexperience in the industry has given me the opportunity to differentiate myself as an advisor and proved to be a breath of fresh air to my clients, particularly the women I advise,” she says.
“I am not seen as another ‘blue suit’, but rather someone my clients can relate to and leave meetings feeling empowered and educated, not belittled.”
Irving’s motivation to put her all into her career is driven by her profound passion for her work, a passion which will only continue to push her to reach new heights.
“I love what I do and I am fortunate to get to do it with people I love – that is my fuel - I have a full tank and am only getting started on my journey,” she says.
39 S 4th St, Warrenton, VA 20186
(540) 878 5416
liz@meridianfinancialpartners.com
linkedin.com/in/sarah-irving-cfp%C2%AE-3a468432
meridianfinancialpartners.com
Sarah Irving
Partner, Senior Financial Advisor
Meridian Financial Partners
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Bio
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Bio
Milestones
“Watching others succeed and knowing I played a role in their growth has been a bigger achievement for me than any personal milestone”
Michael Lee,
Farther
2011
2017
2020
2022
2024–2025
Graduated from Elon University with a BFA and minor in Business Administration, magna cum laude, Phi Kappa Phi and Alpha Psi Omega
Began working at Prospect 33 as a senior delivery manager at a boutique consulting firm, where she was responsible for overseeing project management and staff deployment for two global investment banks with teams nationwide
2011
Transitioned careers to Meridian Financial Partners
2017
Earned CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Certification
2020
Received Fauquier Times Reader Choice Awards Best Financial Advisor and Best Financial Services Firm
2022
2024: Promoted to partner at Meridian Financial Partners
2025: Lead financial advisor at Meridian Financial Partners, where she is responsible for overseeing, training, and mentoring two associate advisors, managing over $100 million in AUM, and aiding in overseeing the firm’s growth development plan
2024–2025
Assistant Vice President and Senior Broker at MJ Hall & Company since 2018
Present
Milestones
Aug 2022
Milestones
Sept 2021
Feb 2022
Apr 2022
Jul 2022
Aug
2022
Suncorp Bank introduces Solar Home Bonus offer for customers who are choosing renewable energy for their homes
Sept 2021
Month-on-month market share growth commences
Feb 2022
Suncorp Bank wins the Canstar award for most outstanding value in investment loans
Apr 2022
Suncorp Bank wins Money Magazine’s Bank of the Year and Business Bank of the Year awards for the fifth year in a row
Jul 2022
Suncorp Bank’s turnaround times are the lowest they have ever been. The lender becomes Australia’s first certified carbon neutral bank for both its operation and transaction services
Aug 2022
Milestones
As a founding member of WOW! (Women. Opportunity. Winning.), an employee resource group created for all women of Ryan Specialty, Phillips Topping has long championed for women in the industry.
“It’s very important to set an example and to not only inspire but mentor other females,” she adds.
In addition to her sharp marketing eye, the key to Phillips Topping’s success lies in her high-energy approach and positive attitude.
“As the leader of a team, it’s important to motivate and encourage your team members. People work very hard and do their best and it’s important to recognize these efforts. For my career overall, my attitude has been one of curiosity. The more you can learn, the better you’ll understand the business, and then the deeper your knowledge will become, making you a better team member.”
Chief underwriting officer of executive risk at Chubb
President of financial insurance solutions at Kemper
Chief underwriting officer at Axis Capital
CEO of global Insurance at Endurance
CEO of global Insurance at Sompo International
InvestmentNews annual Rising Stars 2025 list highlights advisors 40 or under (before Oct 1, 2025) committed to a career in wealth management, with a clear passion for the industry. InvestmentNews accepts nominations from advisors and industry professionals. Rankings were determined by an independent panel of industry leaders and were based on the nominees’ key achievements, career goals, and contributions they’ve made to shaping the industry. Recommendations from managers and senior industry professionals were also taken into account. Neither Meridian Financial Partners nor its financial advisors paid a fee to InvestmentNews to obtain or use the ranking. All information on nominees had to be verified by their compliance team before it could be accepted.