Insights for Your Journey
Latest News & Articles
Success Story – Meeting Long-term Care and Legacy Planning Needs with Life Insurance
See how Mary & George turn a $275,000 low interest long-term care rainy day fund into a $780,000 flexible benefit for long-term care or legacy for their children.
7 Tips to Maximize Your Auto, Home, and Umbrella Insurance
Comprehensive financial planning includes making sure you’re protected from risk of many kinds. We collaborated with Christopher Togawa, owner of Christopher Togawa Insurance Agency, to bring you these 7 tips to optimize your coverage and improve your protection plan.
529 Plans – Taxes, Estate Planning, and Funding College
Paying for college isn’t cheap and it’s not getting cheaper, whether you’re planning for kids or grandkids. Here’s why a 529 plan is a great first step toward making sure your children or grandchildren can achieve their educational aspirations.
I’m 72 and Don’t Need My RMDs…What Should I Do?
6 ways to use required IRA and 401(k) distributions you don’t need to save taxes and make an impact on loved ones and causes you care about.
Investing vs. Speculating and Why it Matters
All investments involve risk but not all risks are equal. Are you investing or speculating? Both have a place but come with different risks and outcomes. What are the differences and how can you place each one properly in your plan?
4 New Tax Changes + Q2 Market & Economy in Review – Webinar Replay
A replay of our July 28, 2021 webinar discussing 4 new tax changes and what you can do to prepare, plus a review of Q2 market and economic headlines.
How to Prepare for the Biden Income Tax Increases
The Biden administration has proposed a variety of tax changes. Revisions to income taxes are likely to affect many taxpayers. Here’s a summary of the most notable proposals and strategies to consider if they are passed into law.
How to Prepare for the Biden Estate Tax Increases
The Biden administrations has proposed big tax law changes, with some of the most sweeping changes being made to taxes on assets passed on at death, often called estate taxes. Here’s a summary of the most notable proposals and strategies to consider if they are passed into law.
Tax Reform, Markets & Inflation, Q2 in Review
The second quarter built on much of the encouraging economic progress we saw in the first quarter. States moved to being nearly fully open, markets advanced, and we learned more about probable tax reforms.
Should I Leave Washington State to Avoid the Estate Tax?
How much of our nest egg will be lost to estate taxes when we pass? Is there anything we can do? Would moving to another state help? Washingtonians face an additional burden because Washington adds a 10-20% state estate tax on top of federal estate taxes. So, is moving to another state the only solution? Before you put up that for sale sign, here are a few other options to consider.
3 Steps to Enthusiastic Win-Win Money Decisions
Communicating with your partner isn’t always easy…especially when it comes to money. Many couples with the best intentions disagree, argue, and even part ways over finances. These 3 steps can help!
6 Keys to Successful Investing
What separates successful investment strategies from those that fail? It’s usually not expert stock picking or timing the market – it’s leveraging what you control to your advantage. There are some things we don’t control: the market, tax laws, and inflation rates. But there are many things we do control: saving, spending, and sticking to your investment strategies. These 6 steps can help build an investment strategy based on what you can control.
Do I Need Life Insurance?
Who depends on you? Family, employees, charitable organizations? How would they be provided for if you died and your income stopped? Life insurance is a way to transfer this risk to an insurance company. Here’s a simple breakdown of the types and applications of life insurance.
Washington’s New 7% Capital Gain Tax Explained
Washington State’s 7% capital gain tax has been signed into law. Here’s what you need to know and what you can do to prepare!
3 Tips to Maximize Your HSA
Health Savings Accounts, or HSAs, can be a great way to pay for healthcare expenses and save taxes. And, with these 3 tips, you can significantly increase your HSA’s impact.
Worried about estate taxes in Washington?
Download our free guide with 5 Strategies to Reduce Your Estate Taxes in Washington State.