Stop Making Last Minute Tax Decisions

I do not prepare tax returns, but as a financial planner, I understand taxes and can help my clients with their tax strategy. And it’s that time of year when many of you are about to freak out about your tax return. Now is when all of those TV ads pop up, warning you that…

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Should You Use the Mega Backdoor Roth?

When it comes to contributing to retirement, you might have various options available to you. One of those options could be a Roth IRA. These accounts have unique benefits that separate them from a more “traditional” retirement plan. One of the biggest differences is that Roth IRAs are funded with after-tax dollars.  What does that…

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How Can I Start Investing?

Did you know that the question “How can I start investing?” is one of the most commonly Googled search terms?   It’s one of those questions that can be soooo simple – but also feel overwhelming and complicated. I often tell our clients, it helps to have a “filter” for this sort of thing (like a…

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To Build Wealth, Start At The Start…

Often I write things for my blog that maybe our actual client base doesn’t need to prioritize as much here in the economically vibrant, high-tech, dual-income world of Seattle. However, I believe that we can ALL be better with our spending and debt management. And since I know there are still TONS of people who…

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Are You Spending Your Feelings?

You might have heard the term “eating your feelings,” especially during COVID when we were stuck at home and there wasn’t much else for us to do. I would posit that there are some people who instead SPEND their feelings. When you’re stressed, do you tend to shop? No judgment – this is totally normal.…

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What to Do If An Elderly Parent Has Little Money

This week’s blog post is from one of our clients who experienced first-hand what all adult children face: dealing with all the issues around aging parents.  Knowing your elderly parents’ financial situation is essential. If your parent(s) could run out of assets, you may need three to four years’ lead time to secure their senior…

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Are You Ready to Help Your Aging Parents?

This week’s blog post is from one of our clients who experienced first-hand what all adult children face: dealing with all the issues around aging parents.  Like many middle-aged people, I’ve gradually taken on more of life’s tasks for an aging parent  Years ago, my mom needed my help unpacking boxes after moving to a…

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How Can a Couple “Win” At Money?

February always equals “relationships” in my head… even though Valentine’s Day is a manufactured holiday, I can’t help but take stock of what I like or don’t like about how things are going in my relationships. And when you add money issues into the mix, things can get spicy, because no two people EVER do…

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