One of the best things about being a wealth advisor is helping people understand what their money can do for them and the world. It is a difficult undertaking, as it requires prospection and careful evaluation of the risks and opportunities. The younger a person is, the harder the exercise. However,...
Anyone living in the Pacific Northwest is familiar with majestic Mt. Rainier, a snow-capped peak that beckons hikers from near and far. Having had the opportunity to climb Mt. Rainier, I have learned that many of the lessons and principles of climbing a big mountain can apply to my work...
No matter who you are, eventually, everything you have built, the sum of your life’s work, will fall into the care of other people. That should be plenty of incentive to leave behind very good instructions. We’ve written about the concept of legacy before, and the idea of creating clear and...
It is our nature to read into the passing of famous people, to look for lessons and parallels to our own lives, however small, because we feel like we know them on some level even if we don’t. If there is one universal sentiment we can all legitimately relate to, it’s...
Russell Wilson seemed to have it all: a spotless reputation, influence in his community, admiration and respect, strong faith in God, a storybook marriage, and a Super Bowl ring to boot.That’s why his announcement last week that he is filing for divorce was so shocking to me and so many...
Although most of us dream of being financially independent, the goal frequently remains elusive. The difficulty often lies in knowing what we will need or want in the future, and uncertainty around return forecasts only adds to the ambiguity. Good planning and investment management can help deal with challenges, but it’s...
For most of us, the part of life we least prepare for is the end of it. I was reminded of that last summer when a friend and colleague, Steve , died suddenly leaving loved ones to sort out his finances and business affairs. Death is perhaps the most inevitable part of life,...
As a business owner myself, there is no shortage of fears and worries that I either want to ignore or don’t know who I can talk about them with. It has morphed over the years, and I definitely feel more comfortable talking about deeper issues and concerns, but it has taken...
There is a lot written about time management, and specifically, how to align your limited time resources with the highest value purposes. Simply said, using your time wisely. In fact, I wrote a post not long ago about the fact that you can't buy back your time so don't waste it. Taking a...
Contrary to the common approach of taking Social Security early, I've found that after running hundreds of financial plans, it’s often best to wait. The primary reasons people start early is the assumption they can earn better returns than the government or believe they might as well take what they...