A financial plan is meant to be a roadmap to financial success. You wouldn’t look at a map once and be on your way without continuing to check the map and ensure you’re going in the right direction.

As we finalize the log on the first six months of 2023, we believe there’s value in reflecting on recent months gone by. Doing so can help crystallize key learnings and help chart a course through the rest of the year. Looking back on the first half of 2023, it’s probably fair to say the outcome has been a bit better-than-expected for the stock and bond markets, especially compared to 2022’s tumult.

Retirement is a time when you seek financial security and peace of mind after years of hard work. However, one significant risk that retirees face is the sequence of returns, also known as sequence of return risk. This risk refers to the timing of investment returns during the early years of retirement and its impact on the sustainability of a retirement portfolio. In this blog, we'll delve into the concept of sequence of return risk, its potential implications, and strategies to mitigate its impact.

Retirement is a significant milestone in life that many of us eagerly anticipate. It's a time to relax, enjoy the fruits of our labor, and pursue our passions. However, to ensure a comfortable and fulfilling retirement, it's essential that we plan ahead to give ourselves the best possible chance of avoiding pitfalls that can quickly derail our retirement and leave us struggling financially in our golden years. Whether it's failing to save enough money, making poor investment choices, or underestimating healthcare costs, there are a number of common mistakes that retirees need to be aware of. In this blog, we'll explore some of the most common retirement mistakes and offer tips on how to avoid them. Whether you're just starting to plan for retirement or already enjoying your golden years, this blog will provide valuable insights to help you make the most of your retirement.

Happy Father’s Day to my dad (pictured above in all his glory) and to all of the amazing fathers and father figures in our valued client community. Today, we celebrate the love, guidance, and unwavering support that fathers bring to our lives.

Choosing the perfect place to retire involves careful consideration of various factors, with financial considerations often playing a crucial role. Retirees seek destinations that offer a favorable tax environment, affordable cost of living, access to quality healthcare, and other financial benefits. These five states are widely regarded as some of the best states to retire in from a financial perspective.

Every so often Washington likes to remind us how hard it can be to get things accomplished. The most recent example is the debt ceiling—the amount Congress can borrow to pay its bills. It seems like we have this debate every few years and in the end a deal is made, which is just what happened this time. Considering equity markets never really reacted to the drama, perhaps this is a good reminder that focusing on long-term objectives is the best strategy, even amid a fair amount of market noise.

Retirement planning is a crucial aspect of financial management, and for business owners, it requires careful consideration of many different factors. Business owners have the unique advantage of utilizing specialized retirement accounts that can significantly boost their retirement savings while providing valuable tax advantages. In this blog post, we will delve into the different retirement accounts available to business owners, highlighting their features, benefits, and eligibility requirements. By understanding these options, business owners can make informed decisions to secure a prosperous retirement.

Retirement is a significant milestone in life that brings both excitement and uncertainty. To ensure a smooth transition into this new chapter, careful planning is essential. In this blog post, we will explore the key considerations when planning for retirement, guiding you through the essential questions you should be asking yourself.

Running a successful business requires more than just a great product or service. It demands strategic financial planning, discipline, and the ability to make informed decisions that align with your goals. The biggest reason businesses fail is due to poor cash flow management, meaning, the financial habits within your business play a massive role in your business’s success.

Keeping top-performing employees is not just a matter of organizational stability and smooth operations, but it also has significant financial benefits. Losing key employees can be costly, both in terms of time and resources required to replace them, as well as in the loss of institutional knowledge and expertise that they bring to the organization. Here are some ways that retaining key employees can benefit an organization monetarily:

Watch a replay of our workshop on Oregon PERS Retirement Planning where we answer your most commonly asked questions including:

• What are the most important things I need to know about my Tier?

• Do I need to do anything with my IAP?

• What is the EPSA?

• How do I accurately estimate my Retirement Benefit?

• What options and decisions will I have to make at retirement?

• What about double-dipping, purchases, health insurance, etc?

As an entrepreneur, you're likely always looking for ways to reduce your tax burden and increase your profits. While many business owners are aware of common tax deductions like salaries and rent, there are many hidden write-offs that entrepreneurs may be overlooking. By taking advantage of these deductions, you can keep more of your hard-earned money and accelerate the growth of your business.

Starting a business is an exciting endeavor that requires careful planning and strategic decision-making. One crucial step in this process is classifying your business, as it helps define its legal structure, tax obligations, and overall operations. Understanding the various classification options available and selecting the most suitable one is vital to ensuring your business's long-term success. In this blog post, we will explore the key factors to consider when classifying your business and provide insights to help you make an informed choice.

Retirement planning can be a daunting task, especially if you're not sure where to start. But if you're a teacher or work for a qualifying nonprofit organization, public school, or government agency, you may have access to a valuable retirement savings option: a 403(b) plan.

We want to take a moment to celebrate and honor all the incredible mothers out there. Today is a day to recognize the unconditional love, unwavering strength, and invaluable guidance that mothers provide every day.

Spring is often thought of as an uplifting time, marked by growth and renewed hope as we emerge from the long months of winter and look ahead to the rest of year. Investors saw signs of such renewed hope in recent weeks, especially on the inflation front as several inflation measures showed signs of improvement. We also saw markets stabilize after the surprisingly fast collapse of Silicon Valley Bank. But although it initially appeared that a stable spring would set the markets up for a calm, quiet summer, a flurry of recent activity is testing investor sentiment.

Financial planning is important for everyone, regardless of your profession. However, when it comes to teachers, the need for financial planning becomes even more crucial. Unfortunately, teachers are not paid enough so they can’t rely on their income potential to make up for years of bad financial habits. It is essential for teachers to develop good financial skills early on so that they can build wealth and live a life they love.

When it comes to retirement planning, two popular options are Traditional and Roth IRAs. While they share many similarities, there are some key differences that can impact your retirement savings strategy. In this blog, we'll explore the differences between Traditional and Roth IRAs so you can make an informed decision about which is right for you.