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In the Flow
In the FlowState of the Markets - 3Q 2025

In the Flow

When an athlete is performing at their highest level, it is often said that they are “in the zone” or “in the flow.” This state of complete focus and harmony—where…
When Financial Uncertainty Rears Its Ugly Head
When Financial Uncertainty Rears Its Ugly HeadFinancial Uncertainty

When Financial Uncertainty Rears Its Ugly Head

Key Takeaways: Most Americans experience an event that causes their income and/or net worth to drop significantly. After a financial shock, review your situation and plan with a trusted professional.…
Washington Capital Gains & Estate Tax Update: What High Net Worth Families Need to Know
Washington Capital Gains & Estate Tax Update: What High Net Worth Families Need to KnowCapital Gains & Estate Taxes

Washington Capital Gains & Estate Tax Update: What High Net Worth Families Need to Know

On May 20, Washington State Governor Bob Ferguson signed Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5813, reshaping parts of Washington's capital gains and estate tax regimes. The new tax law affects families…
Seven Ways To Make Better Decisions
Seven Ways To Make Better DecisionsDecision- Making Strategies

Seven Ways To Make Better Decisions

Every day—all day, it seems—we make decisions. Many are minor and made almost automatically. Some are far more important. And a select few may be crucial to the outcomes that…
Focusing on the Fundamentals
Focusing on the FundamentalsState of the Markets - 2Q 2025

Focusing on the Fundamentals

“The art of being wise is the art of knowing what to overlook.” – William James When I first started out as a credit analyst, one of my mentors counseled…
Update on Recent Market Volatility – 6/5/2025
Update on Recent Market Volatility – 6/5/2025Market Update

Update on Recent Market Volatility – 6/5/2025

Market data through the week ending May 30 2025 (unless noted otherwise) Equities – Stocks finished May decisively higher. The S&P 500 rallied 6.3 % for the month, erasing earlier…
Tariffs, Tensions, and Staying Grounded
Tariffs, Tensions, and Staying GroundedState of the Markets - 1Q 2025

Tariffs, Tensions, and Staying Grounded

The first quarter of 2025 has ended, and while I usually take a few days to review the quarter, gather my thoughts and gaze into my ever cloudy crystal ball,…
Are Big Estate Tax Changes Coming?
Are Big Estate Tax Changes Coming?Estate Taxes

Are Big Estate Tax Changes Coming?

Key Takeaways: Currently, some big estate tax provisions of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act are set to expire at the end of this year. Strategies to consider include…
Keeping Those New Year’s Resolutions
Keeping Those New Year’s ResolutionsSetting Goals

Keeping Those New Year’s Resolutions

Key Takeaways: Making New Year's resolutions, and then soon falling short on them, is a very human practice. (One that dates back millennia, in fact.) The human brain craves habit—and…
2024 Year End Markets Overview and Outlook
2024 Year End Markets Overview and OutlookState of the Markets - 4Q 2024

2024 Year End Markets Overview and Outlook

At the end of 2024, investors had good reason to pop the confetti. Last year was the second consecutive year with S&P 500 gains of over 20%, the first time…
State of the Economy as Seen Through the Bond Market
State of the Economy as Seen Through the Bond MarketState of the Markets - 3Q 2024

State of the Economy as Seen Through the Bond Market

My experience as a bond trader and fixed-income portfolio manager during the Asian currency crisis, the Worldcom and Enron bankruptcies, as well as the Great Recession has given me a…
Smart Ways To Work On Yourself—and Live Your Best Life
Smart Ways To Work On Yourself—and Live Your Best LifeHealth and Wellness

Smart Ways To Work On Yourself—and Live Your Best Life

Key Takeaways:  Bring your end goal back to the present day and envision yourself doing the necessary work in the moment to ensure your vision actually comes into being.  Set…
Foiling the Financial Fraudsters
Foiling the Financial FraudstersCyber SecurityInsights

Foiling the Financial Fraudsters

Key Takeaways Financial criminals have their sights set on the affluent. Their methods include email phishing, fraudulent investments, tax scams and beyond. Some of the best moves you can make…
Update on Recent Market Volatility – 9/27/2024
Update on Recent Market Volatility – 9/27/2024InsightsMarkets

Update on Recent Market Volatility – 9/27/2024

Equity markets have been falling over the last week as disappointing earnings from technology companies and concerns regarding slowing job growth have caused investors to sell many of the securities…
Are You Doing All You Can to Avoid—Not Evade—Taxes?
Are You Doing All You Can to Avoid—Not Evade—Taxes?Tax Planning

Are You Doing All You Can to Avoid—Not Evade—Taxes?

Key Takeaways: • Qualified retirement plans are a smart tax-mitigation strategy for many entrepreneurs. • Advanced solutions like captive insurance companies and freezing the value of a business are often…
Live Longer, Live Better: How Leading-Edge Longevity Technology May Be Able to Help
Live Longer, Live Better: How Leading-Edge Longevity Technology May Be Able to HelpHealth and Wellness

Live Longer, Live Better: How Leading-Edge Longevity Technology May Be Able to Help

Key Takeaways: Longevity has become a hot-button issue, particularly as so many of us enter our 60s, 70s and beyond. Improvements in technology can potentially help us adopt and stick…
When It’s Time To Update Your Estate Plan
When It’s Time To Update Your Estate PlanEstate Planning

When It’s Time To Update Your Estate Plan

Key Takeaways: Don’t “set and forget” your estate plan—revisit it regularly and revise it if necessary. Be sure you’re getting advice from someone with superior technical expertise. Revise an estate…