When my wife, Leah, and I found out two years ago that we were expecting our first child, I was ecstatic. I could already imagine the joys ahead: holding my tiny newborn for the first time, pushing my laughing toddler in a swing and proudly letting go of the bike...
Kathie and Darell “Bud” Weathermon will celebrate their 56th wedding anniversary later this month but they won’t be able to hug, hold hands or share a kiss.Kathie, 75, plans to make the one hour and 15 minute drive from Walla Walla to Kennewick to visit her husband on their special...
As the pandemic marches on, a Richland-based group is trying different ways to keep seniors connected and get them the help they need.The Richland Senior Association offers educational, outreach and social programs, with its most recent program aimed at helping seniors navigate the decidedly unfriendly online system for registering for...
Most retirees, or those nearing retirement, can count on one hand the number of times they’ve heard a financial advisor say, “Don’t forget to spend your money.” While it makes for a great column hook, it’s not quite what I’m advocating.Our profession is rightly focused on ensuring clients don’t outlive...
The Tri-Cities have long been a youngster among state metro areas.With an estimated median age of 34.5 in 2019, the two counties sport the youngest population of all, except for Yakima County. Among counties, Franklin County currently claims the title of youngest, with an estimated median age in 2019 at...
One of the biggest areas that is often overlooked in an estate plan are the seemingly innocuous beneficiary designations tied to assets, like retirement accounts and life insurance.The beneficiary designation seems of limited importance – you just put down the names of the people who get the retirement account at...
The Washington State Department of Commerce announced Feb. 12 that it has launched the new Retirement Marketplace, a one-stop website that helps owners of small businesses and individuals comparison shop for retirement savings plans.All plans on the marketplace are from private financial firms that have been verified by the state...
Age discriminationagainst people age 50 and older robbed the economy of $850 billion in 2018,according to a new AARP report.Research shows thatthe 50-plus population contributed 40 percent of the U.S. Gross DomesticProduct, or GDP, in 2018, creating 88.6 million jobs and generating $5.7trillion in wages and salaries through jobs held...
By Beau RuffSometimes theconcept of financial planning is considered distinct from the more laboriousand esoteric task of estate planning.The financial planis the “low hanging fruit” that is first to be addressed. However, in manyimportant respects, the two should be considered contemporaneously to establisha more robust, holistic plan.A brief review ofeach...
By Ben MessingerFor many of us, retirement funding is acentral fixture of our financial plan and one of the most importantconsiderations is determining the income necessary to sustain a desiredlifestyle. Knowing the true income need for yourlifestyle is the foundation of determining what capital resources must beacquired, which is then...
