As a senior citizen ages in her home, she begins to understand a problem that has been brewing for years or decades. The house that she bought many moons ago with her husband has slowly appreciated in value over the years. Maybe she bought it in the 1980s...

Deciding if a Roth conversion is the right thing to do is a challenging decision.

At best, a Roth conversion strategy is an annual puzzle to figure out, hoping for the long-term outcome of reducing lifetime taxes.

At worst, it is speculation and guesswork, effectively a hunch. Where is that...

The year 2022 was challenging with the U.S. stock market posting a -19% return and the U.S. bond market not far behind at -13%. However, enough time has passed to where it is beneficial to conduct an after-action review. This isn’t an examination of what the ideal investment...

Inflation is cooling but gas prices are spiking. Mortgage rates rose above 7% in August for the first time in 22 years, and they might not be done going up. Fears of an imminent recession have diminished, but not disappeared. The labor market remains tight. And for certain...

With students returning to college campuses, it is time to consider other ways for them to pay for tuition, books and living expenses. Too often, they resort to borrowing.

Student loan forgiveness today is highlighted as the solution when it is only part of the answer. There are other...

The Covid-19 pandemic ushered in a skepticism of medicine and science among certain segments of society. It appears that it also has introduced a wariness of the value of post-secondary education.

A reluctance to pursue post-secondary education is more pronounced in the greater Tri-Cities than throughout the state.

Benton-Franklin Trends...

I think we can all agree that the experiences we had growing up built us into the adults we became. To ensure a positive future for our community, we need to provide young people with positive experiences that encourage, empower and equip them to dream and grow to...

Did you know a vast majority of people list fear of public speaking as their No. 1 phobia? In fact, some people fear it more than death. How about you? What is your least favorite part about speaking in front of a crowd?

This is a vital skill to...

Commonly called “probate,” the laws that dictate the handling of a person’s assets after their death usually depend on which state they live in.

However, when it comes to real property, the laws regarding its administration are determined by the state in which the property is located.

This distinction can...

Going into 2023, many people felt a U.S. recession and market decline was inevitable. However, despite interest rate increases, a flash in the pan regional banking crisis and debt ceiling standoff, the inevitable market decline has failed to materialize.

What gives? Well, to understand the market in 2023 you need to...