By Josh KandleSometimes when I talk about search engine optimization, or SEO, with people, I can actually see their eyes glaze over. This is especially true when the topic of citations comes up.The question I get most is: what exactly is a citation? Josh Kandle,Cougar Digital Marketing & DesignHint: It’s...

By T. Michael TallmanI can still remember the days of working with my dad and grandpa on the farm. Each fall while they were driving a harvester, I drove a truck to get our crops to market. It always seemed like we spent more time on repairs and maintenance of...

By D. Patrick JonesThe Tri-Cities prides itself on being a bit different from the rest of Eastern Washington. So is its manufacturing sector. Unlike most metro areas this side of the state, manufacturing here doesn’t loom among the top five sectors by employment. As Benton Franklin Trends indicator 3.3.4 shows,...

By David ForsythMaking a wine is an active process. A winery is a functional factory, like any other production facility. The factors are the raw materials, in this case grapes, and the available technology to blend them.The process begins with growing the grapes, then harvesting the grapes and crushing or...

By Marilou SheaI’m still in mourning over the wrenching tale of what happened to our Washington asparagus industry.In the late 1980s, asparagus was a thriving industry in the fresh and processed markets with 32,000 acres of the green spears shooting up from the fertile soils in Franklin, Walla Walla and...

By Cathy MacCaulA new retirement savings initiative has launched in Washington. The Retirement Marketplace officially opened the nation’s first online savings portal in March, where businesses and individuals can comparison shop for low-cost, state-verified retirement savings plans. The Retirement Marketplace was created to help about 2 million Washingtonians who do not...

By Stephen PalmRetirement planning is the process to prepare for the phase of life after employment income ends. There are several lifestyle items to consider. However, the primary issue is will there be sufficient assets and income to provide the desired income and lifestyle for the remainder of the retiree’s...

By Scott SarberMany people come into our office to prepare for retirement. We talk about when they are anticipating retirement and what their goals are. We review assets, liabilities and current cash flow.Through our financial planning process, we estimate future net worth and future cash flow. We let them know...

By David ForsythWashington state wines are now recognized as a legitimate player in the world wine market. While small in stature relative to the California industry, Washington wines are appreciated for their quality, value and their potential to becoming a bigger player in U.S. wine production. As the wine sales...

By Jennifer L. DreyWhen Sierra and Darin Chase Foster decided it was time to buy their first home, they naturally gravitated toward watching “House Hunters,” a popular television show on HGTV that takes viewers behind the scenes with homebuyers as they choose between three potential properties.As newlyweds with two dogs,...