Staying Calm and Confident Amidst Market Volatility

Originally published in North Bay Business Journal The last 12 months have proved a testing time for many investors. Although the S&P 500 Index at the end of April was roughly where it was a year ago, share prices have been on a roller-coaster ride in the intervening period. The index recorded drops of 11.8% […]

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The Do’s and Don’ts of Handling Market Volatility

Originally published in North Bay Business Journal My Willow Creek colleagues and I recently received some client feedback that every Wealth Advisor dreams of hearing: our client shared that rather than panic during this period of market volatility, she leaned into what she had learned from her advisor over the years, which is to imagine […]

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Done Buying Diapers? Don’t Forget About College

Originally published in North Bay Business Journal As college tuition soars, saving early for education is one of the best decisions parents and grandparents can make. If your children or grandchildren plan to attend college, a 529 savings plan is a great way to save. The earlier you begin, the longer you can save, and […]

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Fire Loss Victims: Have You Been Paid What You are Owed?

  Originally published in North Bay Business Journal Like so many of us in the North Bay and across California, I lost my home to wildfire. We are incredibly grateful that we lost only material things, and we were able to escape unharmed But the experience of losing our home to fire, and the resulting […]

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Is Your Homeowner’s Policy Adequate Today?

What is the biggest financial risk you face? People often think of their investment portfolio or 401(k), but your biggest asset may be the equity you have in your home. The catastrophic fires and devastating losses the past few years have refocused homeowners on insurance. Through my personal experience of losing my home in the […]

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Estate Planning for Your Digital Life

With so much of our financial and personal information now online, estate plans must address the fact that our digital selves will outlast our human selves. Loved ones left with the unpleasant task of navigating and penetrating the digital maze can inherit a complicated puzzle. Your online banking account, email accounts, Facebook page, and even […]

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Continuity Planning for the Coronavirus Era

A crisis doesn’t always have negative connotations. It comes from the Greek word krisis, which means “decisive moment.” We are all painfully aware of the dark sides of the COVID-19 pandemic, but there have been positives for many of us too. The disruptive nature of the experience has caused us to reflect and reevaluate what […]

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3 Ways Health Savings Accounts Help You Plan for Retirement

Many people don’t realize that a health savings account, or HSA, can be a powerful retirement savings vehicle. The reason is, from a tax perspective, the HSA is unique and offers a triple tax benefit: The money you contribute reduces your taxable income. Money within an HSA grows tax-deferred. Withdrawals are tax-free as long as […]

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