Equifax Credit Breach
If you are concerned about the Equifax credit breach, this site is extremely useful: https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0497-credit-freeze-faqs
Life Insurance: Term or Permanent?
We get questions from clients all the time asking about life insurance. What type should I get? How much coverage should I purchase? Where should I get a good policy? There are two types of life insurance: term and permanent life insurance. Permanent life insurance can be broken down into several other categories: whole, universal, variable or variable-universal. Permanent life insurance is just that, permanent, as long as you continue to…
Top 10 Tax Tips
As we navigate tax season, it is important to remind ourselves that tax strategies should not be employed once a year but rather year-round. Here are some tips to consider from our friends at Accountability Services: Top 10 Tax Tips 1. MAXIMIZE YOUR RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS There are many flavors of retirement accounts and there is one that best fits you and your family’s needs. You can fund an account for…
BMC’s Insight Stream: October’s Insight
Fall is upon us and we are quickly approaching the holiday season. During this time of year we always reflect on how quickly time passes as the New Year comes rushing toward us. Bear Mountain Capital Inc. invites you to reflect on the year as it pertains to your long-term goals. The first article in this newsletter can provide you with perspective when it comes to retirement planning. The second…
BMC’s Insight Stream: Financial Planning
As we enter Fall, we are planning ahead for the upcoming year and beyond. With the Holiday season right around the corner, it may be time to revisit your financial plan. Bear Mountain Capital encourages you to keep the future in mind as we approach the latter half of the year. There is still time to reach your New Years resolutions (made oh so long ago). We invite you to…
College: How Much and When??
My wife and I have a 5 year old. In fact, he just turned 5 this month. We also have a 3 year old (“3 and a half!”, he likes to say). We could not love them more. No matter how much time we spend together, soaking in these precious years, I can’t get past how fast they grow up. It amazes me how quickly they go from newborns to…
A new type of “bucket” list?
Clients have been listening to us discuss the record low interest rate environment and what it means for the future of their investments. Interest rate declining since the 70’s have fueled economic expansion, equity returns and bond returns alike. However, rates cannot decrease below zero, and if you have a savings account, you know we are near zero. This article highlights how clients who need to live off their investments…
Country of Domicile or Economic Exposure?
Traditional investment asset allocation exposure has been built upon the securities country of domicile. So, if you were looking to gain exposure to China, you would buy securities of companies domiciled in China. However, a more interesting approach is beginning to go more mainstream, where asset allocation is now built not upon domicile, but upon how much revenue a specific company generates from a certain region or country. This means…
Bear Mountain Capital is Growing
It is my pleasure to announce that Luke Collova has joined Bear Mountain Capital. Originally from Saint Paul, Minnesota, Luke moved to the Northwest in 1998. He is a graduate of the University of Puget Sound with a degree in Business Administration. He comes to Bear Mountain Capital after spending 7 years in the commercial insurance industry. In addition to managing insurance agency partner relationships across the Northwest, Luke was…
Dental Tourism?
A client of mine introduced me to a company run by one of his colleagues. Love the concept. If you need quality, low-cost dental work done and like to travel, you can use this site to find a dental practice with good reviews, and locations for some of the most desirable tourist destinations worldwide. Think TripAdvisor for medical needs. When costs here in the US continue to increase, its a…