Category: Financial Planning

Navigating divorce, while challenging, can open the door to a more aligned lifestyle, opportunities for unexpected growth, and newfound freedoms for all parties. But that doesn’t make it easy, particularly when you are in the middle of something that can be a giant disruption to your life and family. Coldstream Wealth Managers Larissa Vidal and [...]

What’s in this article? What Does a Trustee Actually Do? During Incapacity: A Financial First Responder After Death: Administration, Distribution, or Ongoing Management The Characteristics of a Strong Trustee Naming an Individual vs. a Corporate Trustee A Decision That Should Evolve   As a Certified Financial Planner™, I often tell clients that naming a trustee [...]

You may be used to visiting the Social Security website at ssa.gov/myaccount to log in and access information about your Social Security benefits. Now, in 2026, if you visit the Social Security website, you will be prompted to select one of two new secure methods for logging into your Social Security account. The new login [...]

What’s in this article? What is an executor? Executor core responsibilities The process of settling an estate Timeline expectations Fiduciary duty Finding support   Being named the executor of an estate is both practical and personal. On paper, it’s a legal role. In reality, it’s a position of trust. You’re the person someone chose to [...]

What’s in this article: New eligible expenses in 529 plans OBBBA introduction of 530A accounts (or “Trump Accounts”) for children Changes to gift tax exclusion and estate tax exemption New deduction and catch-up contributions for seniors State and Local Tax (SALT) deduction changes New exemptions from income tax   You may be surprised to learn that Benjamin [...]

What’s in this article? The Importance of Finding a Good Fit What does a relationship with you look like? What’s your investment philosophy? How are you compensated? What are your qualifications? What sort of digital access do you provide clients? Finding the Right Advisor for You People choose to work with financial advisors for a [...]

What’s in this article? State tax considerations for Oregon and Washington residents Taking advantage of the annual and lifetime gift tax exclusion Making direct payments for education and healthcare Gifting to 529 Plans Using custodial accounts and trust structures as a tool for gifting to grandkids   Many of the grandparents that I work with [...]

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) was passed by Congress and signed into law on July 4th, 2025. This new tax law is set to reshape charitable giving rules beginning in 2026. While many of the changes appear subtle, their impact could be significant—especially for families who regularly donate to charity. With just weeks [...]

In this article (read below or download here): Getting started with a multi-generational philanthropy tradition How donor-advised funds (DAF) offer both flexibility and tax advantages Building a legacy with a family foundation How Charitable Lead Trusts (CLTs) can play a role in family giving The most significant thing we can pass on to the next [...]