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Category: Insurance

January 28, 2025

Retiring Early? Don’t Forget Health Insurance

If you’re planning to retire early, remember to include the cost of health insurance in your financial plan. Medicare eligibility begins at age 65, but until that time you’ll need to enroll in a private insurance plan.  Be sure to check your eligibility with COBRA from your prior employer as well.  COBRA premiums can be [...]

Eric Schuehle
Contributions from: Eric Schuehle, Rich Merrifield, CFP®, AIF®

December 4, 2024

Prepare for the Unexpected, and the Unexpected Won’t Catch You Unprepared: Protecting your home and property

It’s no fun to think about the potential disasters that can befall your family, but there is something to be said for the peace of mind you can achieve by knowing that you are well protected. At Coldstream Risk Management, we want to make sure you are aware of dangers so that you can insulate [...]

Contributions from: Peter Beeson, CAPI

November 15, 2024

Getting the Most from Your Google Benefits

Google provides an extensive range of benefits that can enhance your wealth, manage risk, and secure your future. By integrating Google’s compensation, retirement, and health benefits into your financial plan, you can better align these offerings with your long-term goals. Equity Awards Google’s stock units (GSUs) can be a powerful tool for achieving financial objectives. [...]

Katie Mietus
Contributions from: Katie Berntson, CFP®

October 29, 2024

Long Term Care Planning

Whether you are part of the “sandwich generation” ― caring for both your kids and your parents ― or you are aging yourself, eventually some form of long-term care may be necessary in your family. Morningstar reports that 70 percent of those who turn 65 will need long-term care at some point in their lives, [...]

Vonie Bright
Contributions from: Vonie Bright, CFP®

October 21, 2024

Getting the Most from Your Amazon Benefits

Amazon provides generous company benefits that can help you build wealth, manage risk, and secure your future. It’s important to consider how to best integrate the additional compensation, retirement, and health benefits into your financial plan. Equity Awards Your grants of Amazon restricted stock units (RSUs) can help increase your cash flow or meet long-term [...]

Katie Mietus
Contributions from: Katie Berntson, CFP®

October 18, 2023

Caution: Under and Uninsured Motorist Ahead!

In my last article, “You Can Stand Under My Umbrella,” on the importance of an umbrella policy, we referenced a few exceptional stories highlighting when chaos happens – and how the appropriate insurance coverage can ‘save the day’ and protect assets during such times.  We have all seen the ads showing when “life happens” and [...]

Contributions from: Peter Beeson, CAPI
How to Avoid Medicare Premium Surcharges

October 11, 2023

Beware of IRMAA: How to Avoid Medicare Premium Surcharges

Halloween overlaps with Medicare open enrollment, which in 2023 is happening between October 15th and December 7th. In the spirit of this festive season filled with ghosts, goblins, and ghouls, we want to warn you of another unwelcomed visitor that may spook you: IRMAA surcharges on your Medicare premiums (queue eerie music)! Read on to [...]

Contributions from: Katie Quick, CFP®

September 20, 2023

You Can Stand Under My Umbrella

In a world where unforeseen circumstances can swiftly turn the tides of fortune, safeguarding one’s wealth becomes paramount.  For wealthy individuals, protecting their hard-earned assets requires more than the average homeowner’s insurance.  Enter the realm of large umbrella insurance policies, a vital component to protect against the unforeseen and unpredictable. The internet is full of [...]

October 7, 2022

Understanding Your Benefits at Virginia Mason

Virginia Mason offers their employees a robust suite of retirement benefits. When utilized correctly, these benefits can be valuable assets to your financial plan. Throughout this article, we’ve highlighted the pros and cons of the most prominent benefits. Virginia Mason Retirement Plans 403(b) Plan With this plan you can defer anywhere from 1% to 80% [...]

David Bigelow
Contributions from: David Bigelow, CFP®, MBA

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