Category: Wealth Strategy

Very few people become good at managing their finances without some guidance and education. It’s not something that comes naturally as we mature into adults; it’s a skill that requires building a knowledge base and cultivating understanding. Though more and more states are adding a personal finance requirement to their high school curricula, the number [...]

When I was young in the business, one of my favorite clients was a retired salesman named Arthur. Together, we built a long-term financial plan to determine how much growth his assets needed and how much risk made sense for his goals. From there, we designed his investment strategy. Arthur’s sales motto was simple: “Make [...]

Establishing a good habit is like running a program in the background; once it’s set, you can rely on it without having to think much about it. Consider those habits that save you the most time and energy: dropping your keys in the same place every day so you know exactly where they are, setting [...]

What’s in this article: Tax loss harvesting with direct indexing Tax-aware long-short strategies Pledged asset lines (PALs) and home equity lines of credit (HELOCs) Step-up in basis Donor-advised funds (DAF) Section 1202 and QSBS Relocation and Residency Real Estate Advanced Deferral and Reinvestment The sale of a business, real estate property, or other highly appreciated [...]

What’s in this article: A State in Transition Washington State Tax History Who is Leaving—and Why Where They’re Going: State-by-State Profiles Striking the Balance Guided Assessment Tool   A State in Transition For decades, Washington State was a haven for high earners. With no personal income tax, no capital gains tax, and a modest estate [...]

This assessment runs entirely in your browser — no data is stored, transmitted, or collected by Coldstream. Results are generated using hypothetical estimates for general illustrative purposes only and should not be relied upon for personalized tax or financial planning. [...]

What’s in this article: The Millionaire’s Tax – Now Law Pass-Through Entity (PTE) Considerations and SALT Planning Washington Estate Tax Changes (Effective 2026) Washington Luxury Taxes (Effective 2026) State and Local Employer Taxes (Evolving Area) Key Takeaways Our Approach Washington has taken a significant step in reshaping its tax system. Governor Ferguson recently signed the [...]

For many families, estate planning begins with a will and basic documents. As wealth grows, however, planning may need to become more strategic. The focus shifts from simply transferring assets to encompass a broader and longer-term view: protecting wealth, minimizing taxes, and structuring assets so they can support multiple generations and establish a family legacy. [...]

What’s in this article Washington Tax Changes: The “Millionaires’ Tax” Capital Gains Changes Estate Tax Changes Real Estate Taxes New Luxury Taxes Oregon Tax Changes SB 1507 QSBS Tax Changes Conclusion: A Structural Shift and Planning Moment As the Washington and Oregon State Legislative Sessions come to a close, both states are looking at significant [...]