49... Percentage of Americans who think the government have not gone far enough in regulating financial institutions following the 2008 financial crisis.*

43... Percentage of Americans who say financial regulations have gone too far.*

*Pew Research Center

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COMMUNITY CORNER

My name is Judy Bell. I am now retired, and live in Centralia. I became involved in my small community because it has given me so much and I wanted to give back. One of my passions is the environment. After work, I would walk the 72 acre Seminary Hill Natural Area to de-stress, absorb its beauty, and enliven my spirit. A visitor enters through large overhanging branches, which feels like your entering a cathedral. 2.5 miles of trails wind through maples, pines, other trees and shrubs that guide and shelter the hiker.
When I retired, I wanted to follow in the footsteps of the marvelous Friends of Seminary Hill Natural Area members (SHNA), who built the trails and have maintained the area for years. I am involved in 2 projects; removing English ivy, which had overtaken the Natural Area, and widening and maintaining the trails. To achieve this we have had volunteer days, and I trained to be a supervisor and work with the Trustees at the Lewis County Jail. In 2014, we received an Urban Forestry Restoration grant through DNR for Americorp workers to remove ivy. The grant was awarded again in 2015. We have removed 5 acres of ivy. Eagle scouts and a church group have widened the trails. We have won 2 awards; Russ Mahoney Recreation Resource Stewardship Award and Urban Forestry Stewardship Award, through the Washington Community Forestry Council. Through these improvements, the community can walk their dogs, exercise, enjoy nature, and find serenity.
I am also the Activities Chair. SHNA has community educational walks and talks 1 to 2 times a month from April to September. We ask professionals to give presentations and lead walks and talks on many topics such as flowers, photography, trees, poetry, and children's activities. It's a way to bring the community into their park and to learn about the environment.
Another passion is Lewis County's annual "Expanding Your Horizons" conference for middle-school girls. The American Association of University Women partners with Centralia College. It introduces girls to a variety of professional careers in STEM careers through hands-on, fun workshops to expand their options. This is a critical program to offer in Lewis County, where options are so limited. It gives girls a glimpse of a different future instead of one with limited choices. I have been the chair for 2 years. This next year my challenge will be to get funding.
We always love volunteers for both projects, new members for SHNA, financial assistance, or information on grants. Contact me at www.judybell@compprime.com.

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Q1 2015

Winter time is a season I welcome, mainly for the opportunities to regroup from the hectic holiday and complete end of the year projects. I also welcome winter for the longer work days and the increment weather encouragement to complete indoor or reflective tasks. During the winter months, professionally I work on organizational projects, long term goals such as my book, and planning out my continuing education and conferences for the year. At home, I'm once again trying to get a grip on all the pictures I've taken throughout the year(s); organizing, sorting and editing, with dreams of setting up digital albums. I'm also working on testing new recipes and sorting out the cookbooks, along with fussing over my reference material, personal and professional. Life seems to be an ongoing cycle of creating, organizing and being behind in all we want to do.

Though the tasks never seem to end, the effort in this season keeps me better focused and prepared for the short days and the tempting weather of spring and summer. The pace seems to be slower, and I seem to be able to control time (yes I know that is an illusion) in the colder months. Working Saturdays at the office or in my home office is emotional acceptable in February, a hardship in July. For each season there is a purpose. How do you position winter in your life?

Enjoy the season for its unique attributes; complete or start a project you've been wanting to tackle. Winter is a good time to visit cities, museums, and centers such as the South Sound Estuary Association in Olympia. Take a class on birds, learn about rocks, or learn digital photography at South Sound Community College. TCTV has courses on sound, video and editing at a very reasonable cost. Take the kids in your life for an afternoon adventure at the Wet Center, the Hands on Children Museum, or a hike at Nisqually between rain drops. Read a book in the comfort of your home, or read to a child (contact the United Way/Reading Buddies program). I also suggest you reach out to me, and set up an appointment to review the tracking of your goals and to address revised or new objectives. Stay warm, as dry as you can, and enjoy the season. Life is Good.

Travel Adventures

Put and Take

I'm a great promoter of the "Put and Take" cash reserve. I promote having a cash reserve that is easily and locally available for anticipated expenses. Items that can be anticipated are such things as home or auto repairs that are often treated like an emergency or crisis expense in many households. Funding and maintaining a "Put and Take" cash reserve allows you to handle these expenses in a calm and proactive manner. A prudent person can expect that if they own a home, a car, a boat, or other items which by their very nature involve repair, it is certain that there are going to be expenses. The uncertainty of the timing does exist, not the uncertainty of the occurrence.

An auto or home repair is an activity that is just waiting to happen. Maintenance is another matter and should be a part of your overall annual budget. You can see in advance the need to paint your house, rotate your tires, and mulch the flower beds. A blown tire, failing fuel pump, washing machine malfunctioning, and the garage door being stuck tends to happen more randomly. How one will cover these expenses is important. Will it be reactive or proactive?

Reactive is by over extending credit card debt, cancelling planned activities, or cashing out savings or investments earmarked for other goals. Is this the way your household reacts to the refrigerator malfunctioning or the timing belt breaking? Reflecting upon your accumulation of credit card debt, was it the result of small decisions here and there to cover the costs of expenses you could have foreseen? In using credit rather than cash, were you eased into spending more or not fully realizing the true cost after interest of the item brought? You felt you had to get the item repaired, as it is an integral part of your household. Without a drivable car, how can you get to work and earn a living? Since you both work, going to the laudarmat was not a reasonable option, so you needed to purchase a washer and dryer. What choice did you have? You do have some choices. Ask yourself what you would do if the credit card was not available? Don't let the ease of accessing a credit card cloud your judgment. Review your options, such as getting the minimum repair work done, buy used or damaged, do without for a period of time, etc.

The best option takes time and focus. Be proactive and have a "Put and Take" cash reserve in place. Set the funds aside in advance. I suggest at least � of your monthly expenses tucked away in an easily accessible account. Then as these events happen, and they will, you can use the reserve to cover the costs. Then, and this is very important, replenish the account. You must pay the account back so that the funds will be available for the next anticipated expense. For the most part, the expenses we are covering are recurring and will present themselves again. It is just a matter of time. It takes discipline to build up a reserve and to maintain it.

Having this reserve and continuing this pattern of behavior can go a long way in keeping you calm and being financially stable. Using cash instead of credit will help you control expenses and be more thoughtful of your expenditures, as what you spend will need to be replenished in order to keep the reserve valid and beneficial to the household. This direct correlation between what you spend and the need to replenish it out of current income can result in more consideration given to expenses. As you use the reserve for its purpose, the control and comfort that it gives your household will increase. Avoid being in self- inflicted crisis mode whenever possible. Be proactive, not reactive.

Travel Adventures

DISCOVERY BAY

This is the season for mini city trips in our household. Spring may be a few city trips, and in summer we prefer the woods over the city. I'm looking forward to a two night, two-and-a-half day excursion to Portland. I so enjoy wandering around the Pearl District, dinner at Jake's Famous Crayfish, and of course Powell's book store. Powell's is the size of one city block, is two stores and so large that they give you a map when you walk in. Trust me, you need that map. This time we are going to Keens, with our fingers crossed. Last September when we stopped by on our way home from Bend, they did not have our sandals in black; unacceptable. The staff promised that they were reintroducing our style of sandals, "HO2 in black", the 1st qtr of 2015. We are depending on that, and will be buying two pairs just to be safe. Portland is not only a short drive from home, but is accessible via the train. I've had good success in getting great rates at 3 star hotels via Priceline, "name your price option". Even if you only take a day trip, Portland is a fun place to adventure.

Winter is not winter without snow, and as most of us know who live in the Olympia area we cannot depend on getting snow, specifically snow that we can truly stomp around in. I like heading over to Leavenworth, even Ellensburg, for some winter sun. My favorite place is Lake Chelan; they get snow, and the folks there know how to clear the roads and how to drive in snow. Seeing the snow on the mountains and the lake banks is breathtaking. When you're cold you can stop in a winery or Campbells and get a glass of good cheer. The Vogue on Friday nights has music, coffee, wine and beer available. I foresee a trip to Chelan in my future.

For the last few years we have been members of the Pacific Science Center, and this winter they are going to be having an exhibit on Pompeii. I'm looking forward to a day trip to view that exhibit and to see what is being offered at the Frye Museum. I'm hoping to be able to take some of my young friends to the Science Center and the Washington History Museum over the winter months; it's a good time to expose them to the new and the old when it is raining and cold outside.

This is the season to be indoors, and on January 30th the Washington Center for Performing Arts is hosting National Geographic Live. One of their photographers will be introducing his work, and sharing his passion. Harlequin Productions at the State Theater will be staging 39 Steps; I am not a big fan of psychological thrillers, but I'm curious to see Harlequin's take on this play. Once the shock of the crazy holiday season wears off, I'll look forward to having small get-togethers with friends, dinner parties and meetings at local wine bars like Marchettis, or local brew pubs. A new addition to the area is 3 Magnets Brewery. So far I've only been to 3 Magnets once, and I enjoyed the Smoked English Porter. I've got to go again and try the food. These are the same folks that own Darby's downtown. Just this December we discovered Darby's is not just for breakfast; their burgers, especially their black bean burger, is awesome! Enjoy winter 2015, it is only coming by once. Go play!

Nancy J. LaPointe

MBA, CFP�, ChFC�, CLU�, CASL�

Financial Planner, Wealth Manager,

Investment Adviser Representative
NAVIGATE FINANCIAL

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COMPLIMENTARY SEMINAR

MAXIMIZING
YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS EDUCATIONAL SEMINAR

WEDNESDAY,

FEBRUARY 4, 2015

RAMADA INN

4520 MARTIN WAY E

OLYMPIA

6-8 PM

Please join us for a presentation utilizing a holistic approach to strategizing social security income with your other retirement assets and income.

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Mid-West Mom's Helpful Hints

My Mid-West Mom's Helpful Hints:

WD-40 is Amazing!

Loosen Zippers... Stubborn zippers on jackets, pants, backpacks and sleeping bags will become compliant again after you spray them with WD-40. Just spray it on and pull the zipper up and down a few times to distribute the lubricant evenly over all the teeth. If you want to avoid getting the WD-40 on the fabric, spray it on a plastic lid; then pick it up and apply it with a paint brush.

Relieve arthritis symptoms... For occasional joint pain or arthritis symptoms in the knees or other areas of the body, advocates swear by spraying WD-40 on the affected area and massaging it in, saying it provides temporary relief and makes movement easier. For severe, persistent pain, consult a health care professional.

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Access account information with a couple of clicks
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Get links to external financial calculators and other value added financial sites
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Please visit the site often as we frequently update the content and continue to improve your experience; www.navigatefinancialnw.com.

Additionally, you may access our public Facebook page directly from our website in the event you don't have a personal Facebook page.

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Referrals are always appreciated!

If there is someone in your circle whose name you'd consider sharing, please know that:

We would contact them only with your permission and in whatever way you would feel most comfortable
Your financial situation is held in the strictest privacy in my office, and we would provide the same level of confidentiality to anyone you refer here
Anyone you refer to us will receive the same level of service and customized attention to their specific financial goals that you enjoy

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COMPLIMENTARY SEMINAR

INVESTMENTS 101

EDUCATIONAL SEMINAR

WEDNESDAY

APRIL 22, 2015

HELD AT

JESSICA JENSEN LAW OFFICES

2604 12TH CT SW

SUITE B

OLYMPIA

You and your friends are invited to attend an exciting seminar opportunity. Nancy J. LaPointe will be speaking on the ins and outs of investing, specifically geared towards novices. You will walk away with valuable information and a stronger understanding and appreciation for the financial world and how you can make it work for you.

RSVP HERE

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