Finance sounds to many folks like a highfaluting word that has nothing to do with them.  

However, finance  is relevant to everything from how you budget for your groceries or your insurance premiums to how you plan for your retirement.

We believe it is wise and prudent to take a few minutes to review your financial situation on an annual basis and make sure you are on the appropriate path.  

We can help.  For over 20 years I have helped folks just like yourself review your goals.  This can range from helping you figure out ways to accomplish your "bucket list" items to solidifying an important new income stream, or even reviewing your portfolio and re-balancing it to meet your current needs.

We find that after the market has come off such a strong and successful 12 months, folks might need to review their portfolio to ensure it still meets their risk tolerance. As we have seen in the past few days, what goes up must come down at some point.

This might be an appropriate time to take some of the risk off the table. and For those folks who have been sitting on cash, this might be the time to consider dipping your toes back into the market.

Whatever your situation, you are welcome to come and take a few minutes of my time to discuss any items of concern. Consultations and advice are free and as you know, the coffee is always on.

Heeeeeellllllloooooo 2014 and goodbye 2013!  Nothing like going out with a bang.  For those of you who were a part of our double open enrollment (Medicare Part D & The Affordable Care Act/Obamacare), thank you for all of your patience!  We helped hundreds of people and worked at a pace that we have not seen since the first open enrollment for Medicare Part D ten years ago.  

As we expected, this year we saw the "low-balling" of the market with Humana bringing a $12.60 monthly premium.  The catch to this program was that  if you bought your medications at Walmart and they were preferred generics, then the deductible was waived.  Needless to say we wrote a lot of Humana for 2014! 

Also new for 2014 was the WellCare program for a $21.90 monthly premium that had no drug deductible.  Both of these programs were big sellers for the open enrollment.   

If you did not review your program this year, please go to your calendar and mark October 1st to review your drug plan.  It has become so very simple, and unlike the National Healthcare Website,  www.Medicare.gov is just about bomb proof.  We will be holding seminars later in the year to show people how to do this on their own.  

That brings me to Medicare Supplements.  Please contact us if any of the following apply to you or your spouse:

1. If you are paying over $190.00 per month for your Medicare Supplement
2. If you have not changed your program or your spouse's program since 2009/2010
3. If you are a Century Link retiree or know someone who is.  There are significant changes coming that will affect Medicare Supplements and we are ready to help.

For those of you who are paying less than a $190.00 monthly premium for your Medicare Supplement, you do not need to contact us because there are no programs that can save you a significant amount of money this year.

So to all, I wish you a happy and prosperous 2014!    

What's in a rate?  In my average week I meet and talk with some very interesting people.  They come from all walks of life and have such great stories about adventures, challenges and decisions in their life including how many of you ended up here in Sequim.   

Even with all of the disparity in my clients lives, I often hear the same question.  "My car is getting older and I've had no claims so why is my auto rate going up?"  This truly is a great question and a question that I don't have the exact answer for.   I do try to keep up on factors that are affecting the current market to try and make sense of trends.   

Many of you have heard me talk about two parts to your auto coverage.  Part 1 is to protect your cars.  Part 2 is to cover you in case you are at fault for damage to others.  That is the Liability portion of your coverage.

Liability claims are on the rise both for injury claims and property damage claims.  Sales statistics from the automotive market show that 2013 saw an increase in cars on the road that are 3 years old or newer.  For those of you that have been to a sales lot and looked at or purchased a new car, you know the costs of those newer cars are up!  

My wife and I have been weighing the decision of adding a new SUV to our family with the addition of our first child.  My goodness!  Buying a new car is like taking on a second mortgage with the sticker prices of many new models.   

This is not a simple answer to a complex situation.  Rating for auto policies is a VERY complex system made up of dozens of factors.  One factor is the cost of your next claim.  You may not be driving a fancy new car, but more drivers out on the road are.  That means if you cause an accident, it is more likely now that it will be one of these newer, higher cost vehicles than in previous years.   

None of us plan on being at fault for an accident.  After all, that's why they are called ACCIDENTS.  You can however plan your coverage options in advance to ensure that you are adequately covered.