June 15, 2022
in Investments
Sigh. Evaluate. Do? A guide to investing in a down market
Bleah. Yuck. Scary. Hmmmmm...
Trail Financial Planning, LLC is a fee-only financial planning and investment management firm located in Bellingham, WA
Trail Financial Planning
May 18, 2022
Series I bonds: an investment to protect against inflation
Series I bonds are a popular investment right now. It's no wonder. They are meant to match the rate of inflation, with nearly no risk of loss if held for one year or more. They are currently paying a +9.62% yield. Compared to the losses...
March 16, 2022
Pain in Ukraine part 2: Cybersecurity
The situation in Ukraine is terrible and unstable. As the world takes a stand against Putin's war, there may be backlashes. One such backlash may be increased cyberattacks. The war in Ukraine has prompted me to consider my exposure to cybersecurity risks, our defenses, and...
March 9, 2022
in Giving
Pain in Ukraine part 1: Giving
I am deeply saddened by the pain being inflicted on the Ukrainian people due to the Russian invasion. The news is harrowing, yet compelling. I can't look away from the news feeds of tragedy, but also of courage and resilience. This blogpost is the first in...
December 21, 2021
A shift in the wind: update on WA Long-Term Cares Act implementation
Nearly two years ago, the Washington state Legislature passed the "Washington Cares Act," to create the Long-Term Services and Supports Trust program (LTSS program). The program is designed to provide some financial assistance to eligible Washington residents for long-term care costs, funded by a 0.58%...
August 6, 2021
Washington State Long-Term Support Act is coming to your paycheck
Starting on January 2, 2022, all Washington state residents who earn a paycheck will start paying 0.58% of their gross pay to support the newly formed Long-Term Services and Supports Trust, referred to in this blog as the "LTSS program." (Reference [1]). This blog post...
April 22, 2021
Earth Day 2021 – A riff on being green
Green is a lovely color. We associate green with growth - in plants and in money. Green is the color that represents money (in the US at least). In this Earth Day blogpost, I am going to riff on an area where money and the...
December 4, 2020
in Giving, Tax planning
Charitable giving in the time of Covid
Imagine your financial house is like an apple tree. Hanging on the tree are the fruits of your labor or good fortune. Although many people are finding 2020 to be a bad harvest as their jobs or businesses were impacted by COVID-19, there are others...
November 2, 2020
History has its eyes on US
Tomorrow is the US election. It is natural to wonder how the election and the next president (and wider government) will impact our lives. From our April tax bill to the performance of our investments, from the dreams of our kids to our next breath...
August 31, 2020
in Goals
What matters to a kid
This blog is loosely themed - "financial matters that matter." Usually, I constrain my posts to finances. This post is a little different, although still about what matters. When I heard that Chadwick Boseman had died this past weekend, I felt as though living just got...