Blog

Earnings Season

Another earnings season is in the books and it was a good one. With more than 90% of S&P 500 companies having reported first quarter 2017 results, S&P 500 earnings are tracking to a solid year-over-year increase of more than 14%...

College Daze

Ballooning College Costs The average cost of tuition and fees for the 2016-2017 school year is $33,480 at private colleges, and $9,650 for state residents at public colleges. It averages $24,930 for out-of-state residents attending...

So, You Just Won the Lottery, Now What?

Successfully managing a financial windfall We’ve all heard the stories. If not first hand, at least in various news reports and anecdotes. Some “lucky” person picks the winning numbers, prances before the cameras in...

Investing is a Marathon, Not a Sprint

The world’s oldest annual marathon was run on April 17 as amateur athletes from around the world descended on Boston, Massachusetts for the 121st running of the Boston Marathon. While elite athletes grab the headlines, over 25...

Birthday Charity Spotlight

March: Community Connection of Northeastern Oregon The mission of Community Connection of Northeast Oregon, Inc. is to advocate for and assist senior citizens, children, low-income persons and persons with disabilities in attaining...

2017 Market Updates

We are excited to announce our upcoming Market Updates in Hermiston and Baker City! Featuring, Kevin McPherson, Vice President of Fidelity Investments as a guest speaker, the update will cover current investment themes in the 2017 year...

March Madness

It’s March, and that means one thing: March Madness. All across the country, people are filling out their brackets, studying the teams, and trying to pick that upset that will impress their friends and coworkers with their...

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

We will be wearing green at VWM on Friday the 17th and wanted to share some trivia about this Irish holiday with you! In Chicago every year, the Plumbers Local 110 union dyes the river “Kelly” green. The dye lasts for about...

Are You Retirement Ready?

At Vision Wealth Management, Inc. we are committed to helping people in all stages of their retirement, from the planning phase, the transition phase and finally the fully retired phase. Today, we want to focus on the planning phase...

Money Talks With The Ones You Love

We have clients who often seek our advice on lending money to adult children or even their parents for various expenses. Here are some strategies you can use when you are faced with the difficult decision to lend or not to a loved one....

Birthday Charity Spotlight

January: The Hermiston Fair & Rodeo Ground Project After having a client request this project, we were more than happy to start out our monthly birthday donation with the Hermiston Fair and Rodeo Ground Project. A few words from the...

Does Financial Fitness = Physical Fitness?

Two of the areas that most of us like to improve are finances and health. If you are considering setting goals to help improve your health, it might make sense to start with your finances. A recent survey from TD Bank highlights the...

Love Your Life, Not Theirs, Book Recommendation

Rachel Cruze, the daughter of Dave Ramsey, who is also new mom, just released her most recent book, Love your Life Not Theirs. Being a Dave Ramsey fan and new mom this book piqued my interest and I was pleasantly surprised by this...

The New Year

Heading into the New Year, we are mindful of market milestones that have come together to influence the investment landscape: a new president and administration, the stabilization of oil prices, and the end of an earnings recession....

The Fed Raises Rates

The Federal Reserve’s (Fed) policy-making arm, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), raised its target for the federal funds rate by 0.25% (25 basis points) as expected at the conclusion of its two-day meeting. By raising...

Year End Checklist

The end of the year is fast approaching, and now is the perfect time to review items you might want to consider as you get set to enter 2017. Review your income or portfolio strategy. Are you reaching a milestone in your life such as...

Connect With Us Contest

We are continually looking for ways to improve our communication with you. One of the ways we connect with our friends and clients is through our social media and our weekly commentary newsletters. We also like to connect with you at...

SmartVestor Pros Now at VWM, Inc.

We are excited to announce that Marcy Haines, CFP® and Christina White, are now designated SmartVestor’s Pros! SmartVestor is a program created by Dave Ramsey to align investors with an honest, caring, and Dave recommend...

Welcome Back, Christina!

We are overjoyed to welcome VWM, Inc. team member, Christina White, back to the office! She has been spending the past few months enjoying her new baby boy, Sawyer. Plus: VWM Inc. will be announcing exciting news next week, so keep...

It’s “Giving Season”. Do You Have a Strategy?

As we approach the finally three months of the year, it seems charity organizations start their largest campaigns and we find ourselves “giving” more than throughout the rest of the year. If you’re considering...

9 Essential Estate Planning Documents

Dying intestate (will-less) leaves your heirs with a potential mess. And yet, 61% of Americans pass away without one, says a recent Harris Interactive poll for RocketLawyer, a legal website. In fact, 28% of us would rather do anything...

Technology Refresh

The iPhone 7 was released last week, and just like at Apple, our office technology is continuing to evolve. We wanted to let you know all of the ways you can stay connected with Team VWM and the latest ways to connect with your account...

4 Websites to Keep You Learning

School is back in session, and learning something new doesn’t just have to be just for the kids or grandkids. Successful people are constantly learning about something new. The following four websites are a fun way to continue...

Marcy & Tonita Attend LPL Focus 2016

Held in San Diego, CA, LPL Focus 2016, is LPL’s premier education, growth, and networking event for financial advisors and institutions. With over 6,000 attendees all affiliated with LPL Financial, the conference is one of the...

The Shred Bin vs. The Trash Bin

Can someone legally dig through your trash looking for credit card receipts, account numbers, or your social security number? The U.S. Supreme Court implies that the answer is yes. In the decision California vs. Greenwood, they stated...

Social Security Myths & Facts

Myth: Your contributions are going into an account with your name on it. Fact: Unfortunately, that is not the case. Social Security isn’t like a 401(k) or even a traditional funded pension plan. Your contributions are immediately...

Who are the Joneses? And why are people trying to keep up with them?

The phrase, “Keeping up with the Joneses” originates with the comic strip Keeping up with the Joneses, created by Arthur R. “Pop” Momand in 1913. The strip depicts the social climbing McGinis family, who...

Too Good to be True? It Probably Is.

We’ve all received the phone call alerting us to the fact that we have been the “lucky recipients of a 10-day trip of a lifetime” or “the selected winner of a hefty sum of money.” However, these calls...

Retire Inspired Book Recommendation

The newest book in VWM’s library is Retire Inspired by Chris Hogan. This book is great book for people in their 20’s and 30’s to read. Chris offers retirement advice so you don’t have to retire broke, stressed,...

Welcome Baby White

Vision Wealth Management Inc. is pleased to introduce our newest team member, Sawyer Connor White! Born on July 5, 2016 at St. Alphonsus Medical Center in Baker City, OR. Parents are Christina and Geoff White. Christina and...

Test Your Independence Day Knowledge

Answers listed at the bottom of the page. How many people signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776?A. 12 B. 6 C. 9 D. 2 When were fireworks first used to celebrate July Fourth? A. 1809 B. 1777 C. 1930 D. 1876 What...

Market Update

The Brexit vote was not what we expected; but it is the outcome. It will represent turmoil in the markets, uncertainty politically, and volatility in many related segments. How are we affected in the long run - only time can tell, but...

Congratulations Tonita & Clay!

We are very excited for our VWM team member, Tonita Britt and her new husband, Clay McCarty! They were married on June 18, 2016. The wedding was held at the Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales here in Baker City, with Fr. Robert Griner...

Don’t Bust Your Budget on Father’s Day!

In 2015, the average spending per person was $116 on Father’s Day gifts. This amounted to American’s spending $12.7 billion for gifts on Father’s Day alone. The top five gifts that shoppers purchased were: Greeting...

Marcy Travels to Barron's 2016 Top Independent Women Advisors Summit

Filled with riveting speakers, great networking and an exciting travel opportunity, the Barron’s 2016 Top Independent Womens Advisors Summit, located in New Orleans, Louisiana, was anything but just another conference. Held at...

The Millionaire Next Door Book Recommendation

One of our favorite books at Vision Wealth Management is The Millionaire Next Door. It is both interesting and insightful. The author, Thomas J. Stanley, won’t tell you how to get rich quickly, but rather he outlines who the...

Rising Healthcare Costs

There’s no doubt that health care costs and insurance premiums continue to increase. The burden of paying for healthcare can weigh heavy on a budget. To help keep costs down many employers and individuals are switching to high...

Money Advice From Mom

Mother knows best! Mother’s day is just around the corner. We are all thinking of our mothers and of the good advice and money tips they have given us over the years. Here is our tribute to Moms this week: Shannon Sullivan,...

Springtime in Eastern Oregon

All of us at Vision Wealth Management have been enjoying the beautiful weather. I had a great horseback ride to Antelope Peak last week. Thought you might enjoy this photo. Interesting Facts: Spring and April go hand in hand. April 15,...

MARCY HAINES ATTENDS BARRON’S 2016 TOP INDEPENDENT WOMEN ADVISORS SUMMIT

On May 18- 20 Marcy Haines will be attending the Barron’s Top Independent Women Advisors conference, an event hosted for top-performing financial advisors. The Summit will be held in New Orleans, LA. The event provides advisors...

Money and Stress

Money and Stress Stressed about money? Lots of Americans are. According to a 2014 survey by the American Psychological Association the most commonly reported sources of stress include money. A whopping 64% of the adults polled report...

Spring Retirement Planning Class

Hello everyone! We would like to take this opportunity to let you know about the classes Marcy will be teaching this Spring at Eastern Oregon University. The last few years before retirement can fly by. Marcy Haines, CERTIFIED...

Fall Retirement Planning Class

Hello everyone! We would like to take this opportunity to let you know about the classes Marcy will be teaching this fall at BMCC.The last few years before retirement can fly by. Marcy Haines, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ teaches a...

Never a Dull Moment!

Its been a volatile few weeks in the financial markets with sharp declines. These sudden sharp moves are disturbing and I wanted to let you know all of us at Vision Wealth Mangement Inc. are keeping a close eye on events. More...

Marcy Haines Meets Diana Nyad

Marcy, recently was able to meet Diana Nyad. Diana is an American Author, Journalist, Motivational Speaker, and Long Distance Swimmer.At the age of 64 Diana Nyad successfully fulfilled her lifelong dream of swimming from Cuba to...

Congratulations Graduates

Graduating is certainly a milestone in life, but life is the biggest learning experience of them all.If you have a young graduate in your life we would like to give you a challenge: share some of your best and worst financial...

2015 Market Update

2015 Market UpdateWe would like to thank everyone who attended our 2015 Market Update!Kevin McPherson, Vice President of Fidelity Investments discussed Fidelity’s insights on sector investing and how to invest in a changing world.It...

Spring Investment Strategy

“Diversify, diversify, diversify, never keep all your eggs in one basket, unless it’s Easter.” Spring Investment StrategySpring is the season for cleaning, renewing, and refreshing. Your investment portfolio may benefit from the same...

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

May you always have…Walls for the winds A roof for the rain Tea beside the fireLaughter to cheer youThose you love near youAnd all your heart might desire MARKET WATCHPlease click on the link below to view the latest LPL Financial...

Estate Matters

Estate MattersPrinciples of Preserving Wealth You are cordially invited to attend a special workshop: "Estate Matters, Principles of Preserving Wealth." At this one-hour seminar you will learn: * Who needs an estate plan.* What is the...

Will Staying Healthy Reduce Health Care Costs?

As published in the Baker City Herald and the La Grande ObserverINVEST-I-VISION Will Staying Healthy Reduce Health Care Costs?Medical and long-term care costs represent a substantial risk for most people. In fact, medical debt is one...

Lunch & Learn

Pre- Retirees you are cordially invited to attend a special workshop: "Life After Work: How to Create a Sustainable Income Stream in Retirement."At this one-hour seminar you will learn:Why you need a retirement income plan4 questions...

What is the S&P 500

What is the S&P 500? The Standard & Poor’s 500 is an index of 500 top companies in leading industries of the US Economy. It is widely regarded as a better indication of US market performance than the Dow Jones Industrial Average,...

FEB 8TH LAUGH AND GET RICH DAY!

"There is little success where there is little laughter.”-Andrew CarnegieFEB 8TH LAUGH AND GET RICH DAY!This is the first I’ve heard of this holiday. As I thought about this day, I found it fun and intriguing. Two of my favorite things...

Where to Invest in 2015?

For the last few months, Christina White, has been in charge of the format & Content in our Weekly Commentary newsletter column…Thank you Christina! We thought you might also enjoy occasional summaries of various articles Marcy has...

Financial Wellness Part 4

Week 4, Challenge for better health and wealth. The goal of this challenge is to motivate you to continue and implement behavior change strategies that may simultaneously improve health and personal finances. So for the next few weeks...

Financial Wellness Challenge Part 3

Week 3, Challenge for better health and wealth. The goal of this challenge is to motivate you to continue on and implement behavior change strategies that may simultaneously improve health and personal finances. So for the next few...

Financial Wellness Challenge Part 2

Week 2, challenge for better health and wealth. The goal of this challenge is to motivate you to continue on and implement behavior change strategies that may simultaneously improve health and personal finances. So for the next 3 weeks...

Financial Wellness Month

January kicks off the beginning of New Year resolutions for many people. At Vision Wealth Management Inc. we would like to start the New Year with a challenge for better health & Wealth. The goal of this challenge is to motivate you to...

Season Greetings!

Whishing you health, happiness, and prosperity this Holiday Season and throughout the coming year!It's a busy time of year with the hustle and bustle of the Holidays and winding up the year. I find myself reflecting on the Holidays......

Building Wealth & Giving Back

As we are nearing the year end. We often have time to reflect on the past year and the year ahead. One of the things I find myself reflecting on is traveling. When we travel we will use a map or GPS & set goals to arrive at our...

Congratulations Christina!

December is National Write a Business Plan Month. At Vision Wealth Management Inc. we can help provide Financial Vision for your business. We work to connect your money with your purposes. We focus on wealth planning which encompasses...

Turkey Trot 5k Fun Run

“We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure. There is no end to the adventures we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open.” -Jawaharial Nehru, First prime minister of independent India The Turkey...

Baker City Bronc & Bull Riding

While the Bulls in the stock market were watching corporate earnings closely, we were watching another kind of bull in Baker City. Vision Wealth Management, Inc. was proud to be a sponsor for the 20th annual Bronc & Bull Riding. The...

For those who have given and those who continue to give

Putting a Price Tag On Your Health

Putting a Price Tag On Your HealthWe hear over and over again how important it is to maintain a healthy lifestyle. But being healthy for its own sake isn’t easy — especially when you’re facing down temptation or battling...

Where Is the Market Headed?

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New Look and New Commentary

We are pleased to announce our new look. With the launch of our new website, www.vwmsuccess.com, Facebook, and LinkedIn, we are also introducing our “New Look” & New Weekly Market Commentary.Our new logo was inspired by the Lion...

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Pay Yourself First

Pay Yourself FirstEach month you settle down to pay bills. You pay your mortgage lender. You pay the electric company. You pay the trash collector. But do you pay yourself? One of the most basic tenets of sound investing involves the...

Happy Valentines Day!

What Makes You Happy?