Blog | JourneyTree Financial Planning & Investments

“I’M DEAD, NOW WHAT?” BY PETER PAUPER PRESS

November 21, 2023

The death of a loved one is emotional, stressful, and can put such a huge strain on those left behind. Why not be prepared for the inevitable? “I’m dead, Now What?” is an excellent workbook to help you prepare your loved ones for your passing. This book walks you through gathering all the information your loved ones will need to take care of your belongings, financial or business affairs, and your wishes. Instead of leaving them panicking or arguing over…

MARKET UPDATE: WHAT HAPPENS NOW?

November 17, 2023

Investing, Market Update

Before last year started, roughly 85% of economists were confident that the U.S. would have a recession in 2023. We didn’t. It is still not clear if or when we will have one. Virtually every other time that interest rates have risen as much as they did in 2022 and 2023 a decline in economic growth has occurred. What was different this time? What many economists did not factor in was the size and impact of the unprecedented government stimulus…

CAN YOU MAKE QUALIFIED CHARITABLE DONATIONS FROM YOUR IRA?

October 30, 2023

General

The last few months of the year are when many people make charitable donations. Did you know that those who are over 70½ may make this donation from their IRA account (also known as a qualified charitable donation (QCD))? Instead of sending a charitable donation via check from your bank account, request that a check be sent out from your IRA to your chosen charity. Why Should I Make a Charitable Donation From my IRA? There are several different benefits…

Man pulling a $50 and $20 bill out of wallet

HOW TO AVOID A SPENDING HANGOVER AFTER THE HOLIDAYS

October 23, 2023

Financial Planning, General

The holidays can be an expensive time of year. Between trying to please everyone and buying for everyone, your finances may suffer. Here are 6 tips to make the gift buying season easier for your wallet and your stress level. Make a list and stick to it. Make a list of all the people you need to buy for this year, set a spending limit for each gift, and then follow it! It is never too early to start a…

WHY TO INVEST IN U.S. TREASURY BONDS

October 13, 2023

Investing

For most of the last 15 years, savers have been penalized. In the aftermath of the global financial crisis in 2008, interest rates have been kept near 0% more than 60% of the time. This has meant that money market funds, bank accounts, Certificates of Deposit, and many types of bonds paid little or NO interest for several years. Circumstances have dramatically changed since the beginning of 2022. To bring down inflation, interest rates have been rising steadily. Once all…

WHERE IS THE RECESSION?

October 11, 2023

Investing, Market Update

With interest rates rising rapidly last autumn, calls for an imminent recession were widespread. But, here we are nearly a year later, and there are few signs of a temporary decrease in economic activity on the horizon. Why Are We Not in a Recession Yet? Expectations of a recession were everywhere roughly a year ago based on historical circumstances. In virtually every instance when short term rates have exceeded long term rates for a considerable period, a recession has followed…

Group of people piling hands in the middle of them

JOURNEY TREE SUPPORTS

October 10, 2023

General

JourneyTree believes that to be part of your community, you must support your community. That’s why, over the last several decades, we have been a proud supporter and sponsor of many local organizations: Friends of Trees For the last several years, JourneyTree has been a sponsor and participant in planting trees around Eugene. Since 1989, Friends of Trees has planted over 946,000 trees and shrubs throughout the Pacific Northwest. They do more than plant trees, however, they also have a…

6 MONEY MISTAKES THAT COULD COST YOU

August 14, 2023

Financial Planning, Investing

Are you tired of being worried that you’re making mistakes when it comes to your money? Are you feeling confused about where best to stash your dollars? In this guide, we will unveil the top 6 damaging money mistakes you’ll want to avoid. From overspending, to saving for the wrong reasons, we’ll explore the common pitfalls we have seen over the years as financial advisors and provide you with practical tips on how to avoid these costly errors. Whether you’re…

A persons hand holding a pen and writing a list with check boxes on grid paper

8 QUESTIONS TO ASK A FINANCIAL ADVISOR

June 27, 2023

Financial Planning

When it comes to managing your finances, it is important to have a trusted financial advisor who can guide you towards your goals. This will be an important relationship, and you want to be able to trust this person and feel comfortable talking about important subjects like money and personal goals. But with so many options out there, how do you choose the right one? By asking these 8 essential questions: What are your qualifications and experience? It is important to…

MASTERING THE ART OF FINANCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT

June 1, 2023

Financial Planning

In today’s ever-changing financial landscape, the need for effective risk management has become more crucial than ever. It’s not just about making smart investment decisions; it’s about protecting your hard-earned money from unexpected market fluctuations, economic downturns, and unforeseen events. In this guide, we will explore the three essential risks to consider so you can be better prepared to navigate the complex world of finance. 3 Types of Financial Risk There are 3 main things to be aware of when…