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SPECIAL REPORT - TAX & INVESTMENTS
How the smart money avoids big debt
at this time of year
People make impulsive purchases without thinking of the consequences.
By Maura Hallam Sweley |
| The holiday shopping season is in full swing. In a country where spending is already a national past time, this is the time of year when many people significantly increase their debt and overextend their already overextended finances. Many people will be starting the New Year faced with a pile of credit card bills, wondering where all their money went... (Full Article) |
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SPECIAL REPORT - EXECUTIVE GIFT GIVING
A little kindness goes a long way
during holiday season
By Rodika Tollefson |
| December is intended to be a month of celebrating and – aside from the stress of finding a gift for every family member — full of cheer. But for thousands of Kitsap residents, the ringing of the bells is only a reminder of tough times ahead. If you truly want to get into the spirit of the month, the best way to do it is by giving — not to those who have everything but to those who have little... (Full Article) |
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SPECIAL REPORT - EXECUTIVE GIFT GIVING
Gift-giving is easier with “Tasty’ Treat” ideas
By Lary Coppola |
| Ah, the holidays — they’re almost here, along with the glimmer of the lights, the distant sounds of holiday music, the hustle and bustle, and the frantic shopping! If you’ve set foot inside a shopping mall — or any other retail store — since Halloween, you know the rush is on. With so many people to buy for and so little time, we all want “one-stop shopping,” yet we still want to give creative and personalized gifts... (Full Article) |
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SPECIAL REPORT - TAX & INVESTMENTS
Recognizing investment opportunities
takes know-how
If you’re going to invest online, you better know what you’re doing
By Rodika Tollefson |
| Recognizing good investment opportunities starts with a good understanding of the stock market and its rules. Investors who have moved beyond the basics are in much better position to invest into individual companies instead of mutual funds and other options... (Full Article) |
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SPECIAL REPORT - TAX & INVESTMENTS
Should you be saving all those receipts?
By Christopher T. Mutchler, CPA |
| During this past election season, you probably heard very little about recent tax legislation signed into law amidst the presidential debates, negative campaign ads, and the conflict in Iraq. On October 4, 2004, the Working Families Tax Relief Act of 2004 was signed into law. This Act essentially extended reductions in tax breaks for individuals... (Full Article) |
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SPECIAL REPORT - EXECUTIVE GIFT GIVING
Gifts for under the high-tech Christmas tree
By Maura Hallam Sweley |
| Looking for a gift for your favorite technophile? Here’s a brief look at six new high-tech toys available this holiday season... (Full Article) |
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SPECIAL REPORT - EXECUTIVE GIFT GIVING
Specialty gift shops offer variety
for different tastes
By Rodika Tollefson |
If you know well your friend’s or family member’s tastes, the best thing you can do when shopping for them is play to those preferences. They’ll be much more tickled by the present than “same stuff, different year.”
You’re in luck, too — there are lots of specialty shops on the Greater Kitsap Peninsula, from Nuts About Hi-Fi in Silverdale specializing in all things electronic to Kitchen Karousel in Poulsbo that is filled with gadgets like the heart-shaped waffler and Lefse grills to sweeten any cook’s day... (Full Article)
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SPECIAL REPORT - TAX & INVESTMENTS
Insurance: Who needs it? |
| Insurance certainly doesn’t rank as one of life’s most exciting purchases. Although it is just one part of your overall financial plan, it is a critical one that often is overlooked. Insurance is designed to cover a financial loss due to death, disability, accident, disaster or other event. It’s that simple... (Full Article) |
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SPECIAL REPORT - EXECUTIVE GIFT GIVING
Special gifts for special people
that go way beyond the ordinary
By Maura Hallam Sweley |
Everyone has someone on his or her list who is hard to buy for. Here are a few suggestions for some out-of-the-ordinary gifts for out-of-the ordinary people.
Take a Balloon Ride
Hot air balloon rides take you on a slow, nearly silent journey... (Full Article)
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SPECIAL REPORT - EXECUTIVE GIFT GIVING
Gifts from the arts appeal to all ages and tastes
By Rodika Tollefson |
| If you want to feel good about your shopping spree this season, instead of buying a mass-produced gifts at a department store consider stopping by one of the local arts groups. Many of them have special sales during December that include holiday-oriented gift items, others have beautiful artwork by local artists and artisans in a wide price range, and several theaters are offering gift certificates... (Full Article) |
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SPECIAL REPORT - EXECUTIVE GIFT GIVING
It’s got your name written all over it
By Maura Hallam Sweley |
| When I was a small child, it was all the rage to have a personalized nameplate for your bike. There wasn’t a card or gift shop in those days that didn’t have a spinning wire rack full of small, brightly colored, plastic, “license” plates, with the names spelled out in letters an inch high. Then there were the personalized pencils, pins, necklaces, barrettes... (Full Article) |
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SPECIAL REPORT - EXECUTIVE GIFT GIVING
Give the gift of indulgence |
Most women enjoy a day of self-indulgence — getting primped and pampered. That's why a gift of beauty for the holidays is the perfect token of affection.
Manicure and pedicure set: Hands and feet can never get enough TLC, especially during the holidays. Buy a preassembled manicure and pedicure kit at a beauty-supply store. Or make your own for the gift recipient, including nail polish, top coat, emery board, pumice stone and nail clipper... (Full Article)
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SPECIAL REPORT - TAX & INVESTMENTS
Is your investment portfolio “off-balance?”
By Mike Bentz, Waddell & Reed |
| The investment markets have gone through another wild year – fortunately, this time, the volatility was generally in a positive direction. But the dramatic swing in stock returns after three bear years, along with dramatic swings in some other types of assets, again raises a question all investors should answer every year: Do I need to rebalance my portfolio... (Full Article) |
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SPECIAL REPORT - TAX & INVESTMENTS
Insurance companies provide value and
resources for smart consumers
By Maura Hallam Sweley |
| Insurance, in some form or another, is one of those things that nearly everyone has and that no one likes to talk about. It’s not interesting, it costs money whether you use it or not, and some people even question its necessity. Because of this, many people never think of their insurance agency as a resource to use for anything other than purchasing insurance products. But many insurance agencies go beyond the role of simply selling insurance and offer additional services to their clients and the community... (Full Article) |
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SPECIAL REPORT - TAX & INVESTMENTS
E-file helps speed up refunds, payments
By Judy Monahan, Internal Revenue Service |
| Are you one of the almost 100 million taxpayers who will receive a refund when you file your federal tax return? The IRS says that requesting direct deposit and filing your tax return electronically (e-filing) will put that money in your pocket faster and easier... (Full Article) |
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SPECIAL REPORT - TAX & INVESTMENTS
The lowdown on life insurance |
It's something most people don't want to think about: death. But you might want to ponder it now so your family will have a financial cushion when you pass away.
That's where life insurance comes in. It gives your spouse, children or an aging dependent parent money when you die... (Full Article)
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SPECIAL REPORT - TAX & INVESTMENTS
If you’re going to play the market,
you need a strategy that works
By Rodika Tollefson |
| If you’re trying to follow the bear and bull markets in coming up with an investment strategy, Ed Stern of Piper Jaffray has a word of advice: There are two different barnyard animals that will be much more helpful, chicken and pigs... (Full Article) |
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SPECIAL REPORT - TAX & INVESTMENTS
The employer’s fiduciary responsibility
By Bryant Arnold, Waddell & Reed Inc. |
| Fiduciary: Relating to the holding of something in trust for another. In this case you the employer are considered to be making decisions that affect the assets of your employee’s retirement plan in trust... (Full Article) |
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SPECIAL REPORT - EXECUTIVE GIFT GIVING
All that glitters is never a bad gift choice.
Just ask any man — or woman...
The halls are decked, the trees are lit, the stockings are hung. Why not give someone you know a little trimming of their own?
By Maura Hallam Sweley |
| The jewelry trade is bustling this time of year. Industry-wide, jewelry stores earn between 25 and 40 percent of their annual revenues during the holiday shopping season, according to Leo Fried, jewelry designer and owner of Blue Heron Jewelry in Poulsbo... (Full Article) |
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SPECIAL REPORT - EXECUTIVE GIFT GIVING
Wanna make them feel good? Think anti-stress
By Rodika Tollefson |
| As if the speed of the information age isn’t enough to create the stress that will give your doctor job security for a year, the race through the holiday maze of consumerism is sure to leave you twitching. Doesn’t a day at a spa or a massage sound good right about now... (Full Article) |
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SPECIAL REPORT - EXECUTIVE GIFT GIVING
Top 10 ways to reduce holiday stress |
| The holidays are full of annual events, parties, gifts, decorating and more. Sure, it's all in good fun, but sometimes you spend so much time doing those activities that you have no time left for yourself. Here are some easy ways to get back some sanity during the holidays... (Full Article) |
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SPECIAL REPORT - TAX & INVESTMENTS
It’s still not too late for some
year end tax deductions
By Maura Hallam Sweley |
| With the rush and bustle of the holiday season, the last thing many people are thinking about is the 2005 tax season. But, with just a few weeks left in 2004, time is running out to increase your tax deductions... (Full Article) |
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