Finance + Legal Services

Diversification Never Stopped Working

For the better part of two years, the hardest thing to own was a diversified portfolio.Not because it lost money. Because it was boring while everything else looked brilliant. A small handful of giant technology companies carried the whole market higher, month after month, while nearly everything else sat still. Small companies. International markets. Steady dividend payers. The holdings that fill out a real long-term plan looked like dead weight, and they looked that way long enough that people...

Local Services

Finding Forever Homes, One Cat at a Time

Felines offer companionship to anyone who is looking and that search starts with adoption Article by Abby Snethen | Photography by Steven Paul Most species of animal make for great pets but cats offer something deeper. From late night cuddles, early morning zoomies, to gossiping with a being that will never disagree with you and creating an unbreakable bond, cats will be your go-to. But every search for companionship must start somewhere.  Cat Adoption Team is a non-profit organization...

Home + Design

Transforming Your Backyard

A look inside the family owned business, Willamette Valley Patio Covers Article by Abby Snethen | Photography by Steven Paul Chris and Vashti Young reside in Oregon but their story didn’t start there. Chris grew up in Southern California, spending most of his time biking, hiking and surfing. Vashti grew up in Alaska, spending most of her time outdoors doing activities such as cross-country skiing and hiking. She decided to move to Southern California for college, where she met Chris in 1989...

Finance + Legal Services

The Long Game

The family dog is the first estate plan Article by Nathan Oeming When people ask me about legacy, they almost always mean money — how much to leave, what the documents should say. Those are real — but they’re the second question. The first is: who are you leaving it to? Not which names. What kind of people. Here’s what I believe down to the ground. Wealth without wisdom causes problems. Money handed to someone who never learned to steward it doesn’t bless them — it exposes them. So the real...