Vision Capital Management Financial Advisor Portland Oregon

Vision Capital Management has been providing clients financial planning and investment management services since 1999. Visit our site to find out more.

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      • Christopher Anissian, APMA®
      • Katelyn Cummings, CFP®
      • Bryan Goss
      • Gina Jacobson, CFP®, CDFA
      • Marina Johnson, CFA
      • John LaBarca, CFA
      • Ellen Logan
      • Maria Malloy, CFP®
      • Sue McGrath
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      • Jeffrey Schmidt, CFA
      • Matthew Sheets, CFP®
      • Chris Sizemore, CPWA®, CMFC
      • Stacy Sizemore, IACCP®
      • Madison Steinbrenner, IACCP®
      • Liz Swagerty Olsen
      • Cliff Yount, IACCP®
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Apr 23 2025

Gina Jacobson Makes Second Appearance on “Wait. Hold Up… What?” Podcast

Client Relationship Associate, Gina Jacobson, CFP®, CDFA, was a recent guest on the podcast, “Wait. Hold Up… What?”. Gina spoke with host Dawne Hanks on the episode about women building their nest and their net, and in this episode, they discuss consumerism, ethics, and financial empowerment for women.


The podcast “Wait. Hold Up… What?” is from the women at Eliminate Girl Hate, an organization that provides programs that leverage the power of the female experience to create growth in all areas of business and life by providing information, resources and support with the mission of creating safe and equitable spaces for all who identify as a girl.

Written by Liz Swagerty Olsen · Categorized: WOMEN

Apr 04 2025

Gina Jacobson Appears on Wait. Hold Up… What? Podcast

Vision Capital Management Client Relationship Associate, Gina Jacobson, CFP®, CDFA, was a recent guest on the podcast, “Wait. Hold Up… What?”. Gina spoke with host Dawne Hanks on women and finances, savings, and building a net and a nest as a woman. To listen to the episode, click the image above.

 

Written by Liz Swagerty Olsen · Categorized: UNCATEGORIZED, WOMEN · Tagged: financial planning for women, women investing

Mar 27 2025

Americans Relying on Retirement Funds for Rainy Day Savings

 

In the most recent installment of Vanguard’s “How America Saves” annual report, data suggested that Americans are participating in retirement savings accounts at record-high levels, mostly due to the adoption of automated enrollment and access to employer-sponsored plans. However, the concerning trend that caught the attention of financial advisors was the marked increase in consumers withdrawing funds from their retirement accounts in order to pay for emergencies. In pre-pandemic days, the rate of hardship withdrawals was approximately 2%, but Vanguard reported the most recent rate to be 4.8% in 2024, with the reasons including avoiding evictions and home foreclosures, medical expenses, and tuition costs.

We have outlined strategies below that will ensure you have a strong savings cushion and will avoid dipping into retirement funds earlier than necessary.

1. Create a Realistic Budget

A solid budget is the foundation of financial stability. Follow these steps to establish a budget that works for you:

  • Track Your Expenses: Monitor your income and spending to understand where your money goes. Use budgeting apps or spreadsheets to keep track.
  • Prioritize Essentials: Allocate funds for necessities such as housing, utilities, food, and healthcare before spending on non-essentials.
  • Set Spending Limits: Avoid overspending by setting monthly limits on discretionary expenses like entertainment and dining out.
  • Use the 50/30/20 Rule: This budgeting method suggests allocating 50% of your income to needs, 30% to wants, and 20% to savings or debt repayment.

2. Build an Emergency Fund

An emergency fund is a crucial financial safety net that prevents you from withdrawing from retirement savings in times of crisis.

  • Set a Savings Goal: Aim for three to six months’ worth of living expenses in an easily accessible account.
  • Automate Savings: Set up automatic transfers to your emergency fund each month to ensure consistency.
  • Use Windfalls Wisely: Direct tax refunds, bonuses, or unexpected earnings into your emergency savings instead of splurging.

3. Reduce Debt and Interest Payments

High-interest debt can quickly erode your finances, making it tempting to withdraw from retirement funds. Reduce your debt burden by:

  • Paying Off High-Interest Debt First: Focus on credit card balances and personal loans that carry high interest rates.
  • Consolidating Debt: Consider a lower-interest personal loan or balance transfer to reduce interest payments.
  • Avoiding Unnecessary Debt: Limit borrowing for non-essential expenses and prioritize living within your means.

4. Maximize Savings Opportunities

Building wealth outside of retirement accounts ensures financial flexibility.

  • Open a High-Yield Savings Account: Earn more interest on your savings by choosing an account with a competitive rate.
  • Invest in a Taxable Brokerage Account: Grow your wealth through diversified investments that do not require early withdrawals from retirement funds.
  • Contribute to an HSA or FSA: If eligible, these accounts help cover medical expenses without dipping into long-term savings.

5. Plan for Major Expenses in Advance

Unexpected expenses often force individuals to withdraw from their retirement savings. Prepare for large costs with these strategies:

  • Set Up a Sinking Fund: Save a small amount each month for anticipated expenses like home repairs, vacations, or car replacements.
  • Review Insurance Coverage: Ensure you have adequate health, auto, and home insurance to avoid large out-of-pocket expenses.
  • Anticipate Future Financial Needs: Consider upcoming life events, such as college tuition or home purchases, and start saving early.

6. Stay Committed to Your Financial Goals

Protecting your retirement savings requires long-term commitment and discipline.

  • Review Your Budget Regularly: Adjust your budget as needed to align with changes in income and expenses.
  • Set Clear Savings Milestones: Track your progress and celebrate small financial wins along the way.
  • Resist Temptation: Avoid withdrawing from retirement accounts by reminding yourself of the long-term benefits of financial security.

By implementing these budgeting and saving strategies, you can build a strong financial foundation and safeguard your retirement funds. Staying disciplined with your money today will ensure a more comfortable and stress-free future.

 

 

Sources:

  1. Horwich, Jeff, “Amid a Resilient Economy, Many Americans Aren’t Ready for a ‘Rainy Day,’” Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, May 31, 2024.
  2. Martinez, Amethyst, “Vanguard Sees More 401(k) Hardship Withdrawals. That May Not Be a Bad Thing,” Barron’s, June 26, 2024.
  3. Tergesen, Anne, “The 401(k) Has Become America’s Rainy-Day Fund,” The Wall Street Journal, March 5, 2025.
  4. Vanguard, “Press Release: Vanguard Announces Record Retirement Savings Rates Among American Workers,” June 2024.

 

Written by Liz Swagerty Olsen · Categorized: UNCATEGORIZED

Feb 28 2025

Cleaning and Organizing … the Swedish Way

There are many organizational methods for reducing our clutter and making our spaces more efficient, tidy, and serene. There is the “One-Touch Method” which bucks procrastination in favor of putting things away immediately after use, and the “Neat Method” which employs various color-coded containers and labeling for sorting and display. The KonMari method from Japan instructs organizers to ask themselves if their items still spark joy in them, and if not, to release the belongings with gratitude. And, yet another approach has risen in popularity, this time from Sweden, known as “döstädning,” or the translated “death cleaning,” which seeks to reduce clutter and stress from an aging person’s home and life.

While it may sound severe, the idea of döstädning is actually a very thoughtful and respectful exercise for both the individual and their loved ones. Contrary to KonMari, which centers on the individual’s attachment to their possessions, this approach asks how family and survivors will feel about the items left behind after a loved one’s death. Margareta Magnussen, author of “The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning,” explains how employing döstädning can streamline an individual’s space and create a peaceful environment in which they can focus on what matters to them at that stage of life. The process of sorting and gifting belongings and communicating with family and friends about what they would like to have can often bring loved ones closer together, and may minimize the future burden on family members, allowing them to focus on grieving rather than a large clean-out project.

For those interested in the process of döstädning, professionals recommend the following:

  1. Tell your family about this process you are undertaking, what you hope to get out of the experience and ask them what items they would like to inherit from you.
  2. Start with your clothing and closets, sorting through what does and does not fit and what can be donated to charity.
  3. Declutter furniture, décor, and household items by room and then size, gifting functional pieces to family and friends and donating the rest.
  4. Address digital information and share details for important vendors such as your bank and insurance provider to your next of kin.
  5. Take stock of valuable jewelry and heirlooms and communicate with your insurance provider regarding appropriate coverage. Next, give some thought to who you will leave these items to and make those wishes apparent in your documents.
  6. Gather your paperwork and leave clear instructions regarding your will, advance health directive, power of attorney and any other related documents to your intended survivors.

While it may seem like a big undertaking, döstädning can give practitioners the chance to find memory and meaning in their possessions, as well as a sense of lightness and contentment when they let them go.

To connect with a client relationship manager, email info@vcmi.net.

Written by Liz Swagerty Olsen · Categorized: CHARITABLE GIVING, DIVORCE, ESTATE PLANNING, FINANCIAL ADVISOR, FINANCIAL PLANNING, PERSONAL FINANCE, RETIREMENT PLANNING, UNCATEGORIZED · Tagged: FINANCIAL PLANNING, INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, Personal Finance, RETIREMENT PLANNING

Feb 11 2025

Other Areas of Financial Planning: Starting a Family, Planning a Bucket List Trip, and Changing Jobs

We help clients with more than just their stock and bond portfolio and retirement planning. Watch and hear how we assist clients with planning for a family, preparing to take a bucket list trip and weighing options when considering a career change. If these are areas you would like to collaborate with a client relationship manager on, please email info@vcmi.net.

Written by Liz Swagerty Olsen · Categorized: FINANCIAL ADVISOR, FINANCIAL PLANNING, PARENTING, RETIREMENT PLANNING, WOMEN

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