Financial Insights

Vision Capital perspectives on financial planning, investing, and wealth management

The Quiet Habits That Build Wealth Over Time

Wealth Management

The Quiet Habits That Build Wealth Over Time

Most wealth is not built through big, dramatic decisions. It is built through small, consistent actions that often go unnoticed in the moment. Staying invested is one of those habits. Markets move and headlines change, but remaining committed to a long-term plan is what allows compounding to do its work. It is often less about making the perfect move and more about avoiding the urge to step away at the wrong time, which we know is tempting to do.

Asset Location vs. Asset Allocation Explained Simply

Wealth Management

Asset Location vs. Asset Allocation Explained Simply

When people think about investing, they often focus on what they own. Stocks, bonds, and cash. That is asset allocation, and it matters. But there is another layer that is just as important and often overlooked. Where those investments are held.

The 4% Rule in Retirement: Why it’s Flawed

Financial Planning

The 4% Rule in Retirement: Why it’s Flawed

If you've ever sat down to plan for retirement, chances are you've heard of the "4% rule." For decades, it's been a popular benchmark — the idea that retirees can safely withdraw 4% of their portfolio each year without running out of money. It's simple, easy to remember, and has given many people a sense of comfort as they plan for their golden years.

Choosing a Financial Advisor in 2026

Financial Planning

Choosing a Financial Advisor in 2026

Choosing a financial advisor in 2026 means looking beyond basic investment picks to find someone who demonstrates relevant technical expertise, sound security and custody practices, and experience with tax-aware and values-based planning, along with an ability to provide behavioral guidance. Consider whether the advisor is willing to explain their recommendations clearly and tailor their approach as your circumstances and market conditions change.

Prioritizing Financial Goals With Vision Capital Management

Financial Planning

Prioritizing Financial Goals With Vision Capital Management

Deciding what truly matters most and in what order can be one of the most challenging parts of managing your finances. Most of us are juggling competing goals at the same time. We want to save for retirement, support our family, travel, change careers, give generously, and still enjoy life along the way. When everything feels equally urgent, it can be hard to see a clear path forward. This is where thoughtful financial planning makes a real difference. At Vision Capital Management, the focus is not just on numbers, but on helping people align their money with the life they want to live, guided by a trusted financial advisor.

Workplace 401(k) Plan Withdrawals: What You Need to Know

Workplace 401(k) Plan Withdrawals: What You Need to Know

In times of financial hardship and limited options, it can be challenging to turn a blind eye to a supply of money reserved for something as abstract as the future. A withdrawal from a workplace 401(k) plan, whether it be a permanent distribution or temporary loan, is allowable in certain circumstances and recent data from Bank of America shows that more participants are taking advantage: hardship withdrawals are up 36% from the second quarter of 2022, and plan loans have increased as well.

Personal Belongins and Family Heirlooms: Distributing Meaningful Items

Financial Planning

Personal Belongins and Family Heirlooms: Distributing Meaningful Items

When a loved one passes away, their loved ones are left with many responsibilities. Among the most emotionally challenging is sorting through personal belongings – the furniture, jewelry, keepsakes, collections, and everyday items that carry both financial and sentimental value.

How to Determine Whether Your Life Insurance and Long-Term Care Coverage Are Adequate

Financial Planning

How to Determine Whether Your Life Insurance and Long-Term Care Coverage Are Adequate

Choosing the right amount of life insurance and long-term care coverage is less about following a single formula and more about understanding what protection means for your specific life circumstances. Adequate coverage looks different for everyone, shaped by income, family responsibilities, health, lifestyle goals, and existing assets. When these policies are thoughtfully aligned with your […]

January 26, 2026

Madison Steinbrenner

Your 2026 Guide to Tax, Retirement and Gift Limit Changes

Your 2026 Guide to Tax, Retirement and Gift Limit Changes

As we enter 2026, several important tax, retirement, and gifting limits are set to shift. These updates may affect how you save, how you give, and how you plan for the future. Understanding the new thresholds can help you make more informed financial decisions in the year ahead. Retirement Account Limits Increase For 2026, the […]

January 2, 2026

Vision Capital Management Named to Largest Women Owned Businesses List

Vision Capital in the News

Vision Capital Management Named to Largest Women Owned Businesses List

Vision Capital Management has been named to the Portland Business Journal’s annual “Largest Women-Owned Businesses” list, ranking 56 out of 120 firms based in Oregon and SW Washington. To be considered, company representatives responded to a survey in which they shared the percentage of company ownership that was female-owned and the number of female employees. […]

October 14, 2025

Maria Malloy, CFP®, Contributes Article to Elder Law Section Newsletter of Oregon State Bar

Vision Capital in the News

Maria Malloy, CFP®, Contributes Article to Elder Law Section Newsletter of Oregon State Bar

Client Relationship Associate Maria Malloy, CFP®, contributed the article “The SECURE 2.0 Act and You: How New Legislation Is Enhancing Retirement Planning,” to the October edition of the Elder Law Newsletter for the Oregon State Bar. In it, she details how temporary or expiring policies were made permanent, including provisions related to retirement planning, employer-sponsored […]

October 14, 2025

Year-End Financial Planning Checklist

Financial Planning

Year-End Financial Planning Checklist

As the year draws to a close, we would like to highlight two key activities we’re undertaking on behalf of our clients and provide reminders on other best practices for year-end.

October 1, 2025

Vision Capital Management Named to 2025 Top Money Managers List for Oregon and SW Washington

Vision Capital in the News

Vision Capital Management Named to 2025 Top Money Managers List for Oregon and SW Washington

Vision Capital Management has been named to the Portland Business Journal’s annual “Top Money Managers” list, ranking 23 out of 46 firms. To be considered for the ranking, firms were required to provide information on total assets under management and the number of clients served, and the number of assets and clients served in […]

September 4, 2025

Maximizing Employee Benefits

Financial Planning

Maximizing Employee Benefits

Over time, the way humans work has evolved, and so have employee pay and benefits. The concept of employee benefits emerged during the Industrial Revolution in response to harsh working conditions when industrialists began offering housing, medical care, and educational opportunities to attract workers. As labor rights developed, benefits became a formal part of the […]

August 29, 2025

The SECURE 2.0 Act and You: How New Legislation Is Enhancing Retirement Planning

The SECURE 2.0 Act and You: How New Legislation Is Enhancing Retirement Planning

In 2019, Congress passed the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act, significantly reshaping the retirement landscape for millions of Americans for the first time in many years. The SECURE 2.0 Act was enacted soon after in 2022, expanding upon and enhancing the original legislation. Since its […]

Providing for Your Pets in Your Estate Plan

Estate Planning

Providing for Your Pets in Your Estate Plan

Before his death, Chanel designer Karl Lagerfeld was accompanied everywhere by his beloved cat, Choupette. The beautiful snow-white feline was featured in product launches, had an Instagram account, and was the subject of two books. When Lagerfeld died in 2019, it was rumored that the cat had become one of the largest beneficiaries of his […]

Giving before You Are Gone: Clever Ways to Distribute Wealth

Estate Planning

Giving before You Are Gone: Clever Ways to Distribute Wealth

For a long time, putting your estate in order and planning your legacy was a straightforward process. You wrote out a will, named your survivors, and detailed who would receive what when you passed. These days, there are new ideas around how wealth is transferred, including distributing the funds while the benefactor is still alive […]

15 Things to Know About College Savings Plans (with special Oregon 529 Plan Tips)

Financial Planning

15 Things to Know About College Savings Plans (with special Oregon 529 Plan Tips)

The 529 Plan is the most popular college savings plan available. We have identified 15 things you should know in order to get the most out of a 529 Plan, with a focus on Oregon 529 Plans.

Americans Relying on Retirement Funds for Rainy Day Savings

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.

Love and Money

Life Transitions

Love and Money

The book, “The Five Love Languages,” outlines general ways in which individuals express and experience love and affection in romantic relationships. They are Acts of Service, Quality Time, Receiving Gifts, Words of Affection and Physical Touch, and while they may not cover all kinds of communication, they can be a good shorthand to decipher yours and that of your partner.

February 3, 2025

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