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
      • Katelyn Cummings, CFP®
      • Bryan Goss
      • Gina Jacobson, CFP®, CDFA
      • Marina Johnson, CFA
      • John LaBarca, CFA
      • Ellen Logan
      • Maria Malloy, CFP®
      • Sue McGrath
      • Sarah Quist, CFP®
      • 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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Oct 01 2025

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.

  1. Tax-Loss Harvesting

    Our investment team actively monitors portfolios for tax-loss harvesting opportunities. This involves selling securities at a loss to offset capital gains, while simultaneously reinvesting in a way that remains aligned with your long-term goals and risk tolerance. We also manage cost basis considerations to support overall tax efficiency.

  2. Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs)

    Clients age 73 or older are legally required to take annual Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) from tax-deferred retirement accounts, such as traditional IRAs and 401(k)s. Vision Capital will assist in coordinating these distributions through your Fidelity or Schwab account as needed.  If you have an inherited IRA, Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) may still be required, regardless of your age, depending on the terms of the inheritance and current IRS regulations.  If you hold an inherited IRA or have any questions regarding your RMD obligations, please contact your client relationship manager for guidance.

Additionally, the following items can help clients get organized and ready to welcome in the new year.

  • Maximize Retirement Contributions

    Even if you can’t contribute the full annual limit, increasing contributions before year-end can significantly enhance long-term retirement savings. If eligible, consider making “catch-up contributions,” which vary in amount depending on the type of retirement account.

  • Optimize Charitable Giving

    To receive a 2025 tax deduction, charitable donations must be completed by December 31. We recommend acting early, as nonprofits can be overwhelmed during the final weeks of the year. Additional strategies to consider include bunching donations into a single year for greater impact, donating highly appreciated long-term assets, or making qualified charitable distributions (QCDs) directly from an IRA.

  • Evaluate Income Tax Withholding

    Now is a good time to reassess your withholding elections to make sure they still match up with your current income level and tax situation heading into the new year.

  • Assess Medicare Coverage

    We recommend reading the Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) document, which details changes to costs and coverage. If you have experienced significant changes with your health, are seeing new providers, or have new prescriptions, it may be worthwhile to move to a new plan during open enrollment, which takes place from October 15 to December 7.

  • Contribute to Your Health Savings Account

    Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) carry the unspent funds over to the next year. If you are able, it is advantageous to maximize your contribution to your HSA for a triple tax advantage: tax-deductible contributions, tax-free growth, and tax-free withdrawals for qualified medical costs.

  • Use Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)

    Flexible spending funds are generally subject to a “use it or lose it” rule. Depending on your plan, unused balances may expire at year-end. Eligible purchases include new contacts or glasses, prescriptions, appointment copays, and over-the-counter items such as first aid supplies, sunscreen, and cold and flu remedies.

  • Review Estate Planning Documents

    Outdated beneficiary designations are unfortunately common and can lead to unintended consequences. Take the time to review and update your beneficiary forms to ensure they accurately reflect your current wishes and circumstances.

If you have any questions about the topics outlined above, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We are here to support your financial goals with thoughtful, proactive guidance.

Written by Liz Swagerty Olsen · Categorized: 401K, 529 PLAN, CHARITABLE GIVING, DIVORCE, ECONOMY, ELLEVATE NETWORK, ESTATE PLANNING, FIDUCIARY, FINANCIAL ADVISOR, FINANCIAL PLANNING, HEALTH INSURANCE, HOME OWNERSHIP, INSURANCE, INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, INVESTMENTS, MEDICARE, NIKE, OREGON, OREGON ECONOMY, PARENTING, PERSONAL FINANCE, REAL ESTATE INVESTING, RETIREMENT PLANNING, SOCIAL SECURITY, TAX PLANNING, UNCATEGORIZED, WOMEN · Tagged: end of year checklist, FINANCIAL PLANNING, Flexible Spending Accounts, Health Savings Accounts, MEDICARE, RETIREMENT PLANNING

Sep 10 2025

Medicare and You Webinar Recording

We hosted this webinar on Medicare featuring Heidi Dulay from Willamette Valley Benefits on Wednesday, September 10, 2025.

 

Written by Liz Swagerty Olsen · Categorized: HEALTH INSURANCE, INSURANCE, MEDICARE, SOCIAL SECURITY

Mar 29 2022

Marriage and Social Security Retirement Benefits

Since Social Security benefits are often a substantial part of your cash flow during retirement, it’s important to understand how they can be impacted by marriage and divorce. Every relationship and financial situation is different, so it’s wise to be prepared to make well-informed decisions about your benefits.

Marriage and Social Security Benefits [Read more…]

Written by Marina Johnson · Categorized: DIVORCE, FINANCIAL PLANNING, SOCIAL SECURITY · Tagged: FINANCIAL PLANNING, RETIREMENT PLANNING

Jun 29 2020

Access to Saving for Retirement

The lack of Americans’ retirement savings, referred to as “retirement insecurity”, is a topic we are hearing more and more about as the Boomer generation ages into retirement. Private company pensions are few and far between these days, putting the onus of saving for retirement on individuals, rather than corporations. Compounding the issue of the lack of retirement savings is the fact that Americans are living longer and will need to save more to cover living expenses and potentially higher medical costs later in life. Elected officials have responded to the potential crisis by enacting legislation such as the SECURE Act (Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement) and the OregonSaves program.

Access to Retirement Savings

[Read more…]

Written by Marina Johnson · Categorized: 401K, FINANCIAL PLANNING, INVESTMENTS, RETIREMENT PLANNING, SOCIAL SECURITY · Tagged: 401k, FINANCIAL PLANNING, RETIREMENT PLANNING

Feb 28 2019

Deciding Whether an Early Retirement is Right for You

We’ll admit it, we’ve dreamed of early retirement, but who hasn’t? It’s not necessarily related to job satisfaction, but imagining how you would spend your days if you were footloose and fancy-free can be an entertaining exercise. And we know we’re not alone: the recent FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) movement is symbolic of the increased desire by some individuals to minimize their number of working years. The FIRE movement encourages living in a highly frugal manner in order to save early in life, and then retire with a minimalist lifestyle.

Early Retirement

[Read more…]

Written by Marina Johnson · Categorized: ESTATE PLANNING, FINANCIAL ADVISOR, FINANCIAL PLANNING, RETIREMENT PLANNING, SOCIAL SECURITY · Tagged: EARLY RETIREMENT

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Certifications and Associations

Certified Women Owned Business
Certified
Private Wealth Advisor
Certified Financial Planner
CFA Institute
Certified Divorce Financial Analyst
Financial Planning Association Member
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