Candy J. Lee Financial Planning & Money Management

Veal Medallions with Onion Marmalade in Port Wine Sauce

2011-12-07T11:21:00.000-08:00

This is a very rich an utterly delicious dish. It is a Wolfgang Puck recipe from his San Francisco restaurant Postrio. This is one of those dishes where you really need to have a good relationship with your butcher so you can get nice thick one inch veal loin medallions. The thick tenderloins allow you to sear them to a golden brown without overcooking the veal.

Veal Medallions with Onion Marmalade in Port Wine Sauce Recipe

Gardening Withdrawals

2011-12-07T11:17:00.000-08:00

The Dalia and Begonia bulbs are cleaned and put away and the leaves racked and bagged. The next several months will bring occasional sun filled day when I can do some pruning and putter outside. In 2011, we had pavers placed in our north garden and I finally installed a long-planned water feature. It is nice to hear the sound of burbling water when we sit out on our back deck.

With winter upon us it is now time to turn to my other hobbies, creating stain glass pieces, cooking and wood working while I wait for spring. I enjoy the other hobbies, but would prefer to be in the garden digging in the soil and creating beauty with plants if I have the choice.

Social Security Benefits Cost of Living Raise!

2011-12-07T11:08:00.000-08:00

COLA will be paid in 2012 and Medicare costs rise less than predicted. If you received Social Security or SSI benefits, here’s some good news. The Social Security Administration has announced that for the first time since 2009, a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will be paid. Monthly benefits will increase 3.6% starting in January 2012 for Social Security beneficiaries and starting in December 30, 2011, for SSI recipients.

Click here for more information on Social Security and Medicare Figures for 2012

Year-End Tax Planning: 10 Things to Keep in Mind

2011-12-07T10:50:00.000-08:00

The window of opportunity for many tax-saving moves closes on December 31. So set aside some time to evaluate your tax situation now, while there’s still time to affect your bottom line for the current tax year. With that in mind, here are 10 things to consider as the curtain closes on 2011.

Click here of the list of ten Tax Saving Ideas

The World Clock

2011-12-07T10:38:00.000-08:00

If you haven’t experienced Poodwaddle that shows you the changes in the world in real time it is quite an experience. Click on the link below and once you are on the World Clock click on the more option on the right hand side to watch our debt grow. The only thing that seems to be growing as fast in the number of SPAM emails.

Click here for The World Clock

Trends and Innovation: Postage-Stamp-Sized Satellites

2011-12-07T10:31:00.000-08:00

The perfect holiday present for the space nut that has everything. For only $300 you can get naming and tracking rights or for a $1,000 contribution let’s you write its custom flight code. These postage-stamp-sized satellites can be bulk launched cheaply into space, drifting on solar winds sending signals back to Earth. Three of the Cornell graduate student designed Sprite Minisatellites are now attached to the outside of the Int’l Space Station for testing.

2010 Dalbar Quantitative Analysis of Investment Behavior

2011-10-06T12:48:00.000-07:00

Dalbar shocked the industry when they first published their study seventeen years ago that showed how individual investors actually under-performed the broad equity indexes and by a substantial amount. The spreads have narrowed slightly in the last couple of years and now the 2011 twenty year average only shows the average investors under-performing the equity benchmark by 5.31% annually.

Click here for full report

Big Gain in Last Four Years!

2011-10-05T15:52:00.001-07:00

The earnings projected to be generated by the companies in the S&P 500 stock index in calendar year 2012 are more than 6 times as large as the actual earnings of the 500 companies during calendar year 2008 (source: S&P). I would call that a nice economic recovery no matter how you slice it.

Personal Invite to 2011 Goodwill Glitter Gala

2011-10-05T15:34:00.000-07:00

Please join Rocke and me at this year's Goodwill Glitter Gala on Wednesday November 9th at 6 pm. It is a great party with a very entertaining fashion show put on by the Art Institute of Seattle using clothing from donations made to Goodwill. The silent auction also has items found in Goodwill donations. They have incredible jewelry and art pieces available at the silent auction. No live auction, just dinner and the incredibly fun fashion show.

The cost is $125 per person and Rocke and I will provide the wine for the evening. During the event there are three other opportunities to support the wonderful work at Goodwill: buy raffle tickets, give a donation during the "ask for donations" or purchase a centerpiece.

Please register at the Glitter Gala webpage and let us know if you will be joining us so we can have enough wine for the merriment. This is one of our favorite events and a great cause. We hope you will be able to join us.

Click here to find out more about the event and to register

Largest Apple Orchard in Ballard

2011-10-05T15:24:00.000-07:00

With our sixteen apple trees my husband always boosts this fact. Everyone envisions a large track of land when they actually grow in a 30” wide planter down the South side of our house. They are a hybrid apple called Colonnade they are only 2 feet around and about 8 to 10 feet tall. We use them to shade the south side of our house, make a dozen of apple pies, share with friends and eat fresh. We get a couple of bushels of apples each year from this unusual dwarf apple trees.

Medicare Open Enrollment Period Starts Sooner and Ends Earlier

2011-10-05T14:57:00.000-07:00

Now is a good time to review your current Medicare plan. Determining what coverage you have now and comparing it to other Medicare plans can be confusing and complicated. Help is available by calling 1-800-MEDICARE or by visiting the Medicare website, http://www.medicare.gov/.

Click here for the full article

Class ACT Dies Quietly

2011-10-05T14:55:00.000-07:00

A well intended but poorly constructed addition of long-term care insurance options in the healthcare law call the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS) program has been suspended indefinitely. We are back to the previous options of accessing long-term care insurance through an insurance agent or via your employer benefits program (if available).

Trends & Innovation: New Anti-Malaria Drug

2011-10-05T14:18:00.000-07:00

Enzymes used by the malaria parasite to attack blood cells may be good targets for new anti-malaria drugs. A team lead by Pennsylvania University researchers has found the inhibiting the 2 parasite enzymes called peptidases, which consume hemoglobin in a host’s red blood cells, can starve the parasite to death.

Prosciutto-Wrapped Pork Loin with Roasted Apples

2011-10-05T12:53:00.000-07:00

The small roasted apples surrounding a Prosciutto wrapped pork loin on the cover of the October 2011 Bon Appetite reminded me of the apples on one of our apple trees. All but one of our trees produce full size apples and this recipe looked like a wonderful use of the small size ones.

It is a tasty way to prepare a pork loin for guests or for generous leftovers for two people. The roast looks as gorgeous as the picture, but we put the apples in the pan cut side down and they ended up absorbing the liquids instead of browning on top. They were good, just not pretty like the picture. Make sure you place the apples cut side up.

Prosciutto-Wrapped Pork Loin with Roasted Apples Recipe

Seared Scallops with Garlic, Bacon Wilted Arugula and Lima Bean Puree

2011-09-06T13:38:00.000-07:00

Emeril Lagasse’s recipes are some of our favorites and this is no exception. They are all very complex in flavors and ingredients and this is not exception. We use Costco frozen Scallops for this recipe.

Thaw the scallops covered in milk. The milk draws out any fishy smell and helps remove any residual sand. This works on any fish you wish to defrost but is especially important for scallops. After they are thawed we rinse them thoroughly and massage them to make sure all the sand is removed.

Click here for the recipe

Congratulations Suzanne Fletcher!

2011-09-06T13:26:00.000-07:00

Our friend, Suzanne Fletcher has taken on the challenge of building the new Washington Tourism Alliance. The Alliance is filling the void when the State dropped all funding for tourism marketing. As the first Executive Director she will pull together those interested in maintaining and expanding the marketing efforts for our state. If anyone can do it, we know she can. Click here to read the article in the August issue of the Puget Sound Business Journal on this new venture.

Click here for the full article

Sales Tax Reduction in King County

2011-09-06T13:23:00.000-07:00

Effective October 1, 2011 the sales tax in King County, for food and beverages, will reduce from 10% to 9.5% as well as the King County special retail car rental tax will decrease by 2 %. This is because the King County Stadium taxes, which were imposed for the construction of the baseball stadium expire at midnight on September 30, 2011.

This tax is only applied to restaurants and bar owners will need to reprogram their cash registers or their POS systems to reduce the sales tax amount before they start business on October 1, 2011.

Sales Tax Reduction in King County

2011-09-06T13:20:00.000-07:00

Effective October 1, 2011 the sales tax in King County, for food and beverages, will reduce from 10% to 9.5%. The King County special retail car rental tax will decrease by 2 %. This is because the King County Stadium taxes, which were imposed for the construction of the baseball stadium expire at midnight on September 30, 2011.

This tax is only applied to restaurants and bar owners will need to reprogram their cash registers or their POS systems to reduce the sales tax amount before they start business on October 1, 2011.

The Budget Control Act of 2011

2011-09-06T13:07:00.000-07:00

After a last-minute agreement finally brought the stalemate over the nation’s debt ceiling to a close, President Obama signed the Budget Control Act of 2011 into law on August 2nd, 2011, enabling the U.S. Treasury to avoid defaulting on existing obligations. The Act left all sides with plenty to argue about.

Click here to read the entire article

Global Economics

2011-09-06T12:58:00.000-07:00

The old saying used to be, “When the US sneezed the world caught a cold.” Although we are still an economic juggernaut the US is no longer the major force that drives the world economic engine. the last couple of weeks have shown that the United States is very susceptible to global economic woes. It has not so much that we have slipped, but that the world markets are growing and at a much faster rate than us.

Russell is one of the global investment leaders with offices in 20 countries. They keep their fingers on the pulse of the world and are one of the few places I can get global economic data. US financial media companies rarely bother to keep you up on world economic statistics. Russell recently published two great articles on the global economy. One was a short article on how they evaluate whether a country is developed or emerging.

Ever wondered why is the second largest economic powerhouse, China, is considered an emerging market?

Click here to read the article that explains it all.

John Velis, Head of Russell Capital Markets Research in Europe wrote a very comprehensive overview as well as an answer guide to the Eurozone crisis which includes a glossary of terms.

Click here for the full article

Trenda & Innovations: A "Green" Cremation Alternative

2011-09-06T12:37:00.000-07:00

If you happen to pass away in Florida you have the option of being on the first “green” cremation. A Florida funeral home is the first to use a cremation-alternative device that liquefies human remains. The device uses heated alkaline water to dissolve bodies into liquid in about 3 hours. Made by U.K. Resomation it has passed Florida laws for bio-disposablility. The company said it uses one-seventh the energy and doesn’t release carbon emissions like cremation.

Cherry-Walnut Gelatin Mold Recipe

2011-07-15T11:37:00.000-07:00

It is the season for fresh sweet cherries and this year is especially sweet because of the cool long spring. The Cherry-Walnut Gelatin Mold is delicious. You can also reference the 2010 Favorites Recipes for our very popular Grilled Bratwurst with Bing Cherry Sauce, Goat Cheese Mashed Potatoes and Arugula Salad.

Cherry-Walnut Gelatin Mold Recipe

2010 Favorite Recipes

Rocke in the News

2011-07-15T11:34:00.000-07:00

My husband, Rocke Koreis took a new position at The Boeing Company this year as the Airplane Systems Chief Engineer for Component Management Optimization (CMO) Information Services, Commercial Aviation Services. It is a new product launch using RFID tags to increase efficiency in airplane maintenance. Something Rocke has a patent and several other patents pending with Boeing.

Click here for an article from Aviation Week about Rocke and the New Product

New IRS Mileage Rates

2011-07-15T11:22:00.000-07:00

The IRS has increased the vehicle mileage rate from 51 cents per mile for the period of Jan 1- June 30, 2011 to 55.5 cents per mile for the period of July 1 –Dec 31, 2011. Remember that to take a vehicle deduction, you are required to have a written mileage log. You can reference IRS notice IR-2011-69 for more details. You also may be able to write off mileage traveled to visit your financial advisor (see article on deductible investment expenses).

Estate Tax Exemption Is Portable (For Now)

2011-07-15T11:17:00.000-07:00

Recent legislation introduced a new, but perhaps temporary, estate planning concept - - exemption “portability”. Professional Alliance member, Pat McGowan cautions clients from assuming all will be ok relying on portability as the perfect estate plan. It is currently only good for two years, does not take into consideration Washington estate tax and you have the potential of losing the exemption of the spouse remarries.

Click here for article on Portability Estate Tax Exemption

Deductible Investment Expenses

2011-07-15T10:51:00.000-07:00

One of the benefits of using a fee based advisor is the ability to write off some of my advisory fees. Professional Alliance member Victoria Trigg graciously wrote an information summary on when advisory fees are deductible and when they are not. You can reference IRS Publication 550: Investment Income and Expenses for more details on this issue.

Click here for the Summary

Trends & Innovations

2011-07-15T10:19:00.000-07:00

We get so overloaded with negative news every day I thought it would be good to add a good news Tid Bits each month. There are so many exciting developments happen right now that you never hear about.

Patch renews damaged heart

A new type of patch promises to reinvigorate damaged hearts. Brown University researchers have created a nanopatch with carbon nanofibers and a polymer. The carbon nanofibers work well because they’re good conductors, performing electrical connections that a heart relies on to keep a steady beat. In lab tests, the patch was shown to restore areas that had been damaged by a heart attack. The idea is to put something where the dead tissue is to help regenerate it, eventually restoring the heart to health, the scientists said.

Chicken Stir-Fry with Green Beans

2011-05-14T11:09:00.000-07:00

We always enjoy the complex flavors of Emeril Lagasse’s recipes. They are never simple to make and require many ingredients, but are worth it. Whenever possible we like to make a dish that covers more than one night of dinners for the two of us. This serves six or makes wonderful leftovers. We hope you enjoy our version of Emeril’s stir-fry.

Click here for the recipe

Spring in Yakima

2011-05-14T11:06:00.000-07:00

The flowering trees at my parent’s house this weekend were spectacular. The pear trees were in bloom and although Mom had some winter weather damage she only lost a few of her 600 roses. Like Seattle, it has been cold and wet so the fruit and vegetables from the Valley will be from one to three weeks late this year. We will share more of our Bing Cherry recipes next month when they should be coming into season.

Tesla Model "S" First Touch

2011-05-14T10:53:00.000-07:00

This week I was able to actually experience the Model S prototype car. It is everything I thought it would be and more. It is much larger than I thought. It can hold three people comfortably in the back seat. The full computerized displays that you can customize to your colors and style are very cool. Now for the painful one year wait until it comes off the production line and in to our garage. Then we can start saving for a solar panel so we can charge our electric cars for free.

The Investment Tax Landscape: Countdown to 2013

2011-05-14T10:41:00.000-07:00

In December 2010, Congress extended the so-called Bush-era tax cuts by passing the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010. However, for investors, the legislation may represent not a pardon but a stay of execution.

While it's true that federal tax rates on income, qualifying dividends, and capital gains have been extended through the end of the 2012 tax year, many of the issues that influenced the debate over tax rate extensions will continue to be the subject of heated discussion. As a result, investors have been granted a reprieve while Congress wrestles with those issues. That's time you can use to think about how best to position your portfolio.

The can won't stay kicked down the road forever

Lisa Mayfield honored by Alzheimer’s Association

2011-05-14T10:30:00.000-07:00

Candy’s Professional Alliance meets monthly and includes two attorneys, accountants, a mortgage broker, realtor, pension expert, geriatric care manager, long-term care and a medical supplemental insurance professional. The members are very experienced, collaborative, competent group of professionals that enjoy sharing our knowledge to improve the support of our clients and colleagues.

We are pleased to announce that Professional Alliance Member, Lisa Mayfield was honored by the local Alzheimer’s Association with the Morey Skaret Leadership Award for showing outstanding leadership within the chapter. Lisa is a volunteer support group facilitator for two young onset support groups. She has been a volunteer support group leader for over seven years.

"Go Green" Russell Tour & Wine Tasting at Tesla

2011-04-13T11:28:00.000-07:00

Thursday June 9, 2011

Tour of Russell

Investments 3 to 4 PM

Wine Tasting at Tesla

Dealership – 4:30 to 6:30

You and your guest(s) are invited to attend a tour of Russell Investments followed by wine tasting and appetizers at the “all electric car” Tesla Dealership located in South Lake Union. The tour of the Russell facilities will take place at 3:00 and the wine tasting will begin at 4:30. If you have already had a tour of Russell you can come directly to the wine tasting.

Click here for more information

New Leaf

2011-04-13T11:25:00.000-07:00

My husband, Rocke Koreis, is the unique car buff that started us down this path. I am currently driving his old Smart Car while I am waiting for my Telsa. He just had to have the “all electric” Nissan Leaf, which we took delivery of this month. There are only 1,500 in the US and due to the earthquake in Japan it maybe a long-time before many more arrive. Rocke loves the car and is having a blast figuring out how to maximize the miles.

Coeur a la Crème with Raspberry Sauce

2011-04-13T10:57:00.000-07:00

Coeur a la Crème with Raspberry Sauce is a delightfully light wonderfully tasting dessert. Coeur a la Crème means “Hearts of Cream” in French. To make this you will need to buy special molds from your local kitchen store or from an Internet store. They must be made at least a day in advance. Serving these on blue plates makes a great red, white and blue dessert for the fourth of July.

Click here for the recipe

Employer’s Guide to the CLASS Act

2011-04-13T10:48:00.000-07:00

The Community Living Assistance Services and Supports Act, or CLASS Act, is part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act signed into law by President Obama in March 2010. The CLASS Act establishes a national government-run long-term care insurance program, to be offered primarily through employers.

The CLASS Act is the federal government’s attempt to offer long-term care coverage to as many people as possible. However, the legislation has its share of shortcomings. Areas of concern include inadequate benefits, expensive premiums, and uncertain long-term viability.

Click here for the Employer’s Guide to the CLASS Act

Russell Investments Economic Update and Tour

2011-03-08T12:50:00.000-08:00

You and your guest(s) are invited to attend a Russell Investments Economic Update and tour of their new world headquarters in Seattle.

The tour will take place on Tuesday March 22, 2011 from 7:30 am to 9:30 am. Continental breakfast will be served. The agenda will include an economic update, an overview of Russell Investments and a tour of their new headquarters and trading floor.

Russell's new facilities feature cutting edge architecture that incorporates advanced designs in work spaces.

Space is limited.

Please RSVP as soon as possible by contacting Candy at candy@candyjlee.com. We will send a formal invitation containing additional details and instructions for those that are interested in attending. We hope you can make it!

If you are not able to attend this event, save the date for our late afternoon wine tasting on June 9th.

2010 Favorite Recipes

2011-03-08T12:23:00.001-08:00

We shared some excellent recipes over the course of the year and I combined them into one booklet for your enjoyment.

December 2010 – Root Vegetable Gratin with Gruyere

November 2010 – Grilled Pork Chops with Apple Pomegranate Sauce

October 2010 – Curry Salmon Patties with Mango Salsa

September 2010 – Veal Stuffed Kohlrabies (Toltott Kalarbe)

August 2010 – Fig, Prosciutto and Gorgonzola Appetizer

July 2010 – Grilled Bratwurst with Bing Cherry Sauce, Goat Cheese Mashed Potatoes & Arugula Salad

June 2010 – Blackened Halibut with Remoulade

April 2010 – Salmon 21 with Pressed Cucumbers and Sauce Verte

March 2010 – Salmon with Ginger, Black Pepper and Celery Puree

February 2010 – Salt Crusted Lamb

Click here for the booklet.

Arbor Eden 2011

2011-03-08T12:18:00.000-08:00

One of our favorite events of the year is the Arboretum Foundations Northwest Flower & Garden Show Preview gala. We enjoy a fabulous evening of delicious food, fine wines, live music, and silent auctions, and the opportunity to view the beautiful display gardens at the Flower Show the day before it opens to the public.

The 25 display gardens are amazing and we usually share the pictures with family and friends. Unfortunately, this year we forgot to put the battery in the camera. Here is a picture of the display garden which honors the 50^thanniversary of the Seattle Japanese Garden in the Arboretum.

Tom Douglas’ Crab Cakes with Green Cocktail Sauce

2011-03-08T12:11:00.000-08:00

Dungeness crab season runs from September to June with the best crab mid winter. There is still time to enjoy this signature recipe if you do so quickly. Rocke and I like to steam a couple of fresh crabs and enjoy them with steamed artichokes butter and hollandaise sauce. We use the left over crabs to make our crab cakes. You make them one day and cook them the next which makes them great to make on Sunday for a special Monday night dinner.

Click here for the recipe.

Estate Tax is Your Choice in 2010

2011-03-08T11:10:00.000-08:00

It hard to if one could be lucky to die in 2010, but for those heirs to large estates it was definitely a mixed blessing. During 2010 there was no federal estate tax. The new tax bill allows you the option of paying estate tax if you choose to. Why would you do so?

Click here to find out.

$5 Gas – No Problem

2011-03-08T10:50:00.000-08:00

Last week they installed our new gas station in our garage. The all electric Nissan Leaf is scheduled for delivery by the end of March. Rocke figured out he pays about $200 a month to commute to work in his Toyota Pick-up and it will only cost about $12 a month in electricity for the Leaf. With the spike in oil prices the new orders for the Leaf is sky rocketing.

2011-2012 Legacy Planning Opportunities

2011-03-08T10:04:00.001-08:00

An opportunity to gift up to ten million to by-pass future estate tax is an incredible opportunity for those with estates in excess of one million dollars, the level that is scheduled to sunset in 2013. Legacy planner, Alan Pratt shares a quick overview of the options available to avoid estate tax on some of your current wealth and any appreciation that will occur in your lifetime.

Click here for the article.

Washington State Federal Estate Tax 2011-2012 Summary

2011-03-08T10:02:00.001-08:00

Estate tax attorney, Pat McGowan reminds us not to forget about the Washington State estate tax. The Federal estate tax may have increased to five million but Washington State still holds at two million. He shares with us a summary of the new rates including the reversion back to the one million federal estate tax levels in 2013.

Click here for the article.

Health Insurance Reform in 2011

2011-01-31T16:32:00.000-08:00

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), signed into law in 2010, makes significant changes to our health care delivery system. Some of these reforms took effect in 2010 while many others take place in 2011. The following is a brief description of some of the most important provisions of the health care reform legislation that take effect this year.

Click here for the article.

In the "Test Kitchen of Life

2011-01-31T16:25:00.000-08:00

A young woman was complaining to her father about how difficult her life had become. He said nothing, but took her to the kitchen and set three pans of water to boiling. To the first pan he, added carrots; to the second, eggs; and to the third, ground Starbucks coffee. After all three had cooked, he put their contents into separate bowls and asked his daughter to cut into the eggs and carrots and smell the coffee. “What does this all mean?” she asked impatiently.

“Each food,” he said, “teaches us something about facing adversity, as represented by the boiling water.” The carrot went in hard but came out soft and weak. The eggs went in fragile but came out hardened. The Starbucks coffee, however, changed the water to something better.

“Which will you be like as you face life?” he asked. Will you give up, become hard – or transform adversity into triumph? As the “chef” of your own life, what will you bring to the table?

Adapted from the AccessChristian Web site

Poulet Au Paprika

2011-01-31T16:23:00.000-08:00

Rocke and I were recently introduced to a cooking show called French Cooking at Home with Chef Laura Calder. It is our new favorite show. This is one of the first recipes we tried from her show and found it to be easy to make, extremely tasty and makes great leftovers. We love to cook but during the week we are always looking for dishes we can make that are tasty but provide leftovers for lunches or a second dinner.

Click here for the recipe.

Supporting Your Aging Parents

2011-01-31T16:22:00.000-08:00

Professional Alliance member Lisa Mayfield, who is a Certified Care Manager was recently featured on a podcast with other elder care experts. The podcast is about ten minutes long very educational. Those of you blessed with aging parents may benefit from the wisdom shared by these professionals.

Listen to the recording by clicking here.

Diversification Helped Weather the Storm

2011-01-31T16:13:00.000-08:00

The graph above helps illustrate the results of staying on course.

• If you would have pulled out of the markets and went to all cash at the height of the market in September of 2007, you would potentially be behind an our clients using the balanced strategy who stayed in a diversified portfolio (as shown by the blue line).

• If you had pulled out in September 2008 (a more realistic scenario given the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers at the time), you would potentially be behind both our clients that stayed in a diversified portfolio and those investors who had just invested in the U.S. equity markets (as shown by the gray line).

Even though it appears the economy and the markets are gradually recovering, there still appears to be a lot of negative sentiment in the news about the capital markets and investing in general. Much of the media reports still focus on the damage incurred in 2008 and early 2009 and that drives investors to focus on fear and emotions as opposed to what is actually happening now. And what’s happening now isn’t all that bad. Don’t get me wrong, all is not rosy, but the reality is certainly different than the perception of total damage done to portfolios.

Investors in the hypothetical balanced index portfolios above who remained invested in a diversified portfolio through the course – before the crisis, through the market downturn and up through present – are actually holding larger portfolios than at the peak of the market in 2007. The change was minimal and certainly not the long-term results that one seeks, but it differs dramatically from the dark picture painted by media commentators and advertisers. And this doesn’t include any additional contributions to the portfolios. Investors who continued contributing through this period are even better off than those that didn’t.

This hypothetical example is for illustration only and is not intended to reflect the return of any actual investment. Investments do not typically grow at an even rate of return and may experience negative growth. Strategic asset allocation and diversification do not assure profit or protect against loss in declining markets. Indexes are unmanaged and cannot be invested in directly. Returns represent past performance, are not a guarantee of future performance, and are not indicative of any specific investment.

Career Financial Smarts Self Assessments

2011-01-25T08:30:00.000-08:00

The career intelligence financial resiliency self-assessment tool is a method to explore issues where financial decisions may impact your career and life today and in the future. We recently tested a group of 35 executives, all of whom were in transition between jobs. Out of 10 points possible, the average score for the group was 5.03 with only 14% higher than 7.

The following is a list of questions to provide a quick self-assessment of your financial resiliency proceeded by stories illustrating the impact of specific financial decisions. We provide two self-assessment modules, one for currently employed individuals and one for those individuals in a career transition. If you anticipate a potential change it may be valuable to take both assessments. It is our goal to make you aware of the impact of your current financial decisions and bring to your attention areas that may need attention.

Assessment for currently employed individuals

Assessment for those in transition or a temporary position

Holiday Party Appetizers

2011-01-03T17:25:00.000-08:00

Over the holidays our colleagues and their spouses gathered at out house and not only enjoyed many of our recipes, but participated in the cooking of the meal. Although Rocke and I had envisioned a mini cooking school format it basically turned in to organized chaos. Everyone enjoyed the fruits of their labor and we have posted a link to the recipes from the party for you to enjoy as well. The favorite appetizers were the Chipotle-Lime Chicken Skewers and Cheddar Cheese Mushrooms. The Cheddar Cheese Mushrooms were first introduced to us by our long-time friends John and Sharon Strong.

Click here for the appetizer recipe book.

Turning Over a New Leaf

2011-01-03T17:16:00.000-08:00

We were selected to participate in a study of electric cars and to receive one of the first all electric Nissan Leafs in Puget Sound. The first car arrived in Seattle on December 17th to a party at the Sculpture Park. Rocke had an opportunity to have his picture taken with the famous polar bear from the Nissan commercial.

Rocke and I had the opportunity to drive the car early in December and have been busy remodeling our garage to allow for two power stations. One power station is for the Nissan Leaf and the other for the Tesla Model S due for delivery in 2012.

Puget Sound Housing Style Trends - Chuck Reiling

2011-01-03T17:15:00.001-08:00

Chuck Reiling is our Professional Alliance member expert on Seattle and Bellevue Real Estate. His blog http://greaterseattlehomesblog.com contains up-to-date information on the trends in this area. A piece I found interesting was a short history on the evolution of neighborhoods and properties in our area. If you know of anyone moving into the area it can be a helpful article to them.

New Tax Relief 2010 to 2012

2011-01-03T17:12:00.000-08:00

Tax planning has become a lot easier now that most of the Bush tax cuts have been extended and a decision on the next two years of tax rates are now in play. The IRS is frantically scrambling to update the forms to make adjustments that may affect your 2010 tax filing.

Do not expect an early and quick tax refund this year. According to a recent IRS notice, many of the returns that can benefit from the recently passed tax breaks cannot be submitted until mid to late February.

Click here for a concise summary of the Tax relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010.

Six Things Not To Do in 2011

2011-01-03T07:26:00.000-08:00

Seattle 4 Rotary is a wonderful Rotary Club and through my participation I have met many marvelous individuals. One of special note is Rich Gaspar, of the family owned construction company Gaspar’s. The motto of his company is eat-drink and remodel, which could also be the theme for my husband and me.

He shared with me a very inspiring set of questions to help you with your new years resolutions.

Six things Not to do in 2011

By Jim Stevens

Don’t panic – survivors keep a level head in the midst of turmoil.
Don’t get distracted by bad news – turn off the news and turn on the power of positive thinking.
Don’t stop thinking about tomorrow – hope is the heart of achievement and change.
Don’t stop experimenting – changing times require nimble responses.
Don’t trust your emotions – rely on following a well thought out plan defined by benchmarks.
Don’t forget to measure what matters – you will always receive more than you give, so give liberally.

2010 Mileage Rates Announced

2011-01-02T17:36:00.000-08:00

The IRS has announced the optional standard mileage rates for 2010 for use in computing the deductible costs of operating a passenger automobile for business, charitable, medical, or moving expense purposes.

Click here for the rates.

Trusteed IRAs

2010-12-06T12:31:00.000-08:00

IRAs can often end up being a very large portion of your estate that immediately transfers at death to the listed beneficiaries. If you have concerns that transferring a large amount of funds to an heir that is not as responsible as you might have hoped for or if you hope to spread the distributions out over a very long period of time, there are options available to you.

This article addresses one of the vehicles you can use to match your estate in a manner that best fits your legacy. Controlling IRAs from the grave is challenging, but certainly possible using fairly simple or very complex trusts. It is important we work with your attorney or one from our professional alliance to make sure your estate is properly set-up to match your legacy desires.

Click here to read full article.

Holiday Traditions

2010-12-06T11:47:00.000-08:00

We love decorating for the holidays so our tradition is to have our long-time friend Marc over for Thanksgiving dinner and spend the rest of the weekend decorating for the holidays. Rocke smokes a turkey breast on the Big Green Egg and we stuff a turkey as well, leaving many leftovers for everyone.

Rocke and I are spending our thirty-fifth holiday together and over the years our holiday traditions have changed. When we were first together we spent Thanksgiving with Rocke’s family and Christmas with mine. When Rocke’s mother passed away the tradition changed. We called my parents to see if they would like to join us for Thanksgiving, but were rebuffed with, “we now have our own tradition of lobster for two.”

We have spent the last several years remodeling our kitchen and living room and this year we changed our holiday decorations colors to match the new look. We pulled apart over a hundred white silk poinsettias; spray painted the white parts red and put them back together again. It was a great deal of work but we were pleased with the final result. Once they are done it is only a matter of pulling them from the boxes and hanging them up. It was fun coming up with the new look but we hope to not to have to do it again within the next decade.

RockCandy Favorite Recipes: Root Vegetables Gratin with Gruyère

2010-12-06T11:36:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving dinner is the time we pull our winter recipes out and one of our favorites is this gratin. It is extremely rich so we often make a half a recipe and only use a 9X9-baking dish. It also freezes well after baking, so you can vacuum pack servings sizes to freeze and then enjoy with future meals.

Click here for Recipe.

14% to 17% Ten Year Annualized Returns

2010-12-06T10:36:00.000-08:00

When you look at the 10-year rolling returns for the S&P 500 from 1926 to 2009 you will see that the recoveries following the last major corrections were followed by a 20 year period of 14.86% annualized returns and a 26 year period of 17.19% annualized returns. We do not know what tomorrow may bring, but history shows that optimism for the future is not an unreasonable position.

The Small Business Jobs Act of 2010

2010-11-08T12:07:00.001-08:00

On September 27, 2010, President Obama signed into law the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010. The legislation contains provisions designed to ensure adequate access to credit, and contains targeted tax relief for small businesses. The Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 includes increased IRC Section 179 expensing limits, "bonus" first-year depreciation, changes to treatment of small business stock, general business credit, and health insurance costs of self-employed individuals.

Click here to read a summary of key items.

Grand Super Cycle

2010-11-05T15:44:00.001-07:00

This chart of the Dow Jones Industrial Average Index from the year 1900 to 2010 illustrates the Grand Super Cycle, where markets exhibit a long period of a flat to declining returns that is often followed by a period of healthy performance. Since 1900, there have been four such periods, with the current one being the worst. Taking a step back further into time, since 1835, there have been only six other roughly comparable episodes. After the prior down phases, stocks averaged 13% per year gains over the subsequent decade. History suggests that those who stay the course will be rewarded.

Going Global

2010-11-05T15:19:00.000-07:00

The world has gone global. In 1970 the global market cap was 9.3 trillion with the U.S. making up 66%. With major advances in communications, transportation, trade barriers and improvements in global financial accounting standards the world has grown to $22.6 trillion in market cap with the US percentage dropping to 43% of the total.

Click here to read the full article.

RockCandy Favorite Recipes: Grilled Pork Chops with Apple Pomegranate Sauce

2010-11-04T15:32:00.000-07:00

This recipe was created by Executive Chef Danny Lane of the Town Point Club in Norfolk, Virginia. It is an absolutely outstanding recipe and has easily found its way onto our list of favorite recipes. Enjoy!

Click here for Recipe.

Leaving Your Legacy: Build up your wealth, your family from the heart

2010-11-04T10:12:00.000-07:00

Legacy planning is more than passing your wealth on to the next generation, it is "passing your story, values, and wealth" on to the people and organzations that you care about. In the October 2010 issue of the Kirkland Reporter, Professional Alliance member, Alan Pratt, was featured for his expertise in legacy planning. The article, "Build up your wealth, your family from the heart" discusses legacy planning and its effects on multi-generational wealth.

Click here to read the full article.

Fiscally Responsible Pumpkin

2010-11-04T08:59:00.000-07:00

My parents are blessed with a wonderful neighbor whose parents originally built the home they live in. The children that now occupy the old homestead are continuing to instill fiscal responsibility in their children by keeping family tradition alive. To this family, pumpkins are more than an ingredient in pumpkin pies and the medium for sculpting jack-o-lanterns. They are a lesson in patience, hard work and fiscal rewards. The family’s daughters are responsible for planting and caring for the pumpkin patch and in the fall they haul the pumpkins out to the road and sell them: they get to keep the proceeds.

Last month when I was in Yakima visiting my parents the annual pumpkin sale was on. This time, it was the granddaughters that were offering up six bins of pumpkins that sold out in a couple of hours. The family’s tradition lives on and I could not resist purchasing a few pumpkins to make into jack-o-lanterns to greet the many trick-or-treaters that live in my Ballard neighborhood. I am sure the rewards for these girls’ hard work is much sweeter than any trick-or-treat candy they may have received on Halloween.

2011 Tax Changes At-a-Glance

2010-10-07T16:06:00.000-07:00

A host of tax provisions enacted in 2001 and 2003--commonly referred to collectively as the "Bush tax cuts"--expire at the end of the year. While it's possible that new legislation could extend some or all of these expiring tax provisions, election-year politics make it difficult to predict what action, if any, Congress will take. With that in mind, here's what you need to know about the major changes that are scheduled for 2011.

Click here for details.

Health Care Reform - Fact versus Fiction

2010-10-07T16:05:00.000-07:00

The health-care reform legislation that passed earlier this year was incredibly broad in scope, so it's probably not surprising that there's a good deal of confusion, and a number of false or misleading claims being circulated. Here's the truth behind two of the claims that have gained the most traction lately.

Click here for details.

CLASS Act

2010-10-07T11:02:00.001-07:00

Professional Alliance member Sean Bleck shared the following information with us on the CLASS Act, a new payroll deduction for long term care coverage.

The health care reform legislation that was enacted March 23, 2010, included a novel public insurance model to cover some of the cost of long-term care for qualified participants. The program is called The Community Living Assistance Services and Supports Act, but is universally referred to as the “CLASS Act.” Both widely heralded and savagely

mali

gned, this program would create a trust fund from voluntary payroll deductions. After 5 years, participants who need long-term care could draw $50 to $75 per day, adjusted for inflation, for as long as they need long-term care.

Click here for more information.

Refinancing with a HARP Loan

2010-10-07T11:00:00.000-07:00

With 30 year mortgage rates closing in on 4% there has been a strong demand to refinance. However many homeowners have not been able to without high fees due to the decline in their property’s value. In response, the government created a program called the Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP) which is available to homeowners whose loans are owned by either Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae, or approximately 95% of outstanding loans. The program allows you to refinance without mortgage insurance at today’s competitive rates and is most advantageous to those with high credit scores, a reasonable debt to income ratio, and a loan to home value of less than 93%.

Now for the caveats. The government is involved and the process is said to be slow and full of speed bumps. There is the risk that the process will get held up causing your loan lock to expire without the refinance going through. However the HARP loan is worth consideration for those who have already explored other options.

To determine if you are eligible, go to the Making Housing Affordable website and look up your property on the Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae website. If you have additional questions contact Professional Alliance member Conrad Wouters at (206) 325-8400 or conrad.wouters@legacyg.com.

Curry Salmon Patties with Mango Salsa

2010-10-06T11:57:00.000-07:00

This recipe has a unique blend of flavors to get your palette dancing. Enjoy!

Curry Salmon Patties with Mango Salsa

Personal invite to Goodwill's Glitter Gala

2010-10-06T08:29:00.000-07:00

Please join Rocke and me at this year's Goodwill Glitter Gala on Thursday November 4th at 6 pm. It is a great party with a very entertaining fashion show put on by the Art Institute of Seattle using clothing from donations made to Goodwill. The silent auction are also items found in Goodwill donations. They have incredible jewelry and art pieces available at the silent auction. No live auction, just dinner and the fashion show followed by wonderful dance music.

The cost is $125 per person and Rocke and I will provide the wine for the evening. During the event there are three other opportunities to support the wonderful work at Goodwill: buy raffle tickets, give a donation during the "ask for donations" or purchase a centerpiece.

Please register at the Glitter Gala webpage and let us know if you will be joining us so we can have enough wine for the merriment. This is one of our favorite events and a great cause. We hope you will be able to join us.

Doing the Math Behind Leveraged and Inverse ETFs

2010-09-01T13:53:00.000-07:00

Leveraged and inverse ETFs have become increasingly popular, particularly as hedging vehicles. Investors should beware of the potential perils of holding leveraged or inverse Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) over long periods of time.

Click here to read this article.

Beginning Stain Glass

2010-09-01T12:58:00.000-07:00

My mother has created stain glass pieces for many decades. I would occasionally help her with designs or cutting glass but never completed a piece on my own. Over the years she has accumulated many scraps of brightly colored glass. I have no idea where the inspiration came from but I decided I wanted to do a stain glass Bozo the Clown using some of those scrapes. My girlfriend Sharon Strong loves clowns and if it was a success I knew she would enjoy the piece. It took many trips to Yakima to complete the piece in Mom’s stain glass studio. I learned a great deal and although my techniques were less than perfect, from a distance it didn’t look that bad.

My next inspiration was a wonderful sunset my husband and I witness when we visited his brother in Molson, Washington. I replicated a section of the sunset in the same mosaic style. The fun think about stain glass is as the light changes the work takes on a completely different look, much like a real sunset.

Now I am hooked on creating more pieces so we spent the summer converting a storage area at the back of our house into a small stain glass studio. We hope to have it done this week. I don’t know where the next inspiration will come from but once I start sorting the bright colored glass pieces hopefully a masterpiece will emerge.

Should You Worry about Your Parent's Forgetfulness?

2010-09-01T12:46:00.000-07:00

Have you noticed that your parents repeat the same old stories? Do you worry that they are forgetting to take their medication? Some changes with memory are normal with age but many adult children wonder if they should be more worried about their parents' forgetfulness. Professional Alliance member, and Geriatric Care Manager, Lisa Mayfield has compiled a list of red flags that may indicate that something more than normal memory loss is going on.

Click here for the full list.

Single vs. Multi: Do multiple asset classes help smooth out your ride?

2010-09-01T11:10:00.000-07:00

Investing in a single asset class is risky when you consider no one asset class consistently outperforms on a regular basis. Don't play the guessing game with your financial future.

Click here for full information piece.

Are you the Average Seattle Coffee Drinker?

2010-09-01T10:30:00.000-07:00

If you are a Seattlite, odds are you spend almost twice as much on designer coffee than residents of the next highest consuming city. Based on mint.com's analysis, Seattle users spent on average $674 on coffee in 2009. Las Vegas came in second averaging $391 per person for a cup of designer coffee.

Source: Journal of Financial Planning - August 2010

RockCandy Favorite Recipes: Veal Stuffed Kohlrabi

2010-09-01T10:10:00.000-07:00

The old world sure knew how to cook. This dish was a favorite dish in Hungary in the 60’s. Kohlrabies are one of our favorite vegetables both peeled and sliced raw with ranch dressing or salt or cooked into the delightful old recipe that follows. The hard part is finding fresh kohlrabi; we have it easy because Candy’s mom, Fran Sweesy, grows them for us in her garden in Yakima.

Click here for Recipe.

Specialists Outperform Generalists

2010-08-10T10:37:00.000-07:00

When it comes to specific assignments, specialists typically outperform generalists. Consider the 2008 Beijing Olympics, when we compare the performance of the gold medal-winning decathlon champion with the individual event champions, the individual specialists won every time. Why should investing be any different? A manager skilled at managing investments in U.S. equities won't necessarily be best at managing a global bond portfolio. Russell not only combines multiple specialists in simple packages, but they constantly monitor their performance. We think it's an approach worth championing!

Click here for the full informational piece.

Estate Planning for Medicaid and long-term care

2010-08-06T13:08:00.000-07:00

Check out Professional Alliance member Sean Bleck’s article in the July 16-22 Puget Sound Business Journal for good tips on estate planning for Medicaid and long-term care. If you subscribe to the Puget Sound Business Journal you can read the full article here. If you would like us to send you a copy of the article send us an e-mail to nick@candyjlee.com.

Landmark Financial Reform

2010-08-06T13:02:00.000-07:00

On July 21, 2010, President Obama signed into law the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010. The provisions are designed to help prevent problems that led to the 2008 financial crisis from recurring. In some cases, the legislation enacts specific measures; in others, it authorizes the creation of regulations that will be determined in coming months.

Click here to read the full Article.

Reverse Mortgages Look Better

2010-08-06T12:51:00.000-07:00

Check out Wall Street Journal's article on reducing finance costs. PA member Conrad Wouters offers reverse mortages and is available to answer your questions in this area. They are often an attractive last option to increase income for those individuals with depleting income. The longer in life you wait to take out a reverse mortgage the better.

Click here for the Wall Street Journal Article.

Pre-existing Condition Insurance Plan

2010-08-06T12:45:00.000-07:00

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has initiated the Pre-existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP) (part of the health-care reform legislation). PCIP provides health insurance coverage to individuals who have been unable to receive health insurance for at least six months, due to a pre-existing medical condition. PCIP is expected to last until 2014, at which time health insurance providers will no longer be able to deny coverage to individuals based on their health (medical underwriting).Twenty-nine states plus the District of Columbia will run their own plans, while the remaining states' PCIPs will be administered by the federal government. The cost of insurance under the PCIP is not based on health or income and is expected to be comparable to rates in a state's commercial market. Uninsured individuals can get more information from the government's new website, http://www.healthcare.gov/.

Interest Rates Drop Slightly on Some Federal Student Loans

2010-08-06T12:07:00.002-07:00

If you have more than one variable rate federal student loan, you may be able to convert your variable interest rate to a lower fixed interest rate loan under the government's loan consolidation program.

Click her for full article.

RockCandy Favorite Recipes: Fig, Prosciutto and Gorgonzola

2010-08-06T12:07:00.001-07:00

As tasty as it is beautiful, this first course combines elements from the craddle of civilization infused with the personality of Italian prosciutto and gorgonzola. Enjoy!

Click here for Recipe.

Betting on the Bad Guys

2010-07-01T14:01:00.000-07:00

The creator of Dilbert, Scott Adams’ article in the Wall Street Journal shares his special way of looking at investments. He shares his humors insights into putting your money on the companies you hate most. We agree with Mr. Adam’s who reminds you to ignore his investment strategy.

Click here for the Wall Street Journal Article.

Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us

2010-07-01T13:58:00.000-07:00

It’s not always about the money. This is an eleven minute entertaining and educational YouTube video. Humans are indeed complicated creatures and the more you understand your emotional triggers the better investors you can be. It is your positive or negative behavior triggers, not market moves, which have the biggest impact on your long-term investments returns.

View YouTube video!

Grilled Bratwurst with Bing Cherry Sauce, Goat Cheese Mashed Potatoes & Arugula Salad

2010-07-01T13:36:00.000-07:00

Time is limited on this recipe. It is our once a year seasonal favorite. Fresh Bing cherries are only available for about a month around June each year.

Click here for the recipe.

Elder Rage - Or Take My Father...Please!

2010-07-01T12:45:00.000-07:00

Many of our clients are facing the issues that come with the aging of their parents and friends. Often the most surprising is the personality change to one of rage or a “Jekyll & Hyde” type persona. Jacqueline Marcell’s book, Elder Rage is an engaging insight into what she discovered about dealing with Alzheimer’s and is filled with flashes of humor about the journey.

Lisa Mayfield, Geriatric Care Manager has shared with us a list of books she recommends for more insight into Alzheimer’s, Dementia and care giving.

Mortgage Rates Near 40 Year Lows

2010-06-01T14:02:00.000-07:00

Recent financial events have created some of the lowest mortgage rates we have seen in years. Professional Alliance member, Conrad Wouters relayed to us on June 1, 2010 that he had access to a conforming 30 year fixed rate of 4.75%, and a Five Year ARM rate was just 3.75% both with zero points.

Click here for more information.

RockCandy Favorite Recipes: Blackened Halibut with Remoulade

2010-06-01T13:05:00.001-07:00

In this dish the mild, sweet taste of halibut is enboldened by a cajun seasoning and balanced wonderfully with a creamy mayonnaise-based sauce. Bon Appetit!

Click here for recipe.

The Big Short

2010-06-01T13:05:00.000-07:00

There are not many books I read about the securities industry where the majority of you would every make it through the first chapter, but Michael Lewis’ new book, The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine, is as exciting as it is educational. The book chronicles the lives of a few individuals who saw the housing crash coming and made huge bets against subprime loans.

Mr. Lewis’ first best seller, Liar’s Poker covered a period of time back in the 80s when creative securitization of bonds emerged. The bond world is so surreal, yet Lewis was able to colorfully introduce the reader to the Darwinian world of the bond market and accurately conveys the real world of the institutional bond market no mater how unbelievable it might seem. Truth is indeed stranger than fiction.

Residential Real Estate Short Sales

2010-06-01T13:04:00.000-07:00

You may know of someone having to deal with a mortgage that is in excess of the value of their home and needs to sell. Chuck Reiling, a local realtor, has written an excellent summary on the basic options available to individuals in that situation. Please feel free to contact him if you would like more in-depth information.

Click here to read the full article.

Health-Care Reform: High-Income Individuals Face New Medicare-Related Taxes in 2013

2010-05-06T09:36:00.000-07:00

These new taxes target high-income individuals and families. While details and clarifications will become available between now and 2013.

Click here to find out what you need to know.

Professional Alliance member Victoria Trigg, owner of AMICK TRIGG LLC provides tax advice and tax return preparation for individuals and Neil Larson, owner of Edwin Lane Financial Services LLC provides tax, financial and business planning to high net worth individuals and the closely held businesses they control. Both of these skilled professionals keep our planning team up-to-date on pertinent tax issues and have helped many of you in the past.

Health-Care Reform: Considerations for Seniors

2010-05-06T09:31:00.000-07:00

The enactment of the new health-care reform legislation contains some provisions that directly affect our nation’s older population.

Click here for more information.

Medicare, medical supplemental insurance are complicated and are getting even more so with the new health-care reform. We are pleased that we can turn to our Professional Alliance member, David Johnson, co-owner of Lehmann Wood Johnson, Inc. for insight into this complicated world. David has worked with many of our clients helping them understand their medical supplemental insurance and long-term care insurance options.

Candy’s Mom, Fran Sweesy, honored as 2010 Zontian of the Year!

2010-05-02T09:42:00.000-07:00

The Yakima Valley Zonta Club recognized Fran Sweesy as the 2010 Zontian of the Year. Fran was presented with a plaque and a yellow Zonta rose is being planted at the Arboretum Rose Garden in her honor. Zonta District 8 also recently recognized her 35-year length of service. Fran has been an active member of Zonta since her membership began, serving in various positions of leadership including club President and twice as Area Director. She is credited with recruiting 20 to 25 new members over the years of

her membership.

Fran is known in the Yakima area as a passionate rose gardener, and was instrumental in the establishment of the Arboretum Rose Garden through both her membership in the Lower Naches Garden Club and Zonta. She was the office administrator for The Casey Family program for 18 years before retiring.

Suzanna Darcy-Hennemann inducted into Women in Aviation’s Hall of fame

2010-05-01T12:23:00.000-07:00

Rocke & Candy’s long time friend has achieved yet another milestone in her long career of great adventures. Congratulations on the well deserved honor!

Suzanna Darcy-Hennemann, Trish Beckman inducted into Women in Aviation's hall of fame

Suzanna Darcy-Hennemann of Boeing Commercial Airplanes and Patricia "Trish" Beckman of Boeing Test & Evaluation were recently inducted into the Women in Aviation's International Pioneer Hall of Fame. The WAI's hall of fame selectively honors women who have made significant contributions as record setters, pioneers and innovators in aviation.

Darcy-Hennemann, Commercial Airplanes' chief pilot of Boeing Training & Flight Services, leads approximately 700 instructor pilots around the globe. She was the first woman to captain a 747-400 and a 777 commercial airplane, and the first woman test pilot employed by Boeing in support of both production and experimental flight test. She is an active mentor of women, spanning two generations. Darcy-Hennemann is a current WAI member and was a keynote speaker at this year's annual WAI Conference, which took place in late February.

"We are very pleased these two women were honored this year for their extraordinary achievements as pioneers, and especially for their continuing contributions as leaders and mentors," said Geraldine Spear, manager, Global Research & Development Strategy, for Boeing Research & Technology and the Boeing focal for WAI.

WAI is dedicated to providing networking, education, mentoring and scholarship opportunities for women and men who are striving for a career in the aviation and aerospace industries.

Salmon 21 with Pressed Cucumbers and Sauce Verte

2010-04-25T09:41:00.000-07:00

Rocke and I have enjoyed this dish since the late 70's. We often take it with us on short-trips around Washington State. It has traveled to the mountains for a picnic at Jump Off Low Ridge on the Eastern Washington side of Chinook Pass, to the Peninsula for a picnic at Ruby Beach and even canoeing on Lake Quinault. It provides a great hors d'oeuvre meal for several guests and the leftovers make wonderful salmon cakes.

Click here for the recipe.

Landmark Health Care Reform

2010-04-09T10:45:00.000-07:00

On March 23, 2010, President Obama signed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Patient Act) into law. The House of Representatives also passed a reconciliation bill, the Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act of 2010, which makes changes to the Patient Act and is currently before the Senate for approval. Together, both pieces of legislation make sweeping reforms to health care in the United States.

Click here to read more.

Estate Tax Update for the State of Washington

2010-04-05T12:59:00.000-07:00

Professional Alliance member and attorney Pat McGowan specializes in charitable and estate law with a focus on small business owners. He shared the following report with us on changes to the Washington State and Federal estate tax as well as his thoughts on what to expect in 2010 and 2011.

Report Estate Tax in the State of Washington