Banking & Finance

'Family bank' shown to hurt plans to retire

Many who provide money to relatives say they don't factor that into expenses

December 5, 2013

During the last five years, roughly three out of five Americans age 50 and older have provided financial assistance to members of their family, including adult children, parents, grandchildren, siblings, or other relatives, says a Merrill Lynch study rele

Incapacitation strategy said to be key to wealth management

Power of attorney, asset transfer useful to qualify for Medicaid assistance

December 5, 2013

Mike McLean

An incapacitation plan can help protect family assets if one spouse loses the ability to make financial and health-care decisions due to conditions such as Alzheimer's disease or severe stroke, which are among the top causes of disability for older people

Preparing wills still not high priority for many, experts here say here say

Contributing influences include youth culture, procrastination

December 5, 2013

Katie Ross

Planning for death is still proving to be a challenge for many adults across the nation and here in Spokane, say elder law and estate planning attorney Lynn St. Louis and financial planner Paul Viren. St. Louis and Viren both say they see many adults pro

Coeur d'Alene-based stock brokerage Pennaluna launches new investing site

Cd'A company's online tool intended to connect funders, companies seeking capital

December 5, 2013

Treva Lind

Pennaluna & Co., a Coeur d'Alene-based stock brokerage, has opened a division named PennStarter, which launched a website last month as an online equity funding portal enabling people to invest mainly in startup companies. Pennaluna, which is located at

Spokane accounting firms merge

Company established here in 1981 now has a combined staff of 15

November 21, 2013

Katie Ross

Spokane accounting firm Heiskell MacGillivray & Associates PS has merged into its operations the firm of Engel & Associates PS, says Kevin Sell, a shareholder and certified public accountant with Heiskell MacGillivray. The merger, which was Nov.

Wemco plans big new facility on West Plains

Project is latest of several on the West Plains that total about $40 million

November 21, 2013

Treva Lind

Airway Heights-based Wemco Inc., a light industrial equipment manufacturer, is starting a $6 million project to build a new production facility on a 10-acre parcel on the West Plains, says John Rouse, the company's vice president.The project is

Financial advisers still don't reach female clients well

Male-dominated industry adjusts to serve growing, successful demographic

November 7, 2013

Craig Holmes

Women own well over 50 percent of the private wealth in this country. Most new businesses are started by women and they have been outperforming men in higher education since 1990. Women are advancing on all fronts of the economy and will be for to

Consider financing options when selling company

While seller likely would prefer cash, other options can fill gaps in funding

November 7, 2013

Ed Kirk

A 2013 study by the National Institute on Retirement Security found that Americans of all ages are "falling well short of the savings amount they need to secure their retirement." Roughly one-third of baby boomers have no retirement savings and one

PrimeSource CU advances beyond its telecom roots

With two Spokane branches, organization reports rise in loans, income, members

November 7, 2013

Treva Lind

Spokane-based PrimeSource Credit Union, with nearly 6,000 members and two branches here, is experiencing strong asset and loan growth this year, during a time when the financial institution also is increasing its marketing efforts, says CEO called

Deciphering 401(k) fee disclosures said difficult to do

Previously hidden fees still hard to find in new mandated explanations

November 7, 2013

Mike McLean

Fee disclosure requirements for employer-sponsored 401(k) and other defined contribution retirement plans are a good idea, some financial and plan advisers here say, but they add that the disclosure statements sent to millions of plan participants