We are excited to announce that our newest employee Tyler Lodahl has successfully passed the rigorous CFP® certification exam in November!  Tyler has been with Echo Wealth Management since July 2016, working as Associate Wealth Manager by fostering collaborative relationships with our private and corporate clients.  He assists Echo in delivering personal financial planning service using Echo Dashboard and office operations.  Starting in December, he will increasingly aid in a larger role directly serving clients, taking on similar responsibilities as his colleague Steve Drost. 

An old proverb states “A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush” suggesting one should be content with what they have (or will have shortly) rather than roll the dice on the unknown.  One who wholeheartedly believes in this proverb may react swiftly and decline to enroll in their employer-offered deferred compensation plan.  This could be perceived as a rational decision; why would you want to receive a portion of your salary or bonus in 5+ years when you can receive it now?   What benefits could there be to electing to give up your bird, or compensation, and “roll the dice” on the unknown?

The deadline for 2017 benefits enrollment is approaching quickly for many employees.  More and more employers have started to offer high-deductible health insurance plans in addition to the traditional HMO or PPO plans.  You can set up health savings accounts (HSAs) only if you choose one of the high-deductible health insurance plans instead of the traditional HMO or PPO health insurance plans with co-pays.  What do you need to know about HSAs in order to make a wise decision for yourself and your family?

As the former President of South Africa and Nobel Peace Prize recipient, Nelson Mandela, once said: "Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." And even while obtaining an education is integral to our world, planning for a child’s education can be an exciting, yet daunting task. Thankfully there are some tax-advantaged strategies you can consider:

When I founded Echo Wealth Management in early 2015, I had a vision in mind for my new company: take complexity out of wealth management while helping clients gain the confidence to follow their dreams.  And over the past 18 months, through investing in cutting edge technology, and bringing Steve Drost and Tyler Lodahl aboard as associate wealth managers, I am thrilled by what we have achieved together: over $59 million in assets under management and 50 clients.  In addition, I continue to invest in education and technology to enhance the services to clients.