Banking & Finance

State investigates former financial planner in Spokane

Probe comes on heels of ban issued by federal regulatory authority

March 26, 2020

The Washington State Department of Financial Institutions has opened a formal investigation into a one-time financial planner in Spokane recently banned from working in that capacity.

2020 Icons: Phil Kuharski

Longtime economics expert still going by the numbers

March 26, 2020

Mike McLean

Phil Kuharski, the former Fidelity Mutual Savings Bank executive long known as the leading economic authority on the Spokane real estate market, says he's been working with numbers since he was 6 years old.

Prioritizing can make multiple savings goals attainable

Three-leg model targets emergency, midrange, retirement objectives

March 12, 2020

Guest Commentary

The sounds of coins clanking into a piggy bank are etched indelibly into our collective consciousness. Putting those pennies, nickels, and dimes into a ceramic sculpture felt good when we were 5 or 6 years old.

Foundation connections can leverage contributions

Nonprofits help donors strengthen communities through planned giving

March 12, 2020

Guest Commentary

How will you ensure your legacy leaves this community a better place? The legacy that each of us leaves isn't entirely preplanned but written in part through our daily acts of kindness, hard work, and generosity.

Redirecting gifts can make donors feel betrayed

Study finds contributors' negative reactions linger if contributions diverted

March 12, 2020

Guest Commentary

Americans love donating to charities. Charitable giving continues to grow in popularity as online donation platforms make it easier than ever to give. In 2019, over $500 million was donated online in the U.S. on Giving Tuesday,

Older investors outnumber young with financial plans

Saving often isn't priority before reaching mid-40s

March 12, 2020

Kevin Blocker

Paul Viren, owner of the financial investing firm Viren & Associates Inc., in downtown Spokane, says two-thirds of his nearly 600 clients are Baby Boomers. The average age among all his firm's clients is 56.

Spokane's service network tries to do more with less

Organizations continue to face drops in membership

March 12, 2020

Natasha Nellis

Service organizations long have been a staple in the Spokane community, and despite dwindling membership numbers, they are still hard at work giving back to the community, with well over $500,000 in donations given in 2019.

What to do before saying 'I Do'

Address options such as joint accounts, prenups

March 12, 2020

Virginia Thomas

A wedding is typically a happy event, but what comes afterward can be anything but pleasant, if the newlyweds haven't planned how - or whether - to integrate their financial lives.

Spiceology Secures $500K in capital

CEO says company ahead of Q1 target

February 27, 2020

Kevin Blocker

Spiceology Inc., the Spokane-based spices and rub company, has raised $500,000 in venture funding and hopes to secure more in the near future, confirms company's CEO Chip Overstreet.

Inland Northwest Composite shows fourth quarter increase

Hecla Mining posts strongest Q4 gains

February 13, 2020

Natasha Nellis

The composite value of the region's seven publicly traded companies rose 7.7% to $12.5 billion in the fourth quarter of 2019, marking the fourth straight quarter in which the composite has risen, according to an analysis by Spokane-based financial