Banking & Finance

Northwest Farm Credit issues mostly upbeat forecast

Fruit tree crops doing well; weather hampers wheat

July 20, 2017

Despite delays due to a wet spring, this season's outlook is positive for most of the Northwest's food and agricultural industries, says Spokane-based agricultural lender Northwest Farm Credit Services in its latest report. 'We're cautiously opti

Inland Northwest executive pay rebounds

Average compensation increases 3.8 percent

July 20, 2017

Linn Parish

Total compensation rebounded last year for executives at Inland Northwest-based publicly traded companies, according to the annual analysis conducted by the Journal of Business. Average annual total compensation in 2016 for 41 executives from the eight p

Gesa opens Spokane Valley branch

New outlet for credit union occupies former bank site

July 6, 2017

Mike McLean

Richland-based Gesa Credit Union has opened a Spokane Valley branch in the Banner Center retail plaza at 509 N. Sullivan. The branch occupies the old 2,200-square-foot site of a Banner Bank branch, which closed after the Walla Walla-based bank merged wit

Take these steps to plan for your financial future

Getting a jumpstart helps, as does identifying goals

June 22, 2017

Windy L. Rudd

When it comes to financial planning and preparing for the future, many people have the instinct to bury their heads in the sand to avoid the monetary realities of the future. According to a recent retirement study published by Financial Engines Inc., ju

Father-son financial planners embrace tech tools

Longtime company here serves about 400 clients

June 22, 2017

Mike McLean

Financial planner Ted Demars founded what would become family-run Demars Financial Group LLC here in 1973, when he was still doing mostly insurance work, and the handheld electronic calculator was just coming onto the scene. Though such calculators initi

Spokane City Credit Union locks in on customer service

Longtime, small organization restructures its mortgage originations

June 22, 2017

Gene Fitzpatrick, who now approaches the first full year of his tenure as president and CEO of Spokane City Credit Union, says that since he took over, the institution's focus has been on improving service for its existing customers rather than recruiti

Combating elder fraud

Edward D. Jones group focuses on seniors, retirement issues in D.C. trip

June 22, 2017

LeAnn Bjerken

With cases of elder financial fraud on the rise, Edward D. Jones & Co., one of the nation's leading suppliers of financial services for individual investors, sent 85 employee volunteers to Washington, D.C., last month to meet with legislators to discuss

Looming fiduciary rule could create 'black swan' event

Asset selloffs could spur market disruptions soon

June 22, 2017

Guest Writer

When it comes to financial planning and preparing for the future, many people have the instinct to bury their heads in the sand to avoid the monetary realities of the future. According to a recent retirement study published by Financial Engines Inc., ju

Poll results, economic performance are diverging

Positive sentiment doesn't lead to immediate action

June 22, 2017

Steve Scranton

Since the end of the U.S. elections last November, survey measurements of how people feel about the economy and their personal situations have risen dramatically. The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index increased from a reading of 100.8 as of Oct

When making investment strategy, know thyself

Personality traits can help, hinder success in market

June 22, 2017

Michael Maehl

Being aware of trends and the successful identification of investment opportunities are quite small considerations in being a successful investor. Trial and error as you learn the ins and outs of the financial markets, along with really knowing your pers