Banking & Finance

Election shouldn't influence investment approach

'Wait-and-see' mode isn't necessary, history suggests

November 3, 2016

Personally, I can't wait for the election season to pass.Â There are few topics more emotionally charged than politics, whether you're a Republican, Democrat, Independent, Libertarian, or a player to be named later.Â By the way, ifÂ you think this e

â€”Junior Achievement of Washington/North by Northwest

Raising financial literacy

Junior Achievement initiative to involve 1,900 kids here

November 3, 2016

Mike McLean

Junior Achievement will partner with Spokane Public Schools for the second year in presenting middle school students with a day of hands-on experience with financial challenges they'll likely face as adults. This school year, Junior Achievement Finance

Hart Capital's foray into Idaho

Investment firm now manages $300 million in assets

November 3, 2016

Spokane-based Hart Capital Management Inc. has opened an office in Coeur d'Alene, saying that 20 percent of its client base now is in North Idaho. The company expanded last month into a 2,200-square-foot office space on the main floor of McEuen Terrace

Extender act, election lull lend certainty to tax filers

Preparers this year don't have to wait on Congress

October 20, 2016

Mike McLean

Permanent tax breaks enacted last December, coupled with an election-year lull in new tax laws, are enabling tax preparers and their clients here to implement strategies with more time and certainty than they've had in recent years, some tax planners he

Annual health plan enrollment brings familiar stress

Insurance decisions often involve increasing costs

October 20, 2016

Guest Commentary

Besides colder weather and pumpkin carving, October also brings the beginning of the employee benefits open enrollment season. Nearly 40 percent of Washington state employers renew their employee benefit plans on Jan. 1, causing an intense surge in huma

Spokane office of BDO USA locks in growth mode

Accounting firm looks to add 10 CPAs in next year

October 20, 2016

Linn Parish

The Spokane office of BDO USA LLP plans to hire about 10 more people in the next 12 months, says Paul Bridge, the office's managing partner. The office here, one of 60 operated by the Chicago-based international public accounting firm, has had some big

Inland Northwest Community Foundation shoots for a quarter of a billion in assets

CEO is optimistic that organization will hit that mark one day

October 20, 2016

With a recent bequest of $3 million pushing its philanthropic assets above $100 million, Inland Northwest Community Foundation President and CEO Mark Hurtubise says the foundation now has its sights set on reaching $250 million. In the last 30 months, th

Washington Trust Bank leads Spokane County in deposits once again

Bank of America, U.S. Bank also in top three

October 6, 2016

Washington Trust Bank remains Spokane County's leader in bank deposits, according to an annual market share report released recently by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. The Spokane-based institution's $1.88 billion in local deposits as of June 30

Metropolitan, Summit trusts make distributions

$10.4 million disbursed in latest in payout series

October 6, 2016

Kim Crompton

Investors have recouped a small, but welcome additional portion of the many millions of dollars they had tied up in Metropolitan Securities Co. and Summit Securities Inc. before those affiliated companies here shut down 12 years ago. The Metropolitan Cre

Spokane County saw median household income dip last year

Gain within Spokane fails to offset declines elsewhere

October 6, 2016

LeAnn Bjerken

In contrast to state and national trends, household median income in Spokane County fell last year, says online data compiled by the Community Indicators of Spokane Initiative. Whether the decrease is statistically significant remains to be seen, says Pa