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The GET Committee met on Wednesday, October 7th and discussed the possibility of opening a traditional 529 College Savings Plan for Washington residents. By “traditional” they mean a plan where you essentially purchase mutual fund shares and thus your 529 value can fluctuate with the market.

Last year I wrote a blog post called “Financial Advice for the 20-Something.” I thought it time to follow-up with a post for all you “30-Somethings” out there.

In July of this year the Washington Legislature enacted the College Affordability Act, which lowers the cost of tuition at Washington's public colleges and universities. The GET Committee is considering the impact of the College Affordability Act on Washington's 529 GET program. They have had several meetings, with more to come.

I recently finished the book "The 5 Years Before You Retire" by Emily Guy Birken. For anyone who finds themselves 5-10 years away from retirement, I'd have to recommend this book.

I know what you’re thinking: Makeovers and financial planning? Really, Amy?

Stay with me on this.

This morning I received a text from my friend, Rachelle. She said she wants to get a beauty makeover (she has her wedding coming up, after all!) and this time she wants to pay for it. Am I in?

Have you ever been in the middle of a good book and kept thinking, "Oh, so-and-so should read this."? Well, that repeatedly happened to me while reading All Your Worth-The Ultimate Lifetime Money Plan by Elizabeth Warren and Amelia Warren Tyagi. This mother/daughter team (yes, it's that Elizabeth Warren) wrote this book back in 2005.

If you're like me, over the last few weeks you've been receiving in both your mail box and your email inbox various documentation necessary to file your taxes. But what do you do with them? Do you throw them on top of the ever-growing stack of mail on your kitchen counter?

The stock market will go up...and down.

Bond yields will rise...and decline.

I'm always fascinated this time of year as every so-called financial "expert" on TV or in print feels the need to proclaim their prediction of what the markets will do over the next 12 months.

Scenario 1: A couple in their 40's have one child and modest savings. They're comfortable with having all their assets pass to the surviving spouse should one of them die. Mom gets a $400,000 inheritance at her parents' death. Mom dies and Dad inherits all his wife's assets, as planned. One year later Dad remarries.