Blog
Steps on the journey to Imagine, Believe, & Achieve
Another Tax season in the books
Another tax season in the books and I am starting to catch up. But I will take a few days off on Friday May 8 and Monday May 11. What’s going on in the Stock Market? The S&P 500 as of Friday, May 1 was up 5.62%. Will it hold, climb or...
Read MoreHobbit Hole
Our boys went to New Zealand and brought back a Hobbit Hole (pictured above). Why, you may ask? Taylor and I shared many evenings reading various tales from Tolkien. For me, it seemed a grand adventure indeed. Not only the story but...
Read MoreBeautiful Weather
Wow – The weather is BEAUTIFUL! I almost want to stop there but there are other items to cover.There is a trend toward Zoom meetings or briefer connections than sit down meetings. What do you say? Along with Zoom meetings, we are...
Read MoreMartin Luther King holiday
He said, ‘I have a dream…’ and then laid out his dream, his hopes, his work. On Monday we celebrate Martin Luther King Day and the markets are closed.At Harvest Financial, we love to hear dreams, tales of travel and adventure and help...
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Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Most important of all – Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah, Happy New Year and thank you for a fantastic 2025. We are winding down here and looking forward to time with family over the holidays. We may even leave a little early each day...
Read MoreFall is in the Air!
Fall is in the air! The weather is a little cooler and we have been enjoying a few scattered showers! But for now, we have some business to discuss. First, since we are empty nester and don’t rely on school calendars, now is our time....
Read MoreHow's your sandwich?
How’s your sandwich? Nothing like a great sandwich on a Summer afternoon! Whether it’s a picnic or simply on the back porch, biting into the perfect blend of bread, meat, cheese, mayo and other goodies can bring a big old smile to...
Read MoreSummer Ending
August – When I was in school, we went back after Labor Day. That was the end of Summer. Now most schools seem to start mid- August, robbing children of precious free summer days. And while they have replaced it with three weeks off...
Read MoreHappy 4th of July
Happy 4th of July! If there ever was a holiday for Financial Advisors, this is it. Independence Day! Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. It may be independence from work or perhaps worry (where is the money going to come from...
Read MoreSummer Time
Summer is coming, I think! A few days of heat, then cooler than normal, as unpredictable as the Stock market. As of this writing (June 10), the S&P 500 is up 2.9% year to date, more importantly, ranging over 27% over the last year....
Read MoreThe Voice of Reason
I was doing some research and came upon the phrase; ‘the voice of reason’. I hadn’t heard it in a while so I did some digging. The voice of reason requires three elements; it must be insightful, relatable and actionable. Let’s look at...
Read MoreWelcome March
Welcome to March; the first day of Spring is March 20 and during my lunch break, I stepped outside to see lots of blossoms. It is also tax season and most of the 1099 are available. Some investments can delay the issue of a 1099, so...
Read MoreWelcome February
Valentine’s Day is creeping up on us and so is as well as Tax Collecting time. Although completing tax forms does not feel like love to me, it is a fact of life for all of us. Information has already started to flow so at our house we...
Read MoreHappy New Year 2025!!
1976 was the first Presidential Election I was eligible to vote in. To be honest, in the midst of my college years, I don’t remember a lot of President Carter’s achievements, other than what the news is showing now. Was Billy Beer a...
Read MoreHappy Holidays
Good tidings we bring! I met with a friend the other day who is going through some tough family events. When I greeted them and asked how things were, the tears began to flow and they said life was a disaster. I also had a recent...
Read MoreTis the Season
I am writing this on Monday and looking forward to the election being OVER. I am tired of the ads, the in-fighting and the lack of plans. On to better. Tis the season when we are wrapping up required minimum distributions for those...
Read MoreOffice pictures
Many of you have never seen the office here are some pictures of the front office and Lidia does a great job decorating with each season. We are ready for a Spooktacular Fall season, now if we could just get the sun to cool down a bit
Read MoreFamily Financial Meeting
My grandfather passed away in 1977. He was a great guy and did anything to support his family. After his passing, we learned that my grandmother never learned how to write a check. It’s not that she couldn’t comprehend the task, it...
Read MoreHappy Labor Day- 3 Day Weekend-Bye Bye Summer
Happy Labor Day - 3 Day weekend - End of Summer, etc.! Along with all of you – we will be taking Monday, September 2nd off to enjoy the Labor Day Weekend. While it is not quite the end of summer yet, we are already bombarded with...
Read MoreHappy 4th of July
Half the year has passed us by?! The second half looks to be a ___________________, not sure what to make of it. But we will kick it off with a flourish of Barbeque and fireworks on the 4th of July. Looking back, I just love that a...
Read MoreSchools out for Summer
Schools out for Summer – Alice Cooper Some of you might remember this iconic line from Alice Cooper, and June is here! There is another line in the song; ‘Schools out ‘til Fall, we might not go back at all!’ - sounds like retirement...
Read MoreMay Day Memories
When the children were younger and Nani Care was in full bloom, May 1 was a celebration of joy at our house. Not sure if it was our Catholic school upbringing or Nani just wanting an excuse to celebrate, but each May 1- out came the...
Read MoreSpring is in full bloom
Here’s what I know…. If you have $100,000 in an account earning 6% and you take $400 out per month and increase the monthly amount by 3% each year to keep up with inflation, the account will last 33 years and 7 months. That’s math and...
Read MoreWelcome to March
Welcome to March and what a month! March 5 – Election Day in California and a number of other states March 10 – Day Light Savings begins March 15 -The Ides of March - Did you know that according to Wikipedia, March 15 was...
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Mustard starting to bloom in the Valley
Pineapple Express deluge! 49r’s versus Chiefs Super Bowl. Mustard starting to bloom in the Valley. How can it get any better than this? January has been a month of adjustments as staff has shifted. We...
Read MoreHappy New Year 2024!!
Time Poverty – A term you may not have heard before but when you think about it, the term makes sense. At the end of the day, do you ever find yourself saying; There was one thing I wanted to accomplish and I never got to...
Read MoreHappy Holidays
Did you know the name for this month came from the Latin meaning “ten”? Apparently, Romulus, back in 750 BC had a different way to count months. In our day and age, we tend to overload December with events;...
Read MoreChill in the air, Leaves turning and falling.
Chill in the air, leaves turning and falling, spooky specters on Halloween, and time changes, all part of the coming week. A great time of year for soups and sweaters, gathering and good times and perhaps a good book by the fire....
Read MoreAutumn is Here!!
Nani took off for travel to Japan with three friends, one of whom was born in Japan so the language will not be a problem. It’s been over 50 years since my visit to the land of the rising sun as a Boy Scout. ...
Read MoreHave a great end of Summer!
Well, that was the strangest Labor Day weekend weather! Worked out great as we had a Black Tie wedding event Saturday afternoon which would not have been pleasant in 100 degree weather. Most of you know California Summer...
Read MoreWhy Start with the Why?
This Summer our team has been reading and discussing Simon Sinek’s book, “Start with the Why”. It is a great book and I would highly recommend it for anyone starting out or over in business. It builds on Stephen...
Read MoreHappy 4th of July-Celebrate Independence
Rational Decisions -based on or in accordance with reason or logic.Clients often say; ‘We want your advice on how to retire safely.’That phrase is music to our ears. Unfortunately, this sometimes comes with a note...
Read MoreRemembering those who gave so that we can have what we have.
Happy Memorial Day! Our office will be closed Monday May 30 in honor of Memorial Day.Recently, I have watched a few episodes of ‘Finding Your Roots’. This show takes celebrities through various stories from their...
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Purchase Decisions
Nations Giant Hamburger: hamburger $7.45 cheeseburger $9.10 Carl’s JR: hamburger/cheeseburger $6.39 Gotts Roadside: hamburger $8.99 cheeseburger $9.99 Downtown Joe’s: hamburger/cheeseburger $15...
Read MoreAnswers to recession concerns
Are you getting a tax refund? Hopefully, you planned your taxes so there are no surprises, but just in case….Let me be the killjoy against a wild weekend in Vegas. Pay-off high interest DebtBalance x Interest rate will tell...
Read MoreDon't be an April Fool
There is actually sunshine outside! (I don’t want to say it too loudly and scare the blue skies away.) Other than rain and snow, what did March bring? The Dow Jones Industrial Average started the month at 32,661...
Read MoreWhat Happened in February?
What Happened in February?Dow Jones S&P...
Read MoreThought for the New Year
The rains have been coming down. Hallelujah! One topic of conversation around the office is; are we capturing as much as possible or is it just flowing out to the Ocean. This phenomenon got...
Read MoreHappy Fall!
What’s a person to do?Inflation of every variety (wage, real estate core, non-core, etc.) are all up. If you’re trying to buy a house you are NOT happy. If you’re selling you’re thrilled. If you’re in the...
Read MoreHappy August!
30 WeeksIt has been 31 years since Nani and I moved to Napa and we still live in the same house. We decided it was time for a minor face lift, so we decided to order a new front door. Mr. Home Depot comes out with tape measure and a...
Read MoreHappy 4th of July!
Happy 4th of July! Independence Day. I enjoy fireworks, hot dogs, family gatherings and even tormenting my children with a quiz about the Declaration of Independence. However, what really inspires me is the nature of...
Read MoreThree Day Weekend
Three Day weekend coming up (we are closed Monday July 5)! What shall we celebrate? Independence Day – July 4 – even without fireworks a great day to celebrate. I have memories of the war in Vietnam. Luckily, just too young...
Read MoreThe Difference Between Saving & Investing
I don’t want to join the 401k because the market is too (high, volatile, unpredictable). I get it. I deal with it every day but let’s discuss the difference between saving and investing. At some point in your life, you will...
Read MorePreparing for the Holiday Spirit
On July 17, 1955 Walt Disney spoke these words at the opening of Disneyland. ‘Disneyland is your land. Here age relives fond memories of the past and here youth may savor the challenge and promise of the future. Disneyland is...
Read MoreHave we recovered?
With all the discussion about what a recovery looks like; a V (quick down then quick up), a U (quick down and stays down for a while) or a square root sign (down, up and flat), I put a few observations on paper. The S&P 500 on January...
Read MoreWe hope you had a wonderful 4th of July!
Happy 4th of July! One of my favorite Dad tortures was to make the children read the Declaration of Independence. It really is quite the document and having done some writing, I can’t imagine how they got it done ‘by...
Read MoreSummer is Here! Market & Lifestyle Perspective
Our Services Knowing that your investment objectives can change over time, we take a customized approach to investing. Although it’s right on time, the restrictions, and regulations lend some uncertainty to this...
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April showers bring May flowers, or so we hope...
The S&P 500 as of the close on April 8, 2020, is down 14.88% YTD, however, April has shown around a 9% increase. Zoom Video Communications (ZM) is up 73% YTD. We use the technology for client meetings, team chats, and family...
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Harvest Financial Update: Office Status
We are getting some calls asking; “What should we do?” Stay healthy and safe. I know it sounds trite, but your health is priority #1 Call us if you have questions, that is what we’re here for: Crystal is home with her...
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Viral Outbreak Chart
Here is an interesting chart that came out today regarding the recovery timelines for past viral outbreaks. As always, if you have any questions about the current market, we are here to answer your questions.
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Market Jolt & Headlines
CORONA VIRUS The sneeze heard around the world! As of this writing, we are back to October 2019 levels in the Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500. What is so disruptive about a virus? They don’t understand it. It was thought...
Read MoreCoronavirus, Tax Season, and Harvest Financial news
Coronavirus & the market: The S&P 500 fell 1.6 percent on Monday (1/27/20), its sharpest decline in nearly four months: The C.D.C. urged U.S. travelers to avoid all nonessential trips to China. The Shanghai government stopped business...
Read MoreHappy Holidays and Hope
Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah and Happy New Year! It is all going by too fast and it has been a wonderful and busy year. Beginning Monday Dec. 16, Connie returns though part time. Her focus will be building our...
Read MorePumpkin spice and everything Fall
Welcome to Fall! Today is a beautiful day, chilly morning and breezy evenings, leaves beginning to change colors and grapes being harvested. However, we may see some 90’s this weekend, after all, this is California. Local News...
Read MoreSummer Daze
August. When I was growing up, August was vacation time. School did not start until well after Labor Day and now it seems like back to school sales start before graduation ends. Of course, Christmas break was only two weeks and it was...
Read MoreIndependence
Happy 4th of July! Independence Day. Let Freedom Ring. We will celebrate our freedom from tyranny with BBQs, picnics, parades and fireworks, and perhaps for a brief moment give thanks for those who fought for our independence. There...
Read MoreThe Summer Season
June – graduations, weddings and the start of summer! Finally, we are getting warm weather in Napa. I always liked the term ‘commencement’ for graduations, and I believe the term applies to weddings also. A new...
Read MoreMay Flowers & Harvest Happenings
May! An exclamation point is just right as the sun is shining, grass is green, flowers are blooming, and we can begin planting for Harvest. May Day is a favorite of Nani’s. When the children were young, it meant dragging out a...
Read MoreSpring Savings
2018 Tax Reform is anything but transparent, and by that I mean lots of folks are getting caught unawares. There are so many components that go into the tax calculation that most tax advisors are cautious to predict the outcome....
Read MorePlanting with Patience
Patience. Where do you stand on that virtue? When the sun pokes through the clouds and the rain stops, I begin to think about preparing to plant. We start by thinking about what we want to eat this summer; we love fresh tomato...
Read MoreValentine's Day From My Perspective
Happy Valentine’s Day! I remember in elementary school picking out the right Valentines (Batman or Superman, I don’t think there was an Aquaman), thinking about who would get one and wishing about whom I might receive one...
Read MoreStay Calm and Weather Recessions
In economics, a recession is a business cycle contraction when there is a general slowdown in economic activity. Macroeconomic indicators such as GDP, investment spending, capacity utilization, household income, business profits, and...
Read MoreHoliday Reflections
December. What is the right balance between living in the past – memories and tradition – and creating the future? I remember Christmas at my grandparents, and as they got older, the duty passed to my Mom and Dad. I...
Read MoreCommitting to Long Term Care
I spent last weekend in Colorado. My son, Chase lives there and just bought a house with his girlfriend. As we spent time together looking at the house, hearing plans and meeting their friends, I learned about commitment. 1. It is a...
Read MoreTrick or Treat?
Trick or Treat! Halloween is on the way and the event has changed slightly since my youth. Sure, everyone still talks about costumes, though the variety has increased. We maybe had two super heroes, and now there are dozens. I...
Read MoreIs it time for YOU to get Life Insurance?
Labor Day weekend is often the signal to the end of summer, though here in the Napa Valley it seems like fall arrived a few weeks ago. I suspect we will get some more hot days, so don’t put the barbeques away just yet. September...
Read MoreAre YOU Ready for Back to School?
Nani and I celebrated 36 years of marriage on Tuesday. Four of our children have completed college, and one is in the Army. Last weekend, Christina brought up the three grandchildren and somehow the topic turned to ‘back to...
Read MoreIndependence Day
#1) Happy 4th of July/ Independence Day! #2) We want to talk about ACTIVE versus PASSIVE investment management. #3) If anyone recognizes other correlations between #1 and #2, please share with us! #4) I am thankful we have the freedom...
Read MoreA Lifetime of Graduating
Yesterday was High School Graduation Day here in Napa, so summer break is on. However, it seems like graduation has been going on for weeks: Kindergarten through College. I had no idea they made cap and gowns that small! I remember...
Read MoreWelcome to Disability Insurance Awareness Month!
It will never happen to me! My job doesn’t take any physical effort; I don’t need protection. Answer this: What would happen if you couldn’t work for a month or three months and there was no income? I suppose you are...
Read MoreThe Seed or the Harvest?
Would you rather pay tax on the seed or on the harvest? So goes the explanation of saving pre-tax or post-tax. When you put money into a 401k or IRA, you are not taxed on the contribution (the seed), the money grows tax deferred (no...
Read MoreJust One Thing
According to the OFFICIAL Harvest Financial Marketing plan for 2018, I am supposed to talk about Insuring Your Love. This involves protecting those who you love against life’s difficulties. You watch newlywed couples start off on...
Read MoreTravelling Along Life’s Path
Happy 2018! Each and every day we are greeted with news. Whether that great algorithm has arranged what you are going to read on the internet or you have selected a specific channel / news outlet to follow, the world changes around us,...
Read MoreWho Will Inherit Your Financial Wisdom?
Many people who inherit wealth or small businesses are at significant risk for essentially squandering the wealth. An Ohio University study shows that an astonishing 33 percent1of all beneficiaries lose their entire inheritance within...
Read More'Tis the Season
According to the song, there are 12 Days of Christmas. Many Christian faiths celebrate 4 weeks of Advent. There are 8 Days in Hanukkah, 7 nights in Kwanzaa and our Muslim friends celebrate Ramadan over 30 days. These are days to stop,...
Read MoreBe Grateful and Be Prepared
It’s November – it’s colder, darker, and Thanksgiving is almost here. Two things come to mind: gratitude and planning. Gratitude is pretty obvious. The Napa Valley is a gorgeous place to live, filled with generous...
Read MoreWelcome to the Spooky Life in Napa
Normally, I might be writing about Halloween spookiness, but I think the Valley has been through enough SCARES. As I write, smoke fills the air and people are wearing masks to protect their lungs. Friends lost their homes, some clients...
Read MoreLIAM is here!
As I write this, we are coming up on Labor Day weekend – my idea of the traditional end of summer. However, greater minds than mine have rolled back the starting blocks and school has been in session for two weeks, so my college...
Read MoreBack to School Already?!
When I was a kid, back with chalk and blackboards, school started AFTER Labor Day. August was still vacation, but alas, here we are with school starting soon. I am writing this in mid-July and seeing plenty of back to school sales....
Read MoreGuest Post: Estate Planning
No advisor worth their salt would go it alone. We can’t know everything, so we rely on and develop relationships with other advisors to complete the picture. Anthony is one such relationship. As an estate planning attorney, he...
Read MoreHappy Father's Day
Dads come in all shapes and sizes, and I have yet to see a Father’s Day greeting that doesn’t say, ‘My Dad is the BEST!’ I have been a son, a father and now a grandfather. I asked my children what they thought...
Read MoreDisability Insurance Awareness Month
April showers bring May Flowers and weddings, graduations, Memorial Day, summer vacation, AND Disability Insurance Awareness Month. Nani and I just returned from Utah and watching Taylor graduate with a degree in Biology. He will spend...
Read MoreOut of Hibernation
Spring is bursting out all over! Spring is here and with it; color, blossoms and pollen. The sunshine feels great! Spring also means getting to work as weeds pop-up and vegetable gardens are ready to plant. It may also demand...
Read MoreMarch Madness – what does it mean to you?
Basketball lovers look forward to the tournament and college hoops. Someone in our office, who shall remain nameless, has chosen Villanova, even though Duke is her team. We’ll see. The weather man has his share of March Madness,...
Read MoreWho’s looking under your hood?
I do it without thinking. Get in the car, key in the ignition, turn and put it in drive. I didn’t check the gas, oil, carburetor, tire pressure, etc. Some of those things I can do; others, not a clue. So I leave it to the pros....
Read MoreLooking Ahead
Last Sunday, Nani and I went down to the Napa River by the Oxbow Public Market to see the effects of the rain. For over 15 years, the City of Napa has worked with the Corps of Engineers to create a plan to avoid flooding in downtown...
Read MoreCheck your Plan B
September is Life Insurance Awareness Month (LIAM)! Does that mean you have to go out a buy some insurance…is it on sale? No, but take 5 minutes to check out these 5 points. Can you find the policies? Life insurance, disability...
Read MoreTime to plan and time to enjoy
Three days until we leave for Tahoe. Chase from Colorado and Taylor from Utah, arrived last night. Packing is the activity around the house AND planning. The grand kiddos are coming up so we have a age grouping of a 1 year old to...
Read MoreRemeber the past, build the future.
Memorial Day weekend is celebrated in LOTS of ways. Hopefully, you take some time to reflect on the service given by so many men and women to protect our freedom. It is said that those societies who don't learn from the past, are...
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