New Year, New You? Nope

January is NOT the time to make a big change in your life. Not in Spokane, Deer Park, or Chewelah.

But March is… here’s why:

January tells us it’s time for big changes—but have you noticed how your body just wants to nap and eat carbs? That’s because winter is not the season for major life overhauls. Nature slows down, and so should we.

Instead of forcing yourself into ambitious resolutions when it’s 10 degrees in Eastern WA, embrace the season of rest, reflection, and maybe an extra blanket.

March, on the other hand? That’s go-time.

Spring isn’t just for cleaning out closets—it’s also the ideal time to refresh your finances and set yourself up for a successful year.

With new energy and motivation, here are a few key financial planning habits and projects to tackle this March:

✅ Max Out Retirement Contributions – There’s still time to make 2024 IRA contributions (deadline: April 15!), and you can also boost 2025 savings while you’re at it.

✅ Review Your Tax Return – Instead of just filing and forgetting, use your tax return to spot opportunities—are you missing deductions, need to adjust withholdings, or should you start planning a Roth conversion for 2025? Do you know how the changing tax laws at the end of 2025 will affect you in 2026? Find out here.

✅ Update Your Estate Plan – If it’s been a while since you reviewed your will, beneficiaries, or power of attorney documents, now is a great time to make sure everything is still aligned with your goals – are all those folks still alive and in your good graces?? 🙂 Also, did any of your key decision makers move to a different state? Wrapping up someone’s life long-distance is difficult. Stay local.

✅ Check In on Your Investments – Make sure your War Chest is filled back up if now’s a good time to make that move, give yourself a raise if your advisor gives you the OK, or get some education on which investments will actually help you and not just feel good because of a particular label (ie. conservative, aggressive, etc.).

✅ Refresh Your Budget & Savings Goals – With new energy (and maybe a few holiday spending regrets), spring is a great time to refocus on saving and making sure your money is going where it matters most. It doesn’t all have to be about finances, either. For me this is a great time to start looking for opportunities to play pickleball outdoors in Spokane and Chewelah.

It doesn’t all have to be about finances, either.
For me this is a great time to start looking for opportunities to play pickleball outdoors in Spokane and Chewelah.

Caleb

✅ Tackle Insurance Gaps – Do you have the right life and disability insurance in place? Is your coverage still sufficient? Spring is a great time to revisit these protections.

Winter was for resting. Now it’s time to take action! If you need help putting your financial goals into motion Schedule a Discovery Call right now.

February’s Insights: Taxes

February’s Insights: Taxes

Here’s a quick guide to make sure nothing gets forgotten this year.

In the last year, have you…

📊 Sold or traded investments (in a non-retirement account)?
🏠 Made big moves in real estate?
🎓 Paid tuition or student loans?
💵 Made or received gifts above the annual limit ($18K per person)?
🎁 Donated to charity (cash or non-cash)?
👶 Expanded your family with a little one (hello, tax credits!)?
🧃 Gave your kid $10K to start a ‘business’? That counts.
🪂 Took up skydiving lessons? Ok, maybe not deductible—but memorable!

Here’s the good news: At Deep Creek Financial Planning, we’re testing* a brand-new tax summary letter to help our clients avoid the “Oops, I forgot!” moments. It’s a simple, organized way to remember all those taxable adventures.

We plan to roll out the tax summary letter for every client in 2026 since it takes all year to prepare for it.

Looking for something new we can offer you right now? 🎉

After you file your 2024 taxes, schedule your free Tax Return Review!

We’ll help you dive deeper into your return so you can gain a clearer understanding of your taxes—and where there’s understanding, there’s an opportunity to save. 💡

A Tax Return Review Includes:

  • A clear 2024 summary
  • A 2025-2026 estimate based on current tax law
  • Actionable tax saving strategies!

Your CPA + Deep Creek’s Tax Planning = AMAZING!

Schedule A Tax Return Review!

Behind The Scenes

I always like it when someone gives me the special tour or shares something not everyone knows. If you’re interested in a behind-the-scenes tour of a typical business day for me keep reading.

Here’s my day from Wednesday, Jan. 29th:

  • 6 AM: Wake up, read my Bible / devotional, use the Pause app, and read a chapter of non-fiction
  • 7 AM: Head out to meet Bryan from church for coffee in Spokane
  • 8:30 AM: Workout (and recover with a dip in the hot tub!) at the North Spokane YMCA
  • 9:30 AM:
    • Work from the Y’s co-working space
    • Meeting Prep
    • Edit a press release about WA Saves
    • Invite Christian business owners to join the new Faith Driven Entrepreneur group
    • Think through a client’s complex estate plan, prepare a brief for the estate attorney, and coordinate the implementation of wills, trusts, and business continuity plans
  • 1 PM: Meet Mark, a fellow business owner, for lunch so I can interview him about how his business might serve my clients
  • 2 PM: Head to my office in Deer Park
  • 2:30 PM Client Call: Discuss long-term care solutions with clients from Georgia
  • 4 PM Discovery Call: Get to know a young couple from Spokane and begin discussing their money goals and an inheritance
  • 4:30 PM Discovery Call: Get to know a Deer Park business owner and her husband to discuss their needs to save money on taxes, plan for retirement, and consolidate their investments
  • 5 PM: What I do almost every night (Video) followed by dinner with the family at our home in Deer Park
  • 6:30 PM: Head out to drop off a kid at youth group and then on to Pickleball in North Spokane!

What do all those activities add up to? Helping active retirees and successful business owners LIVE ABUNDANTLY by connecting the dots between family goals and strategic financial planning.

Happy February!