If you’re trying to follow the bear and bull markets in coming up with an investment strategy, Ed Stern of Piper Jaffray has a word of advice: There are two different barnyard animals that will be much more helpful, chicken and pigs.

“It’s important to bring perspective into the market…People tend to be motivated by fear and greed, it can overtake them and cloud their objective judgment,” said Stern, the hands down winner of the Kitsap Peninsula Business Journal’s Stock Watch competition two years ago. read more »

Fiduciary: Relating to the holding of something in trust for another. In this case you the employer are considered to be making decisions that affect the assets of your employee’s retirement plan in trust. read more »

With the rush and bustle of the holiday season, the last thing many people are thinking about is the 2005 tax season. But, with just a few weeks left in 2004, time is running out to increase your tax deductions. read more »

The holiday shopping season is in full swing. In a country where spending is already a national past time, this is the time of year when many people significantly increase their debt and overextend their already overextended finances. Many people will be starting the New Year faced with a pile of credit card bills, wondering where all their money went.

Corrie J. Moore, a financial advisor with Waddell and Reed, Inc., of Silverdale, gave five reasons why people end up in financial dire straits, both during the holidays and throughout the year. read more »

Recognizing good investment opportunities starts with a good understanding of the stock market and its rules. Investors who have moved beyond the basics are in much better position to invest into individual companies instead of mutual funds and other options. read more »

On Nov. 1, the Internal Revenue Service began charging, with some exceptions, a $150 application fee to process offers in compromise. An offer in compromise allows taxpayers to settle their tax liabilities for less than the full amount.

The fee will help offset the cost of providing this service, as well as reduce the number of offers that are filed inappropriately, for example, only to delay collection. read more »

Kris Tefft has joined the Association of Washington Business Governmental Affairs staff, where he will serve as Director for Legal Affairs.

Tefft comes to AWB from the Building Industry Association of Washington where he served as legal counsel for the last three years. At BIAW, he developed an extensive in-house litigation practice, representing the association and its members as lead or co-counsel in 15 cases before the Washington Supreme Court and Court of Appeals. read more »