As summer quickly comes to a close and kids are headed back to school, many of them with a wad of cash in sitting in the bank, we thought it apropos to share some thoughts on how to encourage the youth in your life to use this opportunity to it's fullest.

Encouraging teenagers to work during the summer and save through a Roth IRA is a powerful strategy for building their financial future. This real-world experience instills a strong work ethic, fosters the understanding of the value of money, while leveraging the benefits of tax-free growth and compound interest. Starting them on this path early can make a significant difference in their long-term financial well-being, can set themselves up for a more secure and prosperous retirement, all while learning the value of hard work and responsibility.

Founded by Nick Fisher (Portfolio Manager, Pilot Wealth Management) and his wife Maurissa, Young Entrepreneurs Business Week (YEBW) was started in 2005 with a simple vision— to host a summer camp where Oregon high school students could get inspired and learn how to become leaders in the world of business. We were excited when 26 students attended our first Business Week on the campus of the University of Portland, and had high hopes the program would grow in the coming years. Little did we know just how many students we would be able to reach, not only in Oregon, but also from across the country and even internationally!

Our goal as a Registered Investment Advisor is to provide our clients with the best risk adjusted returns in the pursuit of achieving their goals. We try to be agnostic regarding how investors achieve their return and many of our clients invest in real estate as part of their overall strategy. Many we have spoken with recently are increasingly cautious when it comes to acquiring new real estate investments. This is a result of either prices being too high relative to potential rents and/or a worry about the Federal Reserve’s change in monetary policy. So, how worried should we be? Do high prices and higher interest rates justify caution?

Because we didn’t have enough to worry about already, earlier this week we learned of a massive data breach at Equifax, one of the nation’s three major credit reporting agencies. Hackers stole names, Social Security numbers, birth dates, addresses, and in some instances driver’s license numbers and credit card numbers.In light of this unprecedented breach, we want to provide you with the necessary information to lessen your risk of being a victim of identity theft:

I’ve long been of the opinion that emotional intelligence (EQ) is one of the hardest skills to acquire. But with it, it’s a heck of a lot easier to admit what you don’t know. And ask for help. And seek out mentors, advisors, and people smarter than yourself. To share your dream with others and then trust they can help you figure out how to execute it. Phil Knight’s EQ is on full display throughout the founding of Nike and in his candor retelling the story some 50+ years later.