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Cascade Guided Wealth

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Cascade Guided Wealth

Your trusted guide to empowered financial decisions.

05/12/2026

The details of Microsoft's Voluntary Retirement Program (VRP) are here and it is worth understanding how this package compares to historical severence packages.

The VRP is being offered to U.S. employees at senior director level and below whose age + years of service equal 70 or above. Roughly 7% of the U.S. workforce is reportedly eligible.

With the details below in mind, here are the factors I would consider over the next month:

• What does your RSU vest schedule look like?

• Are you eligible for 55 and 15 rules?

• What does ongoing COBRA cost at current rates?

• Do I have enough across my retirement savings to support my income?

Key timeline (2026 VRP):
• June 8 — deadline to elect
• June 22 — deadline to sign the separation agreement
• June 29 — deadline to rescind
• July 2 — separation date

Whether it's the right call to take VRP is an entirely individual decision and based on your existing timeline and finances. Reach out if you would like our help in modeling these choices.

05/10/2026

Grateful for all the moms out there making the world turn through all of their seen and unseen labor. I’m also incredibly grateful for the privilege of being called “mom” by these littles.

Happy Mother’s Day to all the incredible moms — and to those who are part of the village of support behind them. 💐

05/05/2026

We hope you are enjoying the sunshine. Linked below is our May Newsletter discussing Umbrella Insurance and upcoming IPOs. May 2026 Monthly Money Guide

04/30/2026

If you're one of the roughly 8,500+ Microsoft employees whose age and years of service add up to 70 or more, you're about to face one of the biggest financial decisions of your career.

Details land on May 7, and then the clock will start ticking. Voluntary buyouts often precede involuntary ones. That's not a reason to panic; it is a reason to plan.

There are a lot of factors to consider in a retirement and buyout scenario which we have highlighted here. However, each situation is unique and you should sit down with a professional and to review the options with clarity.

You've spent years building this. Take a few hours to make sure you exit (or stay) on the right terms.

Reach out directly if you would like to schedule a planning meeting with our team.

04/20/2026

Retiring before 65 means funding your own health insurance until Medicare. For a couple in their early 60s, that's $15,000 to $25,000 annually, sometimes more depending on location and age.

The math got harder in 2026. The enhanced ACA subsidies that had been available since 2021 expired at the end of 2025, and premiums have jumped significantly for most marketplace enrollees. Basic premium tax credits still exist for lower-income households, but the expanded eligibility and larger subsidies are gone unless Congress acts. A few states have stepped in with their own assistance, but most haven't.

This makes income planning even more critical. Keeping your retirement income strategically low through Roth conversions and careful withdrawal sequencing can still reduce what you pay, but the thresholds and savings are different now than they were a year ago.

So if early retirement is a big goal for you, start with evaluating health care in your plan.

04/15/2026

Modern financial life offers endless choices: investment options, account types, insurance products, estate planning structures, employee benefits, and tax strategies. On the surface, that abundance sounds like a good thing.

However, more choice doesn’t always mean more clarity.

It often leads to something else entirely: decision fatigue.

Many clients aren’t stuck because they don’t understand their options - they’re stuck because they understand too many options. Every path has trade-offs. Every strategy has exceptions. The real challenge is understanding what those choices actually mean for your situation.

If you feel overwhelmed by financial decisions rather than empowered by them, you might not need more information.

You need a filter.
A thoughtful evaluation.
A clear recommendation you can trust.

That's where real advice comes in.

If you're ready to simplify the noise and focus on what's most relevant in your specific situation, let's connect.

04/03/2026

Happy Spring! Linked below is our April newsletter discussing the 0% Capital Gains tax bracket, we hope you find it useful.April 2026 Monthly Money Guide

03/04/2026

Linked below is our March newsletter explaining how your Social Security Benefit is calculated.March 2026 Monthly Money Guide

02/13/2026

When's the last time you checked your beneficiary designations?

If you can't remember, you're not alone. Audits reveal 5 persistent issues that could derail your legacy plans:

• Missing beneficiaries – When no one is named, your assets may face probate delays and unnecessary tax consequences

• Outdated designations – Ex-spouses or deceased relatives still listed? These create legal complications and family conflicts that are entirely preventable

• Incomplete forms – Missing signatures or partial information can invalidate your designations completely

• Conflicting elections – When plan documents contradict beneficiary forms, resolution becomes expensive and time-consuming

• No contingent beneficiaries – Without a backup plan, assets may not transfer according to your wishes if your primary beneficiary predeceases you

Remember: Your will doesn't control these assets. The beneficiary designation form wins every time.

These simple documents override your carefully crafted estate plans for your largest assets - 401(k)s, IRAs, and life insurance policies.

Is it time for a beneficiary designation audit? Let's make sure your assets transfer according to your wishes – not default rules.

02/09/2026

The Hidden Cost of Financial Fragmentation

Do you know where all your money is right now? Really?

A Roth here, an old IRA there, a brokerage account somewhere else, and perhaps a 401(k) from a previous employer...

This financial fragmentation isn't just inconvenient – it's potentially costing you.

When your financial life is scattered across multiple institutions:
• You can't see the complete picture of your asset allocation
• Fees may be duplicated across accounts
• Tax optimization becomes difficult to coordinate
• Forgotten accounts can mean missed growth opportunities

Consolidation isn't just about convenience. It's about being able to see your financial life as a coherent whole rather than disconnected pieces.

If you have accounts scattered across multiple institutions and no unified view, you're almost certainly missing optimization opportunities.

Let's get everything visible in one place so you can make truly informed decisions about your financial future.

Would you like to discuss how consolidation might benefit your specific situation? We're here to help.

Address

606 120th Avenue NE Suite 102
Bellevue, WA
98005

Opening Hours

Monday	8am - 4pm
Tuesday	8am - 4pm
Wednesday	8am - 4pm
Thursday	8am - 4pm
Friday	8am - 4pm

Telephone

+14254532343

Website

http://www.cascadegw.com/

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