Charles Petitjean, CFP - Financial Planner at Barker Wealth Management, LLC

Charles Petitjean, CFP - Financial Planner at Barker Wealth Management, LLC Financial Planner helping people aged 60+ live better retirements while paying less taxes.

I help you to:
▪️Maximize Your Money & Retirement Spending
▪️Pay Less Taxes
▪️Have Less Money Worry

09/09/2026

A pattern I've noticed as my clients move deeper into retirement: what they valued at 62 isn’t typically the same as what they value at 72 or 82.

At 62 it's often travel, activity, doing lots of things.

By 82 it's much more about simplicity, closeness, being near the people who matter, having fewer decisions to make rather than more options to choose from.

*Most* people’s retirement plans are built once, based on the 62-year-old's priorities, and never really revisited to reflect who that person becomes.

I think a good plan should expect to be wrong later..
Not because it was built badly, but because the person it was built for kept changing, duh!

Basically, revisit your life/ financial priorities every year!

Saying bye to summer 2026!We’ve had a busy few months of weddings, regional travel and playing with all the cars, of cou...
09/04/2026

Saying bye to summer 2026!

We’ve had a busy few months of weddings, regional travel and playing with all the cars, of course.

I know it’s not technically over yet but bring on fall football, holidays and food! 😎

08/31/2026

$30,000 toward a down payment at 35 or a $100,000+ inheritance received at 65?

I’d argue the $30,000 could have a much bigger impact on someone’s life.

If you live into your 80s and 90s, there’s a decent chance your kids will be approaching retirement themselves by the time they inherit your money.

And sure, $100,000+ receiver at 65 is still a wonderful gift.

But $30,000 at 35?

1) That could help buy your child their first home, or
2) Pay for childcare during the expensive years, or
3) Knock out student loans or pay off a car, or
4) Simply give a young family some much-needed breathing room.

Obviously, your own retirement security comes first. I’m not suggesting giving away money you might eventually need.

But once you’re confident you have more than enough, I think it’s worth asking:

“When would this money actually make the biggest difference in my kids’ lives?”

08/26/2026

Most retirees think a financial planner tells people to spend less.

My job is actually to tell you when you can spend more and that you should absolutely do so.

I’ve sat across the table from retirees who did everything right.. saved diligently, retired with more than enough, and yet, still won’t book that one trip they’ve always wanted to, help a grandkid with tuition, or replace the car they’ve been nursing along for a decade.

It’s 100% not because they can’t afford it.

Because after 30 or 40 years of saving, nobody ever gave them permission to stop.

That instinct got you here, it’s a hard one to turn off, even once it’s no longer necessary.

That’s one of the most important and impactful things I help retirees with!

S/o to Andi Costello for her killer “2 hour cocktail party”!Yes, she’s a fantastic commercial realtor but she’s arguably...
08/20/2026

S/o to Andi Costello for her killer “2 hour cocktail party”!

Yes, she’s a fantastic commercial realtor but she’s arguably a better connector of people and community leader.

If you live in and around the Portland/ Vancouver metro and don’t know her, you should..
Nuff said!

Dirty 30?!More like see how much you can eat of Linda’s Fudge Cake from The Cheesecake Factory 😛Check back to see the gr...
08/18/2026

Dirty 30?!

More like see how much you can eat of Linda’s Fudge Cake from The Cheesecake Factory 😛

Check back to see the gray hairs start to fill in over the coming decade!

08/13/2026

It’s such a challenge when you adore your family and children but also feel a real calling to the work you do.

I genuinely love what I do..
Helping someone figure out they can retire two years earlier than they thought, picking up the phone to check on a client going through a hard time, the creativity and freedom to build my practice from scratch in the way that I want and that best serves my clients.. I find all of it very meaningful.

But, I also have two kids who wants me to put my phone down at dinner and be the “Mater” to their “Lightning McQueen”, which is so so fun!

I definitely don’t have this all figured out, far from it, and it’s a real challenge but it feels like a good problem to have.

I suppose the kids come first.. 😂🙏🏽

A lot of retirees are overpaying taxes every year even when their CPA filed a perfectly good return.Unfortunately, that’...
08/13/2026

A lot of retirees are overpaying taxes every year even when their CPA filed a perfectly good return.

Unfortunately, that’s just how the relationship works at most tax firms still.

Your CPA sees what you bring them and they help you file accurately based on what happened.
They might provide you with some estimated payments to make if you’re not withholding enough through your wages and/or have other income events that generate additional tax liability.

What they typically don’t have is your full retirement picture.. i.e. your account balances, withdrawal strategy, and other intimate details of your financial life.

That’s not their job, although, some might argue that they have a part to play in knowing this information and being kept apprised.

But, it still stands that tax filing (reactive) is not tax planning (proactive and forward looking).

The latter really necessitates that your planner and tax pro are coordinated and on the same page.

The home office is getting an upgrade!!And it’s happening in my shed 😂What say you? Undoubtedly, it won’t look that simi...
08/05/2026

The home office is getting an upgrade!!
And it’s happening in my shed 😂

What say you?

Undoubtedly, it won’t look that similar to this but I’m pumped to do some handy work and make this into something cool (and an escape from the kids and barking dog).

Who knows… I might even have a few clients I’m really close with over to the shed for meetings! 😂

08/04/2026

Do good work. Be genuine and kind. People will notice this and remember you.

For quite some time I convinced myself that building a successful practice required a complicated algorithm and approach but it really doesn’t.

Turns out the referrals, the relationships and your reputation mostly traces back to pretty simple stuff.

Don’t overthink it like me :-)

Address

Ridgefield, WA
98642

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Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

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