Submitted by Jordan Mahoney, Financial Advisor with Waddell & Reed, Inc.

Have you reviewed your financial fitness?
Just as it’s important to maintain good physical health on a consistent basis, the same holds true for your financial health. If you haven’t done so, take a moment to assess your “financial fitness” in the following key areas:

Don’t put off setting up a financial plan.
Utilize a personal inventory process and set realistic short and long-term goals. A qualified financial advisor can help you learn more.

Increase savings, reduce debt.
Develop a monthly budget to provide a clear picture of your current and projected expenses, separating recurring expenses from fluctuating. Find out where your money is going and see where you can reduce spending and increase savings. Set a goal, such as reducing your debt by $2,000 for the year, and use credit as little as possible, paying above the minimum whenever possible. The power of compounding is on your side, so the sooner you get started, the better.

Be financially prepared for emergencies.
Ideally, having several months’ worth of living expenses put aside for an emergency is the best recommendation. This also can help you to avoid using credit to make ends meet during an emergency.

Save up for big-ticket purchases.
Plan ahead to replace appliances, furniture or a car. Rather than using credit, have a savings plan and budget for these items.

Explore ways to fund your children’s education.
Consider options, such as college savings plans, or Coverdell ESAs. Before selecting a savings option, sit down with a financial advisor to determine which one best fits your overall plan.

Examine your insurance coverage.
Ask yourself a few questions with regard to your current policy: Has your mortgage payment gone up? Has other debt increased as your income has gone up? Would your children be able to attend college if you were gone? Do you have disability coverage? Have you considered long-term care? Be sure that you and your spouse have examined all the issues — not just for today, but for your future to ensure that you have adequate coverage.

Consider an estate plan.
An estate plan can protect your loved ones and your assets, providing for distribution of your property and helping to determine how much will go to your beneficiaries, to your charities or to Uncle Sam. Failing to have a will or an estate plan can exhaust some estates through fees and other costs related to estate administration.

Plan your retirement.
Ask yourself when you want to retire. Then, find out if you are saving enough for the standard of living you want after retirement. Think about current and anticipated sources of income before finalizing any plan. Ask yourself how much you will need each month to maintain your standard of living without depleting your retirement resources too soon. To achieve the right answers, you will need to ask yourself the right questions. As with any aspect of your financial fitness, a qualified financial advisor can help guide you.

This article is meant to be general in nature and should not be construed as investment or financial advice related to your personal situation.  Please consult your financial advisor prior to making financial decisions. Investing involves risk and the potential to lose principal.

Jordan Mahoney is a Financial Advisor with Waddell & Reed and is licensed to offer securities and insurance in WA.  She can be reached at 360-734-4728 ext.: 123.   Securities are offered through Waddell & Reed, Inc., Member FINRA and SIPC.  Insurance products are offered through insurance companies with which Waddell & Reed has sales arrangements.

Submitted by Community Boating Center

Each fourth Friday this summer, beginning July 25, the Community Boating Center will host a flotilla of boats in south Bellingham Bay to bid adieu do the departing Alaska ferry. On those days, the 418-foot MV Columbia is scheduled to leave the Bellingham Cruise Terminal at 6:00 PM, bound for Ketchikan. Boats of all kind are encouraged to join the gathering. To encourage participation, the Boating Center is offering 20% off rental fees for sailing dinghies and human-powered watercraft, including kayaks, rowboats and paddleboards, starting at 5:00 PM each fourth Friday through September.

On Flotilla Fridays, Plume, the longboat replica built by staff and students of Bellingham’s Home Port Learning Center, will be available for a limited group of folks who want to row out for the ferry send-off. Sign-ups for participating aboard Plume will begin at 5:00 PM, near the public boat launch in Fairhaven, on the evenings of the events.

Ferry Farewell Flotillas are planned for July 25, August 22, and September 26. All participants should wear a life jacket and have clothing available for a variety of weather. Life jackets will be available for Plume participants and CBC renters. “Our intent is to showcase and celebrate the variety of boats that contribute to the maritime culture of the Bay,” says Community Boating Center director Steve Walker. “The CBC’s primary focus is on education and access for small watercraft. However, with Bellingham Bay being the largest bay in the Salish Sea, there is plenty of water to share for all kinds of vessels, from paddle boards to big commercial ships. The Boating Center hopes Fourth Friday Flotillas will become a summer tradition for boaters from throughout Whatcom County.”

The Community Boating Center is open for boat rentals every day of the week and continues to offer sailing and paddle-sports youth camps as well as instruction in sailing, paddle-boarding, sea-kayaking, and rowing. For details, visit the CBC website, www.boatingcenter.org.

Submitted by Dave Brumbaugh

The Seattle Seahawks will be displaying their Super Bowl championship Lombardi Trophy for public viewing from 3-7 p.m. Sunday, July 6 at Poppes 360 Neighborhood Pub, part of the Lakeway Inn & Conference Center at 714 Lakeway Drive, Bellingham.

The Lombardi Trophy will be set on a raised stage, enclosed in a clear case on a stand just outside the Poppes 360 patio entrance in the Lakeway Inn’s north parking lot. No touching of the trophy nor access to the stage will be allowed, but attendees may gather around the stage to take photographs.

The Seahawks also are bringing members of the Sea Gals dance team, their mascot Blitz and the Blue Thunder Drummers from 3-5 p.m. Sunday. Barbecued hamburgers and hotdogs will be available. Attendees 21 and older may see the trophy from the Poppes 360 patio, where food and drink specials will be offered beginning at noon.

The trophy tour’s stop in Bellingham is its only one in Northwest Washington.

“We’re so excited to have the Super Bowl trophy coming here for fans to see,” said Larry MacDonald, General Manager of the Lakeway Inn. “The Seahawks were so impressed by the turnout at their tour stop here last summer that they made Bellingham one of the few communities getting a chance to see the trophy and relive their amazing championship run.”

Parking will be available in the Lakeway Inn’s north parking lot, accessed from Lakeway Drive, and its south parking lot, which has a Lincoln Street entrance.

The Best Western PLUS Lakeway Inn & Conference Center, managed by Providence Hospitality Partners, is located at 714 Lakeway Drive, just off Interstate 5 at Exit 253. The Lakeway Inn is totally smoke-free throughout its 132 guest rooms, two restaurants (Poppe’s 360 and The Oboe Café), indoor pool, fitness area and 11,000 square feet of meeting-room space. For more information, call (360) 671-1011 or (888) 671-1011 or visit www.thelakewayinn.com.

Submitted by Dave Brumbaugh

Pledging to promote responsibility and education, 2020 Solutions will become among the first marijuana retail stores in the state when it opens at 8 a.m. Tuesday, July 8 at 2018 Iron St., just a block from Hardware Sales and the intersection of James and State streets in downtown Bellingham.

Open from 8 a.m. until midnight daily, 2020 Solutions features legal marijuana and locally made glass pipes and smoking accessories. Edible products are expected to be available soon, said Aaron Nelson, Senior Vice President of Operations for 2020 Solutions. The store paid its licensing fee on July 3 and the license from the state Liquor Control Board will take effect early Monday morning. The licensing process included an intensive background investigation and site inspection.

“We have built relationships with suppliers that will supply us with product for opening day,” Nelson said. “As local suppliers come on line, our goal is to sell high-quality, locally produced products when available.”

Nelson, who has 14 years of management experience in a corporate environment, said 2020 Solutions will offer a clean, professional and relaxing environment. The store will educate customers on the differences between various strains and their potential effects, he added.

“Our goal is for consumers to have a pleasant experience with cannabis,” Nelson said. “We believe the important elements of an enjoyable experience are: Purchase Responsibly, Consume Responsibly, Act Responsibly, Possess Responsibly.”

The emphasis on responsibility extends to the store’s management and employees, he said.

“We are working closely with the Liquor Control board to ensure we are keeping marijuana out of the hands of minors, exceeding the recommended guidelines,” Nelson said. “We will be working closely with youth drug prevention and awareness.”

For more information, visit www.i502solutions.com.

Submitted by Boys & Girls Clubs of Whatcom County

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Whatcom County’s new approach to this year’s summer programming focuses on preventing summer learning loss. The newly structured summer programs provide Club members choices of programs targeted to three grade-level groups focused on keeping youth current in subjects they often fall behind in during the summer months away from school.

The Club is taking this new approach to help prevent a grade-level loss in reading and essential critical thinking skills among the youth it serves.

The shift includes activities designed to draw upon members’ interest and keep their reading and literacy, math, physical activity, science and engineering, and art skills current. An example of programming is a rocket building and launching program, sponsored by the Foresters, that utilizes NASA’s “Properties of Flight”. Club members can practice engineering and math skills while having fun.

The organization also participates in the summer foods program at three of its locations. Any child is welcome to come to the Bellingham, Blaine or Ferndale Units and enjoy a free lunch. Check out the organization’s website for serving times, location addresses and menus.

While Boys & Girls Clubs programs appeal to all children, this is especially true in the summer months. When schools close for the summer, the Boys & Girls Clubs are open to every child. Summer programming is included with the annual membership, which is just $30 dollars for the year. “Our clubhouses will be open and ready to provide positive and impactful activities for children all summer long,” says Boys & Girls Clubs of Whatcom County CEO Heather Powell. “Although the daily activity structure will be slightly different, we have designed it to be very fun. We invite children and youth in the community to walk through our doors and take advantage of our summer programs. Everyone is welcome.”

More information on the summer program and how to sign up can be found at www.whatcomclubs.org or by calling the organization at (360) 738-3808.