West Invest, LLC

09/02/2026

It’s back to school season and that’s a good time for us to check in with you about 529 plans.

A 529 is a tax-advantaged account you fund now so your child (or grandchild, or anybody you designate) can use it later to pay for qualified education costs.

People often associate 529 plans with paying for college tuition, but there’s so much more to it. SWIPE through for the less obvious things a 529 can actually cover.

There is a lot more to know about 529 plans and how to make one work for you and your family. If you want a 529 plan, are actively spending from a 529 plan, or have leftover funds sitting in a 529, reach out to us to strategize.

08/11/2026

Meet our new intern, Case! Originally from Kobe, Japan, he lives in Seattle, Washington, where he is pursuing a degree in Finance with a minor in Environmental Studies at the University of Washington. He’s joining us here in Bellingham for the summer!

About why he’s pursuing a career in finance, Case says: “I've always been interested in business, but through my coursework at UW, I discovered a passion for the financial industry because it combines analytical thinking while creating meaningful relationships.

So far, my favorite part of the internship has been learning about the financial planning industry while working alongside such a welcoming and supportive team. I'm grateful for this opportunity and excited to continue learning and growing throughout the internship.”

Here are some fun facts about Case:
· He doesn’t have a favorite sports team, but will root for any team LeBron James is playing for
· His go-to takeout meal is getting a Lamb and Beef Shawarma at Aladdin’s on the Ave in Seattle
· He’s pretty sure that he’s seen every single movie on Netflix

07/31/2026

It’s Time for Your Mid-Year Money Check-In!

Six months ago you probably made a plan, a budget, or even a resolution. Then life happened. Gas prices shifted, maybe a kid started daycare, or a job changed.

July is a good time to check if that plan still matches your actual life. Whether it takes you two minutes or twenty, here’s a few things to check.

1. What's changed in your monthly expenses? Check for any increases in regular expenses, or on the flip side, extra cash from decreased spending in any specific categories.

2. Has your income changed? Did you get a raise, change jobs, retire, or have a side gig that started or stopped?

3. Have you made progress on your saving goals? Check on your emergency fund, and any contributions toward retirement accounts or Health Savings Accounts.

If you find surprises, good or bad, call us.

07/17/2026

Another birthday, another post by Blair!

Happy Birthday to one of our Paraplanners, Luke!

It’s hard to believe Luke has already been part of West Invest for two years. His analytical mind keeps us thinking, improving, and looking for better ways to serve our clients. It also gives me plenty of opportunities to tease him.

A few things you may not know about Luke:
• He’s a fellow Thunderbird from Kulshan Middle School and a Raider/Bayhawk from Bellingham High School.
• The best golfer on our team.
• He earned his bachelor’s degree in Slovenia and loves experiencing different foods, architecture, and cultures.
• He has collected quite a few office nicknames, including Luko and Lukey and several others that probably shouldn’t be shared publicly.

Enjoy this picture of us, an outtake from a video that EB was making us practice filming!

Luke, we’re grateful to have you on the team and excited to see what the future holds for you.

07/15/2026

Here's a quick read about financial independence and why it isn't only about retirement!

You’ve probably heard the term ‘financial independence’ before. Let's talk about what it really means!

07/10/2026

Blair here again, with another birthday celebration post! Today we’re celebrating Marty!

He started West Invest in 2000 and has been a financial planner for even longer, but to me he’s dad. He’s taught me a lot over the years, about business and life, and I’m grateful to have been working with him for almost ten years in the family business.

If you’ve worked with Marty at all you know he’s always making jokes, but did you know:
• He’s also a total history buff,
• He’s climbed a ton of mountains including Mt Blanc, Kilimanjaro, and Cotopaxi. And local mountains too, like Mount Hood (in the first picture of us in 2015) and Mount Baker (in the second picture in 2013),
• And he loves to go crabbing

Happy birthday Dad!

07/08/2026

On the heels of Independence Day, we want to know what financial independence means to you!

Financial independence can mean so many different things:

· Having less worry about price tags on everyday expenses,
· Owning your own home,
· Flexibility in your employment,
· Retirement,
· Paying off debt,
· And so much more!

What milestones along the road to retirement feel like financial independence to you?

07/03/2026

Happy Fourth of July (tomorrow!) Our office and markets are closed today in observance of the holiday.

06/12/2026

Blair here to wish our Client Service Associate Sarah a happy birthday!!

When you call our office, Sarah is often the first one to pick up the phone, and if you’ve talked to her to schedule your appointments, answer questions, or troubleshoot account problems you know she goes above and beyond to help.

Some things you might not know about Sarah:
• She teaches dance classes for adults and kids…at the studio where my daughter takes dance! She isn’t her teacher currently but maybe someday.
• She makes amazing desserts. Usually she makes cakes for team birthdays, but we didn’t make her make her own birthday cake today.
• At the office we’ve heard her swear only two times! And those two times probably only happened because the rest of the team is a bad influence.

Grateful to have you on the team Sarah, I hope you have a great birthday!

06/11/2026

We have some new faces around the office, our recent blog gives you an idea of what each of us does here at West Invest!

We are a team of 10, with three financial planners, two paraplanners, and five support staff, all working hard every day to help clients reach for their goals. Let us introduce ourselves!