Vista Capital Partners

12/24/2025

Retirement isn’t the end of a career. It’s the start of a new chapter.

The most fulfilling next chapters aren’t guided by financial readiness alone—but by purpose. When working, learning, connection, giving, and leisure are thoughtfully present, life feels balanced and meaningful.

At Vista, The Purpose Project helps clients design that balance—at any stage of career or retirement.

If you’re thinking about what comes next, we’d be honored to share it with you.

👉 Reach out to Vista to learn more. Read the full article here: https://vistacp.com/blog/the-purpose-project-designing-your-best-life/

12/15/2025

‘Tis the season for capital-gain distributions—those unwelcome fund surprises which can show up whether you’ve traded or not. Across the fund industry this year, despite celebratory returns in most asset classes, many investors will be writing checks to the IRS for gains they didn’t realize.

But not at Vista.

For 2025, the stock mutual funds we favor will distribute 0% in capital gains—zero short-term and zero long-term. Meanwhile, the average fund is expected to hand investors taxable distributions averaging 0.1% in short-term gains and 3.3% in long-term gains.

👉 Get more insights from Lindsey Williams, Vista's Chief Client Officer & Lead Advisor, in her article titled: When a “zero” is a win

‘Tis the season for capital-gain distributions—those unwelcome fund surprises which can show up whether you’ve traded or not. Across the fund industry this year, despite celebratory returns in most asset classes, many investors will be writing checks to the IRS for gains they didn’t realize....

12/11/2025

At our recent annual Gratitude Gathering, each Vista employee received $400 to donate to an organization or individual in need. The only guidelines: involve one other person in the decision and report back when we gather again in a month.

Our hope is that each employee experiences the real joy that comes from sharing with others.

Giving back is core to who we are. Each year, Vista donates more than 3% of our profits to charitable causes in the community.

On this Giving Tuesday, we encourage you to join us—whether through time, resources, or simply a moment of kindness that brightens someone else’s season. 🎁

12/11/2025

We’re proud to share that we recently surpassed $3 billion in assets under management—a milestone that places us among Oregon’s most recognized independent advisory firms, and among the largest 100% employee-owned RIAs in the country.

This achievement reflects the trust our clients place in us, the dedication of our team, and the long-term discipline that guides every decision we make.

Growth is never the goal on its own—it’s the outcome of doing what’s right for our clients, every day.

12/11/2025

What does the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” mean to you?

✔️ More predictability
✔️ New planning opportunities
✔️ A chance to get ahead before year-end

Many key provisions from the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act are now permanent, including lower tax brackets, larger standard deductions, AMT relief, and a $15 million-per-person estate and gift exemption. For anyone bracing for major tax shifts in 2026, the landscape just became much more predictable.

Our latest summary breaks down the key changes in the OBBBA, including the enhanced SALT deduction, additional benefits for seniors, and shifts to charitable giving rules.

Read our overview and explore our OBBBA video series: https://vistacp.com/blog/what-the-one-big-beautiful-bill-act-means-for-you/

This past summer, Congress passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA)—an ambitious name for a law that brings something surprisingly practical: stability.

12/03/2025

✨ Gold’s Glitter vs. Real Growth

Gold has surged more than 50% this year, recently topping $4,300 an ounce. But history reminds us that shine doesn’t always equal strength.

Since 1972, gold has outpaced inflation (“real growth”) in just 55% of rolling 10-year periods. Compare that to:

📈 U.S. stocks – 92%
🏢 Real estate investment trusts (REITs) – 100%
💵 U.S. Treasury bonds – 88%

While gold simply sits there, investment assets—businesses, real estate, and bonds—are expected to generate real profits, rents, and interest.

At Vista, we believe in fundamental sources of expected return, not speculation on what glitters the most.

Read the full article here:

Gold has surged more than 50% this year, topping $4,300 an ounce in mid-October. But before declaring a new golden era, investors should remember history’s humbling lessons. After peaking in 1979 amid runaway inflation, gold languished for 28 years before eclipsing that prior high. Again in 2011, ...

09/30/2025

As workplace open enrollment begins, now’s the time to make benefit choices that affect not just your health coverage, but your taxes and take-home pay in 2026. In our latest post, Doug Post, CFP®, walks through the key trade-offs and smart choices you should evaluate.

Here are a few highlights:
💡 HDHP vs. traditional plans — Lower premiums vs. higher out-of-pocket costs: which fits your expected health spending?

🏦 HSAs and their triple tax advantage — Contributions are tax-deductible, growth is tax-deferred, and qualified medical withdrawals are tax-free.

👶 Dependent care FSAs — With the 2026 cap potentially rising, this remains a tool worth reviewing if you have childcare or after-school obligations.

💼 Deferred compensation options — Some employers let you defer salary or incentives — a powerful tool, if it fits your broader financial plan.

📋 Your open enrollment checklist — The post includes a handy “to-do” list: review last year’s expenses, confirm contribution limits, use leftover FSA funds, check deferred comp opportunities, etc.

➡️ Read the full article: Benefit elections 2026: Choose wisely during workplace open enrollment
https://vistacp.com/blog/benefit-elections-2026-choose-wisely-during-workplace-open-enrollment/

09/29/2025

Today’s “democratization” of alternatives (private equity, private credit, etc.) is tempting: Wall Street increasingly markets them as institutional-grade opportunities for the average investor. But is access enough?

In our latest blog, Dougal Williams, CFA dives into why alternatives may be ill-suited for most investors:

🕰 Illiquidity trade-offs — tying up capital for years with restricted withdrawal options

🔍 Opaque valuations — models and appraisals replace frequent market pricing, masking real performance

💼 Misaligned incentives — fees and conflicts can make alternatives more of a revenue engine than a value engine

The bottom line? True portfolio strength comes from liquidity, transparency, low cost, and broad diversification — not the allure of being “in” on the next private deal.

➡️ Read more: The Illusion of Access: Why Alternatives Don’t Belong in Everyday Portfolios

https://vistacp.com/blog/the-illusion-of-access-why-alternatives-dont-belong-in-everyday-portfolios/

09/22/2025

We’re proud to be included in the Portland Business Journal's “Wealth Edition” as one of the top Wealth Management Firms in Portland & S.W. Washington.

Plus, our CEO Dougal Williams, CFA shares why independence still matters and a reminder that as consolidation sweeps the wealth management industry, Vista Capital Partners remains proudly independent, 100% employee-owned, and rooted in Oregon for 25 years. 🌲

Independence means we put clients first—always!

Read more in the Portland Business Journal https://www.bizjournals.com/portland/digital-edition/issue/43641

09/04/2025

We’re honored to share that Vista Capital Partners has been named one of the Best Places to Work by the Portland Business Journal!

This recognition is a reflection of our incredible team and the supportive, collaborative culture they’ve built together. At Vista, we believe that when our people thrive, our clients thrive too.

Thank you to our amazing employees—you’re what makes Vista such a special place to work! 💙