This month we celebrate our 38th year in business, serving you and your financial needs. We are more experienced and more fully equipped to anticipate your changing needs and meet your financial objectives.

Our firm has built a national reputation over the past three decades in assisting families and businesses in the transfer of wealth through the various charitable financial instruments allowed under the tax codes. We are proud of the fact that we have redirected hundreds of millions of dollars in assets to charitable causes meaningful to our clients.

We have learned to "walk the talk" with our clients over the years, to look beyond just the "tax dollars" in establishing satisfying relationships with many, many causes. So many charities, when not given more money by their founders, muddle along in mediocrity. This explains why so many foundations fall under the control of staff professionals after the initial donor is gone. Many organizations founder as "orphans" from the start.

Truly committed donors do not follow this course, but instead, give entrepreneurial talent, or creative vision, or commitment, or involvement ... as well as financial support. This giving of time, energy and money best exemplifies commitment to the cause.

Good philanthropy involves giving effectively of all our talents. Instead of responding quickly to an emotional appeal, good philanthropy involves investigating the mission, and assessing the effect upon the community, the stewardship of funds and the vision for future outreach. We at Conover Feek follow this philosophy in our personal as well as our professional lives. We have lived thirty-eight years of our business lives exemplifying these strategies, assisting our clients who desire to peer into their hearts and then decide to "give back."   -- Jim

"He who wishes to secure the good of others has already secured his own." -- Confucius

The current volatility of the stock market is once again giving rise to fears about the future of so many people's retirement investment portfolios -- for those who are building for retirement and those who are already there.

It seems an appropriate time for me to remind you of our belief that a properly diversified portfolio can reduce volatility and risk, and that reduced volatility and risk can mean higher returns. At Conover Feek, we work with our clients in three important ways to reduce volatility and risk:

1. By introducing equity investing that emphasizes limiting losses in a down market
2. By taking advantage of tax efficiencies wherever possible
3. By truly balancing portfolios through the use of nontraded, direct placement investments

The majority of Conover Feek clients have experienced the stability and predictability of at least one direct investment such as a nontraded real estate investment trust (REIT). Many of our clients are now invested in a diversified holding of several REITs, and some have expanded the nontraded portion of their portfolio to include real estate backed debentures, equipment leasing programs and direct ownership of energy assets.

If you are bothered by volatility and turbulence, and would like to learn more about adding stability and predictability to your plans for the future, then I invite you to contact us to talk about it.   -- Gary

• Annie Wright School
• Bellevue High School
• Bellarmine Prep
• Cedar Park School
• City of Kirkland Flower Fund
• Children's Hospital and Medical Center
• Evergreen Foundation
• Evergreen Heathcare
• Kirkland Arts Center
• Kirkland Chamber of Commerce
• Kirkland Cultural Council

• Kirkland Rotary Club
• Northwest Physician's Network Foundation
• Pacific Lutheran University
• Rotary International Foundation
• Seattle Prep
• The Valley School
• University Prep
• University of Washington Foundation
• University of Washington School of Drama
• University of Washington Tyee Club
• Young Life