Join Laurie Kramer, CFP® and Alan Menase, CFP® virtually on August 19th, 2026 for "Retirement: Excitement or Uncertainty?"

Read the 2Q 2026 Management Letter, "Position and Possession."

 

Read the most recent blog post "Tax Strategies: It's All in the Details."


 

Our Services

 

Investment Management

West Financial Services is an independent registered investment advisor (RIA). Independence gives us freedom from constraints that hamper other firms.
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Financial Planning

When it comes to financial planning, implementation is key. We collaborate with specialists and experts, including insurance providers, attorneys and accountants, to make sure that your financial team is coordinated toward implementation of recommendations.
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Blogs

What’s Your Family’s Plan to Pay for College?

Laura Nash, CFP® |
Categories
Education
Personal Financial Planning
I recently asked my three children, who are now out of college and working adults, if they were happy with their college education. Their answer was a resounding, “yes." Their answer was partially driven by the fact that since we started planning early, they were not carrying debt for their education upon graduation. The cost of a college education is expensive and college costs are expected to rise 5% a year.1 For an 18-year-old, the...

Tax Strategies: It’s All in the Details

Kristan L. Anderson, CEBS®, CFP® |
Categories
Personal Financial Planning
Retirement Planning
In my experience, there are two types of people when it comes to income taxes. The first is the client who wants to avoid or significantly reduce taxes, by whatever means necessary. The other client sees taxes as a necessary evil and appreciates attempts to reduce taxes, but not at the expense of an overall strategy. Take Roth conversions as an example. More than a few clients are asking for our opinions on whether it...

Planning Goes Global

Angel Irazola |
Categories
Lifestyle
Personal Financial Planning
Working and living in the D.C. metro area offers some pretty unique experiences – exposure to the country’s capital in all its splendor, a steeped cultural and arts scene, and opportunities to meet a distinctively diverse and global community. In fact, it’s not uncommon to meet folks who work at one of the many intergovernmental organizations like The World Bank or the IMF, diplomats working at the State Department or Embassy Row, or just transient...

News & Insights

Something Old, New, Borrowed, Blue and….

Laurie Kramer, CFP® and Kristan Anderson, CEBS®, CFP® |
Categories
Financial Planning Focus

… a prenuptial agreement. Traditions are fun and meaningful, but a prenuptial could prove a great catalyst for a good marriage. Prenuptial agreements have often been labeled as an implication of distrust or premeditation of divorce. But consider this: Do you have homeowners’ insurance because you are planning to set fire to your home? I certainly hope not. Do you have auto insurance because you are planning on wrecking your car? Of course not.

Is a Trump Account Right for Your Child?

Victoria G. Henry, CFP® |
Categories
Financial Planning Focus

You might have noticed that the Trump name is getting plastered on quite a few things lately. If you have young children, one that might be of interest is the Trump Account. Trump Accounts were established under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) and are essentially starter retirement accounts for kids. While more details regarding logistics and funding of the Trump Accounts are anticipated, here’s what we know.

From Fear to Freedom: Mastering Your Finances in Retirement

Laura Nash, CFP® |
Categories
Financial Planning Focus

Too many people are fearful of retiring. Yes, there are many who are counting down the days and are excited about their list of things they want to do and see. Yet there are still others who aren’t sure about how they will spend their time, what their purpose is now that they are no longer working, and whether their money will last.