Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 15, 2018)
S moke S ignals FEBRUARY 15, 2018 9 Sharing a wealth of knowledge with millennials Tribal member starts financial planning business aimed at young professionals By Danielle Frost Smoke Signals staff writer Tribal member Levi Sanchez has had a passion for investing and money since he was a child. Growing up in West Richland, Wash., Sanchez developed a love for the classic board game Monopoly at an early age. “I also remember having con- versations about stocks with my grandpa, who’s always been an investor and interested in individ- ual stock picking,” Sanchez says. “When I went to college my inter- ests deepened and I found myself reading articles on CNBC every morning or between classes on my phone.” Parents Troy, who is a Tribal member, and Jill Sanchez were business owners, which helped Levi develop a strong entrepreneurial spirit. It is also what led the 26-year-old to leave a career with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management to strike out on his own advising millennials. “I worked primarily with near-re- tirees, or retirees on retirement planning and if I saw a better way to do something, I couldn’t always do it at the big firm,” he says. “Plus, I thought I could connect with my own generation much better than I could with someone who was near retirement.” Hence, Millennial Wealth was born. Located in Seattle, Levi and his business partner, Chad Rixse, set out to help this generation get educated, invest and plan for the future. Levi got a jump on his own wealth building by having the support of his parents while earning a busi- ness degree at Washington State University and through the Tribal money he received after turning 21. “I immediately invested it,” he says. “I didn’t spend it on a new car, vacations or other material things. I knew that money had far more potential if I was smart, pa- tient and invested it. For that, I’m truly grateful the Tribe gives us all a head start at such a young age.” Levi says that he hopes to help millennials navigate a shifting economic landscape while pursuing their dreams. “We understand today’s changing economic landscape and our gener- ation’s attitude toward making pas- sions and lifestyles a priority,” the business website states. “Together, we can build a brighter future.” Millennial Wealth specializes in helping young professionals in the tech industry with full-service financial planning and investment management. Levi says this is a change from a traditional invest- ment firm, where clients have to Need something notarized? Tribal Court staff is available at no charge for notaries 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday though Friday with the exception of noon to 1 p.m. Please be sure to bring a photo ID with you. If you have any questions, contact the court at 503-879-2303. accumulate assets before receiving ad- vice. “We be- lieved it was possible to provide financial planning services to young pro- Levi Sanchez fessionals to improve their wealth building potential and enhance their lives,” Levi says. When he and Rixse consult with new clients, they ask about finan- cial and life goals, such as early retirement, starting a business and overseas travel. Additionally, they help clients with cash flow and debt management, college savings, employee benefit optimization, in- surance, investment management, retirement planning and a concen- trated stock analysis. “Millennials have so much time to make the right financial decisions and I wanted to help my generation avoid some of the problems previ- ous generations have had when it comes to saving and investing enough for their later years, while still being able to enjoy and fund experiences that are important to them today,” Levi says. He also writes a blog aimed at financial advising to help educate anyone interested in learning in- vesting, personal finance or finan- cial planning information, with the bulk geared toward millennials and young professionals. Levi says his financial investing advice could be particularly mean- ingful and beneficial to young Trib- al members because of the financial benefits the Tribe provides. “I believe education is the most important tool to helping people make smarter financial decisions,” he says. “An individual who re- ceives a windfall of cash and who has no financial education is not likely going to invest some, if any, of that windfall. At no fault of their own, it’s a weakness in our educa- tional system. Some people also just have no interest in learning this stuff or managing it themselves, that’s what Millennial Wealth is for.” Levi adds that without the sup- port of his family, he would not be where he is today. “My parents and family have a lot to do with fostering my entre- preneurial spirit and allowing me to start my own business,” he says. “I’ve had it a lot easier than most throughout my life and I wouldn’t be where I am without their help and guidance.” Sanchez can be reached at levi@ millennialwealthllc.com. To read his blog, visit millennialwealthllc. com/blog/. 'Going green costs money, but it’s worth it' GREEN EFFORT continued from front page This can result in the entire con- tents of the bin being thrown away because of contamination, an issue which has global effects. China, where the United States sends most of its recycling, notified the World Trade Organization in July 2017 that it planned to ban imports of 24 varieties of solid waste, including certain plastics and unsorted paper. The reason was that large amounts of dirty and hazardous materials are often mixed in, which can lead to envi- ronmental pollution, the opposite effect of what recycling promotes. The Chinese ban also potential- ly creates its own environmental problems, as more waste will be burned or put into landfills. During big events such as Resto- ration celebrations, powwows and family nights, Criss-Lawson said she is considering hiring someone to stand by the bins and explain what can be recycled and what needs to go into the trash. The three-way bin has signs for plastic, cans and waste, but doesn’t specify what is OK to recycle. “The challenge is education and people learning to do it,” Procure- ment Manager Larry Leith said. “Going green costs money, but it’s worth it. This is just a small step in the process.” Other energy saving measures the Tribe has put in place include automatic light sensors and recy- cling containers in employee work areas. Leith said that contributing to the longevity of the planet and conserving resources fits in with the goal of being good stewards of Tribal lands. “I think it will all pan out,” Criss-Lawson said. “But education is a big piece of this.” Tribal Council directed staff to purchase the new bins after some members noticed recyclable items being thrown away during highly attended events. “If we are serious about being good stewards of our Tribal lands, a point we always make publicly, that goes beyond just natural resource management practices,” Tribal Council Vice Chair Chris Mercier said. “It goes to our daily lives, recycling, using less and drawing from sustainable resources. “ Mercier added that there are no reasons why sustainability shouldn’t be incorporated into the Tribe’s daily governance opera- tions. “We go through a lot of paper, plastic and other materials, all of which can be recycled,” he said. “Do we really want to leave future gen- erations with landfills, when many of them could have been avoided through adopting simple recycling and ‘use less’ policies?”
