Finances
Homelessness Program Accountability Measure Clears 2nd Hurdle
Senate Republican Leader Scott Wilkannounced that his legislation to add clarity and accountability to California’s efforts to address homelessness has earned bipartisan support and recently passed 4 to 0 out of the Senate Committee on Human Services. “I am pleased to see this measure receive bipartisan support. There seems to be a growing consensus that […]
To Roll or Not to Roll; What to do With Your 401(k)
Every year, millions of Americans change jobs or retire and leave the workforce entirely. Most are faced with a seemingly inconsequential choice: what to do with your company 401k plan. Almost every financial advisor (including yours truly) will recommend rolling funds out of your company retirement plan and into a rollover IRA (that they can […]
The Three Secrets to a Satisfying Retirement
As we work towards retirement, the financial services and marketing industries bombard us with images of happy people traveling, playing golf and walking on the beach; a permanent vacation. The reality is a bit more mundane: the average retiree spends most of their time (after sleeping) watching television. For those preparing for retirement (and even […]
Inflation – Here to Stay?
The single greatest question facing investors at the moment is what will happen to inflation. This was highlighted with the grounding of a large freighter which recently blocked the Suez Canal, cutting off shipping between Asia, Europe and the U.S. East coast. Inflation affects interest rates and interest rates affect just about everything else. So […]
Revocable Living Trust – Essential California Estate Planning
A potential client recently asked me if trusts were really necessary. All of their assets were titled in joint name, so why go through the hassle and expense of creating a trust? Let’s start with Probate. Probate fees start at four percent of the first $100,000 and reach $9,000 on the first million. Having your […]
Financial Planning: A Case Study
If you think financial planning is only for the rich, think again. People from all walks of life can benefit greatly from planning their finances. A recent situation I was involved in demonstrates how a long-term approach is critical, and how you need to be careful where you are getting your financial advice. Some family […]
Investing in the “New Normal”: Now what?
As I write this article, it appears that the current outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has peaked in most U.S. states. State and local lock-down orders are being eased, but it’s an open question as to what will pass for a new normal while the pandemic continues. Even as some states begin to open up, […]
Ronin Factory Makes $100,000+ Donation to Meals on Wheels San Diego County
San Diego based apparel company Ronin Factory gave a large donation to Meals on Wheels San Diego County. The money was collected from proceeds from every single order they received in the final two weeks of their normal monthly truck giveaway, as well as direct donations by their customers. What started out with a goal […]
Diplomats, Not Dictators
Government Charged to Represent Its Constituents Being involved in a small business and assisting other small businesses around the country has some real benefits, versus working in big corporate America. I have done both in my lifetime and have valued these experiences. One moves slower, has layers of bureaucracy, and, also tends to be more […]
Charitable Gifting Today
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 eliminated or capped a lot of itemized deductions for most taxpayers. While deductions for charitable gifts were preserved, raising the standard deduction meant that many taxpayers lost the benefit of all but the largest donations. Here are some strategies that you can use to squeeze out the […]