Rick Brooks
Rick Brooks's Latest Posts
Six Things to Consider When Your Child Turns 18
It happens much faster than any of us expect. One minute you’re cradling this cute bundle of joy in your arms and the next thing you know she’s graduating from high school and planning to move out to college. Like many parents, I have no idea where the 18 years went, or how they went […]
Investing and Expectations
During the first quarter of 2016, large company stocks were up about 1.3 percent while the bond market gained about three percent. Over the past five years, the S&P 500 has gained about 12 percent per year while bonds have gained about four percent per year. International stocks have earned only about 2.3 percent over […]
Tax Considerations of Supporting Family Members
Last month I wrote about some basic rules to frame a decision of whether and how to lend money to a family member. Here are some additional considerations, with this very important caveat: giving a gift or lending money to a family member can have very important tax and estate planning implications. You should discuss […]
Six Rules of Lending to Family Members
The Bank of Mom and Dad is a popular institution these days, generally offering favorable terms and frequently more sympathetic treatment in the event of a late payment. That said, there need to be ground rules when you are considering supporting a family member with a loan or gift, and some of these rules can […]
A Very Rough Start
Over the past few weeks, we have received a stark reminder that investing in the stock market involves risk. From March 2009 through 2015, the S&P 500 has gained over 200 percent, with only a couple of significant hiccups along the way. So what has investors so spooked, and what can those of us with […]
The Promise and Pitfalls of Genetic Testing
There seems to be an ever-expanding number of companies looking to help you understand your genes. Some of my family have had their genes tested to try to find out “where they come from” and learned they’re part Sicilian, part Arab and part Viking. You could learn what health risks might lie waiting for you […]
A Case Study in Evaluating a Mutual Fund
Suppose I offered you a mutual fund that promised a six percent annual distribution yield (it pays out six percent per year)? Sounds attractive, right? When we evaluate a mutual fund for our clients, here are some of the factors we consider as we perform our due diligence. Are the costs reasonable? Low expenses are […]
Layoffs Happen, Even in a Good Economy
Within the next few weeks, it seems that Qualcomm is set to lay off about 15 percent of its workforce. This has become fairly commonplace in the American workplace, though it’s been a while since it happened locally on such a scale. Still, Haggen’s team reductions and this news item got me thinking about how […]
The Debate Over A Fiduciary Standard
Back in April of this year, the Department of Labor (DOL) issued a proposed rule that would require investment advisors to retirement plans to follow a Fiduciary Standard. The proposed rule has sparked a fierce debate in the industry, as brokers who do not want to be held to this standard argue that the new […]
