Rick Brooks
Rick Brooks's Latest Posts
Charitable Giving is on the Rise
By Rick Brooks According to a report by Giving USA, gifts to charity totaled $335.2 billion last year, up 4.4 percent from 2012 and almost back to the peak levels reached in 2007. I’ve also had the pleasure of being able to assist some very generous clients with their personal gifts recently, so I thought […]
Retirement Plans for Small Businesses
Many of the requests we get from business owners around this (tax preparation) time of year relate to lowering the tax bill or saving for retirement. Many contribute to retirement plans steadily throughout the year, but several business owners also make last minute contributions to their plans as they figure out their tax liability and […]
Saving for College
According to a 2011 report by the Census Bureau, a college graduate can earn over 80 percent more during his or her lifetime than someone with just a high school diploma. But that advantage comes with a price tag. Currently, the annual cost of a four year private college can top $30,000 for tuition, fees, […]
Extra Crispy
By now, it can’t come as a surprise to San Diegans that California is facing one of the worst droughts in recorded history, and according to one report, maybe the worst since 1580. In a recent interview on KPBS, CAL FIRE San Diego Deputy Chief Kelly Zombro stated that local brush moisture levels are at […]
What Happens to Your Digital Assets?
As more and more of our life moves from filing cabinets and desk drawers into “the cloud,” it is becoming more important to plan for the management of your electronic assets at death or disability. Think about your iTunes library. Or (for the six people reading this column who don’t own an Apple product) think […]
Have You Reviewed Your Beneficiary Designations Lately?
When was the last time you reviewed the beneficiaries for your retirement accounts and insurance policies? When you open a retirement account or buy an insurance policy, part of the process is determining who will receive the assets when you pass away: your beneficiary. Unfortunately, many people never review those choices, even when life changes. […]
Financial Fraud is on the Rise
Recently, financial companies have seen a marked increase in the incidence and sophistication of financial fraud, especially through email. Charles Schwab has informed us that industry-wide attempts at financial fraud have increased more than ten-fold over the past five years from 30,000 per year to more than 300,000. At a recent meeting with other financial […]
Rental Car Insurance
It’s probably safe to say that most of us have been there before. You’ve just gotten off of a long flight, and you’re ready to start your vacation. The rental car shuttle has just dropped you off at the counter, and after the tedious search to confirm your reservation, you get the following question: “Would […]
The Value of a Financial Advisor
We Americans tend to be a very optimistic bunch. It’s part of our national character and some might even say part of our DNA. Perhaps that’s why casinos are so popular despite certain knowledge that the odds are against us. How else could you explain spending $1 for a lottery ticket with odds against us […]
Presidio Little League Season Ends
Chalk lines, trimmed grass, close plays, chanting teammates and cheering parents making up the sights and sounds of little league baseball came to an end for the Presidio Little League at Sefton Field on Saturday June 8th. The official season ended for twelve teams of Padres playing in four divisions but play will go […]
