Rick Brooks
Rick Brooks's Latest Posts
Should You Buy Rental Car Insurance?
It’s probably safe to say that most of us have been there before. That uncertain pause when the rental car clerk asks “Would you like to buy our accident waiver insurance?” You don’t want to be liable to the rental car company if you damage their car, but paying for all of that coverage can […]
Costly 401(k) Mistakes That Could Wipe Out Your Retirement Plan
We were recently asked to help someone who had a very unusual problem with her 401(k). While the combination of problems was unusual, the situation illustrated several common mistakes people make. In this case the combination of mistakes compounded into a nightmare. Hopefully, after reading this article, you’ll be able to avoid that result. Here’s […]
Five Simple Steps to Reduce Your Debt
According to the Federal Reserve, total consumer debt (mortgage, credit card, auto and other) totals $12.7 trillion, or roughly 99 percent of disposable personal income. Of this, revolving debt is just shy of $1 trillion, most of which is credit card debt. One more stat: for households that carry a balance on their credit cards, […]
Do Tax Cuts Really Stimulate the Economy?
There’s a very popular economic theory that suggests that if tax rates are at zero or 100 percen, the government will raise no revenue in either case. At 100 percent, all income goes to the government so there is no incentive for people to work, while a tax rate of zero percent obviously raises no […]
Home Sweet Rental
Lately, there have been a few homes in Mission Hills that have been listed on websites like VRBO.com, AirBNB, HomeAway and others. My family has used these websites to find great travel deals. But a recent article shared by one of my colleagues got me thinking: how do you insure something like that if you’re […]
Estate Planning Is More than Just a Will
Not too long ago, I wrote about the most basic estate-planning tool: your will. If you have children, or really anyone whom you wish to benefit at your death, your will is the most essential foundation for putting your affairs in order after you’re gone. However, “after you’re gone” isn’t the only scenario your estate […]
An Unlikely Valentine’s Gift: Sharing and Preparing
This is probably not going to sound all that romantic. I will even admit that my Valentine’s suggestion probably is a lot more practical than most people would normally consider. There’s no jewelry involved, though a box of See’s candies and a rose would round things out nicely. For many couples, especially those who have […]
Clearing Out Your Old 401(k)
When changing jobs or retiring, one important decision you will face is whether to roll over your employer’s retirement plan (401k, 403b, pension, SIMPLE or SEP IRA, etc.) to an IRA. Before you leave your employer, there are a couple of things you need to be aware of. Below are some questions to ask, and […]
President Trump. Now What?
Donald J. Trump will be the next President of the United States, and Republicans maintained control over the House of Representatives and the Senate. Since the election results became clear, equity markets have rallied sharply. As I write this, the U.S. stock market is up about 2.5 percent since the election, while the bond market […]
The Presidential Election and your Investments
Last night, I listened to a commentator call the election an existential moment: deciding the fate of our country and proclaiming that the wrong choice would be ruinous and a disaster. Let me be clear also that I’ve heard way too much of this kind of talk from both sides of the political spectrum. Politically, […]
