Tag: Rick Brooks
What to Look for in your Annual Life Insurance Review
Seriously, when is the last time you reviewed your life insurance? I don’t mean the letter you get (and probably throw away) from your insurance agent every year asking if you need more. I mean really sitting down and thinking about the life insurance you have, why you have it and what you are paying […]
Inflation – Here to Stay
Like most investors, I’ve been surprised by both the magnitude and persistence of the inflation spike we’ve seen over the past several months. The forecasts continue to suggest that inflation should moderate somewhat by year-end and into 2023, but that doesn’t take the sticker shock out of the prices we’re paying today at the store […]
Insurance for International Travel in a COVID World
After more than two years of being stuck at home, there are a lot of people who are ready to pick up and go. ANYWHERE! International travel is more “adventurous” in the COVID era – the pandemic is still raging in much of the world, so the possibility that travel plans could be upset by […]
Ukraine and the Volatility in the Stock Market
As I write this article, Russia has finally made its move into Ukraine. After building up troops along the Ukrainian border, Vladimir Putin ordered a full-scale assault on Ukraine with the stated objective of replacing its government. I don’t want to minimize the impact this would have on Ukraine, which will be devastating, but the […]
What is Sustainable Investing?
One of the more interesting trends in the investment industry is a shift by investors towards a greater use of sustainable investment strategies. This isn’t a new thing, but it is a trend that has been accelerating in recent years as global warming has become more of a concern. So it begs the question, just […]
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 […]
Disciplined Investing in Volatile Markets
The past few weeks have been a wild ride, to be sure. With financial markets selling off and government efforts to contain the coronavirus outbreak starting to crimp both economic and personal activity, it’s very reasonable to be concerned about what will happen in the coming months. Frankly, there are about as many theories as […]
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 […]
