Tag: Rick Brooks
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 […]
I’ve Been Hacked! Now What?
These words bring a certain level of dread to most people who hear (or think them). But what can you really do if you’ve been hacked? First, it’s going to depend on just what information has been compromised and where the hack occurred. I got a call from AppleCare (or Dell or Microsoft) saying… No […]
The “R” Word: Recession
It’s been more than ten years since the end of the last recession, which is one of the reasons people have been talking about it lately. Historically, recessions come along every five to seven years, and so by that measure, we’re overdue for one. On the other hand, forecasts of when the next recession will […]
Investing In Real Estate 2: How Not To Invest In Real Estate
Last month, I discussed some of the benefits of including real estate in your investment mix. These include income, diversification and, in the case of owning property directly, some significant tax advantages for owning income properties. I also mentioned that there are some versions of real estate investing which are more attractive than others. A […]
Should I Retire in A Lower Tax State?
When considering how to plan for a comfortable retirement, taxes are a significant consideration. Taxes of all types are among the largest contributors to your cost of living during retirement, and cost of living can make the difference between a comfortable retirement and a meager one. What’s more, high state and local taxes have been […]
On Valentines Day, Give your Spouse the Gift of Security
Valentine’s Day is the third-largest consumer holiday in the U.S., with about 19 billion dollars spent in Cupid’s name each year. It’s big business for florists and chocolatiers, with over four billion dollars spent per year on flowers and candy alone. Flowers and candy are great, don’t get me wrong, but as a gift for […]
