Articles and Videos

5 Key Factors to Consider Before Investing
Lucia Capital Group Weekly

5 Key Factors to Consider Before Investing

June 11, 2020

nvesting in the markets is tricky, and often comes with a great deal of risk, especially over the short term. Even when stocks on a solid upswing, as they were for most of the time period between 2009 and 2020, the wrong investment strategy can cause serious damage to your portfolio. But investing is not only about asset allocation, asset location, and P/E ratios: it’s also about you as an individual. Are you prepared to take a loss if you need to sell some assets? Do you have a suitable time frame for investing in order to potentially lessen that risk of loss? What are your goals for the money you want to invest? These are just some of the questions you need to ask yourself before you commit any amount of money to the stock market.  Whether times are good or times are volatile, those issue are important.
An Up Market in a Down Economy?
Lucia Capital Group Weekly

An Up Market in a Down Economy?

June 4, 2020

Just a month or so ago, oil was trading around zero, the quarantine orders were in full effect, and since that time we’ve seen more bankruptcies and stress in the economy — especially with small businesses. Fast forward to today and the market is close to where it all started. Why is that? In this week’s edition of Lucia Capital Group Weekly, Ray Lucia Jr. speaks with Lance Helfert, portfolio manager and Senior Vice President of Lucia Wealth Services, about what’s going on with stocks and the market in general. They also discuss interest rates, and why ignoring the noise and simply focusing on what is actually observable may be one of the biggest keys to successful investing.
New (Temporary) RMD Rules Offer Potential Planning Opportunities – Season 2: Episode 12
Managing Your Financial Future

New (Temporary) RMD Rules Offer Potential Planning Opportunities – Season 2: Episode 12

June 2, 2020

The COVID-19 outbreak has brought with it several changes for people who are facing deadlines, including filing federal and state income taxes. Another big one has to do with Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) for 2020 – and maybe for 2019 as well. When the SECURE Act passed at the end of 2019, it changed the age at which IRA owners must begin taking RMDs, from 70 ½ to age 72. Several weeks later, in response to the pandemic, Congress made changes again to the RMD rules through the CARES Act, allowing for more flexibility and the potential to skip the distribution for 2020.
A Mortgage Payment Strategy You’ve Never Heard Before- Season 2: Episode 11
Managing Your Financial Future

A Mortgage Payment Strategy You’ve Never Heard Before- Season 2: Episode 11

May 26, 2020

When taking out a mortgage, people often wonder if it’s better to have a 15-year loan instead of a 30-year loan.  They think of all the interest payments they’ll save by shortening the loan period, and the fact that the home would be owned free and clear in half the time. Of course, they have to be able to afford the higher payments of a 15-year loan, which for some people is a deal-breaker.  But there may be a way for you to take the 30-year loan option and still be free of mortgage payments in 15 years.  On today’s podcast, we talk about a strategy to do exactly that.
New Rules for Hardship Retirement Plan Distributions
Lucia Capital Group Weekly

New Rules for Hardship Retirement Plan Distributions

May 21, 2020

The recently-enacted CARES Act introduced us to some new rules regarding qualified retirement plans (like a 401-k) and IRAs. These new rules are actually more like temporary “allowances,” as they provide a window of opportunity that may allow you to take advantage of some penalty-free distributions during the pandemic. What’s new is something called a CRD — COVID-Related Distribution — and it’s important that people who need to access their savings during this time of crisis know how they work. If done properly, they may provide some much-needed relief. And while we don’t always recommend that someone take loans or premature distributions from their retirement plans as their first option, this may be the right thing for certain people to consider.
Maintaining Your Confidence in Retirement- Season 2: Episode 10
Managing Your Financial Future

Maintaining Your Confidence in Retirement- Season 2: Episode 10

May 19, 2020

The standard, cookie-cutter portfolio often consists of just three main assets: stocks, bonds and cash.  One may argue that this is not enough diversification, but that discussion aside, some investors seem to find themselves these days replacing some of their “riskier” stock portfolio with the relative safety of US Government bonds. But interest rates are at historic lows, and the reward for owning bonds is minimal, at best.  Are people really satisfied with a 10-year rate of return that’s currently paying less than 1 percent annually?  Maybe: but there may also be some bond alternatives available to you that pay a bit more than that.
Staying Financially Healthy
Lucia Capital Group Weekly

Staying Financially Healthy

May 14, 2020

There’s a lot of talk these days, understandably so, about health. This is extremely important, and following proper guidelines may help save your life. But besides personal health, it’s also important to make sure you’re financially healthy as well. Thus, it’s a good idea to do a checkup every so often to assess where you are right now, and decide if you’re prepared for any potential roadblocks that may occur.   So where does financial health start? It begins with the simple things: an emergency fund, one that may cover your basic expenses in case your income is slowed or stops. But there’s more to it. What about debts? Are you taking advantage of any employer matches in your company retirement plan? Have your goals changed in the past few years? If so, are you still set up to get to where you want to be? 
Why Own Bonds in This Low Interest Rate Environment?- Season 2: Episode 9
Managing Your Financial Future

Why Own Bonds in This Low Interest Rate Environment?- Season 2: Episode 9

May 12, 2020

The standard, cookie-cutter portfolio often consists of just three main assets: stocks, bonds and cash.  One may argue that this is not enough diversification, but that discussion aside, some investors seem to find themselves these days replacing some of their “riskier” stock portfolio with the relative safety of US Government bonds. But interest rates are at historic lows, and the reward for owning bonds is minimal, at best.  Are people really satisfied with a 10-year rate of return that’s currently paying less than 1 percent annually?  Maybe: but there may also be some bond alternatives available to you that pay a bit more than that.
The Often-Neglected Part of Your Plan
Lucia Capital Group Weekly

The Often-Neglected Part of Your Plan

May 7, 2020

With so much happening in our lives these days, it can be easy to lose track of the things that we normally let cruise on auto-pilot.  Of course, when it comes to our finances, that auto-pilot feature can be great: it allows us to save in our 401(k) plans, it makes sure that our bills are automatically paid on time, and it keeps us from over-thinking things, which we’ve shown can be dangerous to our portfolio’s health.
Don’t Neglect the Ordinary Things – Season 2: Episode 8
Managing Your Financial Future

Don’t Neglect the Ordinary Things – Season 2: Episode 8

May 5, 2020

With everything we have going on in our lives right now, with all the new things we have to deal with, it’s important to keep in mind that ordinary events still happen during extraordinary times.  Births, deaths, marriages, divorces, family events — things both in and out of your control — continue.   Part of the essence of financial planning has to do with making sure that both expected and unexpected events are properly dealt with.  This should be the goal of every financial advisor — to minimize the surprises that inevitably crop up during your lifetime.  Yes, extraordinary events do happen, but if you’re ready for them, if you’ve prepared to deal with them, then your advisor has done their job.
Questions Regarding the Partnership with LPL Financial
Articles

Questions Regarding the Partnership with LPL Financial

May 1, 2020

We are really excited to announce that LPL, the country’s largest independent broker-dealer firm, will be partnering with Lucia Capital Group later this year. A broker-dealer is a company that provides regulatory compliance and support to registered investment advisor firms, and acts as the buyer and seller of securities for its customers. In addition, LPL will also act as Lucia Capital Group’s clearing firm that will custody our brokerage and advisory assets.