Articles and Videos

Checking In With Ara

Checking In with Ara- June 2023

June 1, 2023

I’ve thought of a new way to keep in touch – monthly update videos. I realize we’re all leading busy lives, and we may not get to converse as frequently as we’d like. So, through these videos, I can share personal updates and my perspective on world events. My hope is that we can continue… View Article

Lucia Capital Group Weekly

Should You Consider Alternative Investments In Your Portfolio?

June 1, 2023

You’ve probably heard that it’s important to have what we call “diversification among asset classes.” Strictly speaking, this simply means “don’t put all your eggs into one basket.” And that makes sense on many levels, because it’s almost never a good idea to make a bet on one single sector, or one asset class, or one stock, or… View Article

Managing Your Financial Future

I-Bonds: When 4.3% Is Better Than 9.6% – Episode 138

May 30, 2023

For the past year or so, I-Bonds have come into favor among people who are looking for a higher rate of return on Treasuries. A little over a year ago, they were paying an annualized 9.6 percent rate of return. Today, they’re paying right around 4.3 percent. It would seem, then, that you’d have been better off buying them at that higher rate. But maybe not – because of the way I-Bonds pay their interest, the current “lower” rate may actually be more attractive today. How is that possible?

Lucia Capital Group Weekly

Should You Take the Roth 401k Option?

May 25, 2023

When given a choice between the traditional 401(k) and the Roth 401(k), how do you decide which one may be better for you?

Managing Your Financial Future

An Inside Look at How Advisors Manage Your Taxes – Episode 137

May 23, 2023

Tax time may be over for most people, but for financial advisors, tax management is a year-round task.  One of those tasks involves a “postmortem” of their client’s tax situation, where they can determine what may have gone right – or gone wrong – with their most recent tax return. If you’ve ever wondered what a financial advisor looks for when managing taxes, and what you yourself may want to look at more closely, today’s episode is a peek inside that world.

Featured

4 Things Everyone Age 50 or Older Should Do Right Now

May 18, 2023

When you’re young, you generally have time on your side.  That’s one of the many great things about youth. Most minor mistakes you make, and even a few major ones, can be solved (or at least diminished) by the passage of time.   As you get older, though, your time window becomes smaller, and suddenly the… View Article

Managing Your Financial Future

Higher Interest Rates: What Should You Do with Your Mortgage?- Episode 136

May 16, 2023

Interest rates have risen sharply over the past 16 months, which is good for lenders, but not so much for borrowers.  New mortgages now come with interest rates around 6 percent, pricing some people out of the market. But for those who hold “older” mortgages with much lower interest rates, some opportunities may present themselves. … View Article

Lucia Capital Group Weekly

How Much Will You Actually Spend in Retirement?

May 11, 2023

One of the most common retirement questions people ask themselves is this: Will I have enough money to spend in retirement? It’s also a question that we financial planners spend a lot of time thinking about.  I’ve talked before about one of the more popular rules of thumb – the old “4 percent rule,” which… View Article

Managing Your Financial Future

Time to Calm Your Fears About Running Out of Money- Episode 135

May 9, 2023

Fear can either be a great motivator to get things done, or it can cause a person to retreat, cover up, and hope the issue will go away.  People who are retired have many financial concerns, but their biggest fear (according to the research) is running out of money.  This often causes them to either be frugal beyond all reason, or to ignore their finances completely and just pray it all works out. Neither option is ideal.  What if we told you that you may have a lot less to fear in retirement than you thought? What if you may be able to retire without having to grow your portfolio to the moon?  Is that possible?

Managing Your Financial Future

Let’s Clear Up All the Roth IRA Confusion- Episode 134

May 2, 2023

Roth IRAs have been in existence for 25 years, and while they’re one of the more popular financial planning tools for many people, they’re also quite often misunderstood.   Most investors may be aware of the tax-free nature of the Roth, but beyond that, there are a lot of unanswered questions: When can I get to my money? Can I access converted money? What is the 5-year clock? What is a Roth two-step? Get the answers to those Roth questions, and more

Lucia Capital Group Weekly

Yes, Tax Knowledge Is Important

April 27, 2023

When it comes to investing and financial planning, being well-informed about a particular topic gives you an edge that others don’t have. Even with something as complicated as taxes, just a little bit of knowledge can go a long way.

Managing Your Financial Future

Why Should You Hire a Financial Advisor- Episode 133

April 25, 2023

The question is pretty straightforward: Do I need to use the services of a financial advisor, or can I simply manage my investments, my retirement income, and my taxes by myself? The answer, though, is not readily apparent.  A financial advisor can help a person with a little, with some, or with all of their financial needs, depending on what each individual requires.  As we so often say, everyone’s situation is different.