On July 4th and 5th of 2019, two major earthquakes – in fact the biggest to hit Southern California in decades – reminded us that disasters like earthquakes, floods, tornados, fires, etc. can strike at any time. The two  early July quakes registered in at 6.4 and 7.1 and they could be felt from Los Angeles to San Jose. Thankfully, the two quakes hit a sparsely populated region of California and there were no reported casualties – but the results of the quakes are significant enough that they can be seen from space. No matter where you live, it is wise to be prepared for disasters. Here are some tips to help you keep important documents safe and what to do when disaster strikes. 

Setting goals can be a tough task, but it is an important step toward securing your financial future. Before we create a financial plan, we'll work together to define and document your goals. Here's a primer to help you get started:

61 Million

The number of people who received monthly Social Security benefits in 2016.

Addressing Care Options Now for Your Aging Parents Will Pay Dividends for Everyone

Whether they want the role or not, adult children often find themselves in the position of primary caregiver for their parents. Unfortunately, many of us are not prepared for that role. We often find ourselves so engrossed in how fast our own children are growing up that it’s sometimes easy to forget that our own parents are also aging.

CREATING AND PRESERVING FAMILY WEALTH: A Practical Approach to Helping Aging Relatives Prepare for the Future

Addressing Care Options Now for Your Aging Parents Will Pay Dividends for Everyone. The best plans for managing the finances of an older relative are made when that individual is still healthy. Once stricken by illness, or frustrated by the loss of mobility and freedom, an older relative may not understand questions or be able to state details of their wishes. Fueled by the uncertainty of what the older relative really wants, the lack of a plan may ignite family arguments.

How resourceful can you be during your retirement? Determining where your retirement money will come from is an integral part of planning for retirement. Most people draw on three main sources of income: Social Security, employer-sponsored plans, and personal retirement savings. Each offers important resources that can help you fund the lifestyle you seek in retirement.

There is an investment strategy out there for just about everyone, whether you want to be aggressive or preserve your capital long-term. It can be easy to get bogged down in the Investing section of Google, looking at all the articles promising to make you rich in five easy steps. Whether you have been receiving financial planning advice for 30 years or for three months, circling the wagons and looking at your processes is a great idea to make sure you and your advisor miss nothing—and are open to improving. Here are some investment questions to consider.

Remember, early planning puts time on your side. Whether retirement is around the corner or decades away, there are more options than ever to help you plan for it. Let’s look at Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) and 401(k) plans, which offer tax benefits that can help you save for your future. 

Most often, the first question a prospective employee will ask is about your company’s benefit program. And in my experience, the two most often-asked questions are about health insurance and an employer- sponsored retirement program. Let’s examine the most common employer-sponsored retirement program that exists today – the 401(k) plan.