Blog

Perks of a California Retirement

April 21, 2022

Having a comfortable retirement doesn’t necessarily mean leaving The Golden State behind. Here are a couple of reasons why staying in California may be better for you!

Part 3: A Lookback at Q1 and Portfolio Impact

April 6, 2022

Between rising interest rates and a full-scale war in Eastern Europe, the first quarter was filled with plentiful volatility. Who were the winners and losers, and what are some takeaways for the remainder of the year?

Should I Sell My Chevron Stock?

April 5, 2022

With Chevron stock at a 10-year high of $170.90 (as of 03/10/2022), many Chevron employees are wondering if this is the time to sell. In this post, former Chevron employee Len Hanson shares his advice to clients

Part 2: Assessing War and the State of the Global Economy

March 25, 2022

With news outlets centered on war between Russia and Ukraine, it’s easy to lose sight of the broader, economic picture. What shape is the US economy in now? What about its Western allies?

Part 1: We Will Prevail

March 17, 2022

Markets are tumbling while buildings are collapsing, with weapons devastating Ukraine. Will we make it to the light at the end of the tunnel, or is all lost? This is a series addressing the geopolitical war overseas and the implications on investors.

5 Early Retirement Health insurance Options Before Medicare

March 16, 2022

If you are retiring early and do not qualify for Medicare just yet, use this checklist to see what other options you have for medical insurance coverage.

Healing What Hurts: The Essential Role of a Financial Therapist

March 10, 2022

Financial management can be difficult for anyone, and struggling at times does not necessarily mean you have a chronic issue in your relationship with money. But if your financial behaviors feel like they are crippling your financial future or causing you consistent distress, it may be time to bring in a financial therapist to help you move past the pain.

5 Options for Last Minute 2021 Tax Moves

February 24, 2022

The 2021 calendar year might be over, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re out of luck if you want to make any last-minute tax moves before you file your 2021 return.

What Is Custom Indexing, and Is It Right for Me?

February 15, 2022

Prefer to own stocks over ETFs and find new opportunities for tax savings? Now you can, thanks to our new custom indexing tool. Custom indexing works very well for certain clients, but it all depends on your account type, tax circumstances, and goals. Get the full story here to figure out if custom indexing might be right for you!

Fighter Planes and Market Turmoil

January 28, 2022

Looking at the S&P 500’s largest annual intra-year drawdowns dating back to 1950, the index’s current downtrend in 2022 is really put into perspective. We’ve been spoiled with last year’s bull market, so should we be worried about this recent volatility?

Six Financial Best Practices for Year-End 2021

December 16, 2021

Believe it or not, another year has rounded third base, and is dashing toward home plate. That said, there’s still time to make a few good plays in 2021, while positioning yourself to score more in the year ahead. Here are six financial best practices for the record books.

Charitable Giving

December 1, 2021

The end of the year is quickly approaching, which may prompt a review of any final tax planning strategies to employ before December 31. The fall and winter holiday season also turns our minds to gratitude and giving. Perhaps surprisingly, these year-end considerations are not mutually exclusive.

Could I Retire Early from Chevron?

November 29, 2021

As a financial planner whose client base is largely made up of Chevron employees and retirees, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gotten questions about early retirement in the last year. It seems people are enjoying the freedom of working remotely and are interested in at least exploring — if not executing on — their early retirement options.

5 Bare Essentials to Consider When Retiring from SCE

November 16, 2021

Retirement can seem like the most exciting thing in the world — and the most overwhelming. On one hand, you finally get to spend your time on your terms. Maybe that’s traveling the world. Maybe it’s spending more time with your grandkids. Or maybe it’s just spending quiet evenings at home.

Bitcoin ETFs: Don’t Forget to Look Under The Hood

November 3, 2021

Some people hail Bitcoin as the greatest thing since sliced bread, while others consider it one’s worst enemy. Whether your conviction supports or berates the world’s most infamous cryptocurrency, it doesn’t change the fact that buzz around the crypto-space - inclusive of altcoins, blockchain, and decentralized finance - is rapidly growing.

Estate Planning: A Checklist of Essentials

August 24, 2021

As school starts again and we are getting back to our routines, this may also be a good time to review the following list of estate planning essentials. This is a good checklist to scroll through at least once a year and upon any significant life changes.

How Interest Rates Impact Your Chevron Pension

August 13, 2021

Rising interest rates have been a hot topic in the financial press, and many of my clients are wondering what the impact will be on their Chevron pension — specifically, their lump sum.

What’s Up With That Inflationary Altitude?

July 21, 2021

We’re officially 16 months into the pandemic. You’re vaccinated…

March Market Madness

March 25, 2021

During this time last year, the NCAA canceled March Madness. With college basketball off the table, we were given a different type of madness: Market Madness. The S&P 500 drew down a total of 34% from peak to trough as COVID-19 wreaked havoc across global markets. This week marked the one year anniversary of that drawdown’s market bottom.