Author: Rick Brooks

Rick Brooks, CFA®, CFP® is a partner of Blankinship & Foster LLC and is the firm’s Chief Investment Officer. He is a lead advisor, counseling clients on all aspects of personal financial management. Rick serves on several boards. He is the Chairman of the Board of Girl Scouts San Diego, and also chairs the San Diego Foundation’s Professional Advisor Council. Rick and his family live in Mission Hills. Rick enjoys spending time with his family, theater, cooking, skiing, gaming and reading.

Filing a homeowners insurance claim is an important decision. While insurance is designed to protect you financially in times of need, not every incident warrants a claim. Understanding when to file can save you money, preserve your claims history, andREAD MORE

I can state from first-hand experience that taking over your parents’ finances can be a challenging and sensitive process. As parents age, they may need help managing their money and bills. This can be especially true if cognitive impairment occurs.READ MORE

For most people, retirement is a significant milestone. Some can’t bring themselves to stop working, but for others it represents a significant change in both income and lifestyle. Living in a high-cost area like San Diego can bring unique challenges,READ MORE

Social Security retirement benefits are a cornerstone of many retirement plans. The monthly payments are dependable, continue for life, and adjust with inflation, thanks to cost-of-living increases. For people who expect to live a long life, that inflation-protected lifetime incomeREAD MORE

Planning for the distribution of your estate is complex. There are so many variables to consider, like family dynamics, changing values and ever-changing tax rules. It can be easy to simply ignore the planning, but that just leaves your heirsREAD MORE