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.

Over the past few weeks, interest rates have dropped significantly. The yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury Note has plummeted to the lowest levels since 2016, and worldwide about a quarter of all bonds are trading at negative yields. WithREAD MORE

For some people, the decision whether to buy or lease a car is simply a matter of preference. But which is the better financial decision? To answer this, you must evaluate long-term cash flows and winnow out the (often hidden)READ MORE

Last month, we discussed some of the benefits of including real estate in your investment mix. These include income, diversification and, in the case of owning property directly, some significant tax advantages for owning income properties. I also mentioned thatREAD MORE

Real estate as an investment can be very profitable. It has its challenges, especially if you are buying property and managing it yourself. But done properly, real estate can provide cash flow, diversification and other benefits to your investment portfolio.READ MORE

You may have heard this common axiom regarding auto insurance: “Don’t pay for any more insurance than necessary; buy only what you are required to by the state and save the money.” What’s the problem with this advice? It leavesREAD MORE