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Here you'll find:
1. The latest on what you need to know about the economy and the markets.
2. Our monthly newsletter "The Rundown" with everything you need to know for the month ahead.
3. Tips and tricks from our team to help you level up your personal finances.

Schedule A Meeting if you wish to discuss anything written by our team! 

Tuesday, March 3, 2026

Summary• Military escalation involving the U.S., Israel, and Iran has increased geopolitical risk and energy market volatility.• Oil prices have moved higher, but broader financial conditions remain orderly. • While uncertainty has...

Tuesday, January 20, 2026

A new year is a good excuse to take a fresh look at your money. You don’t need a dramatic overhaul or a complicated plan. A few clear goals can make a real difference over the next twelve months. Here are five financial goals that are...

Tuesday, January 13, 2026

As the year was winding down, my girlfriend and I realized we both had $150 in Chase Sapphire Reserve dining credits that were about to expire. Rather than let them go to waste, we decided to do what any sensible advisors would do in...

Monday, January 5, 2026

If you’ve ever opened your 401(k) statement and immediately closed it again, you’re not alone. Between the tables, percentages, and fine print, it can feel more confusing than it should be. But understanding your statement is one of...

Friday, January 2, 2026

Life in your 30s moves fast. Careers are growing, kids are arriving, housing decisions are being made, and the responsibilities keep stacking up. It’s exciting — and also a little overwhelming. I know because I’m right in it too. My...

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Monday, December 15, 2025

We’ve all had that moment…you spot your dream car gliding down the road, the engine’s purr turning heads, and you think, “One day, that’ll be me.” For some, that dream stays parked in the imagination. For others, it becomes reality,...

Friday, December 5, 2025

As financial planners, we spend a lot of time talking about markets, portfolios, and strategy—but the biggest factor in your long-term success isn’t what happens on Wall Street. It’s what happens between your ears. We all like to think...

Monday, December 1, 2025

I keep a running list every year of the things I buy that actually make a difference. Most products don’t last long enough to deserve a mention. These three did, and they’ve become part of my routine. Tomtoc Navigator T66 Travel...

Monday, November 17, 2025

The Dodgers just won the 2025 World Series with a roster that was balanced, deep, and built to handle anything. They had power, speed, defense, and pitching. They definitely did not have a one-dimensional lineup. That same kind of...

Monday, November 10, 2025

As a fiduciary financial planner, I help clients make confident decisions about their money, so every part of their financial life works together. Open enrollment is one of those moments where smart choices can lead to meaningful...

Thursday, July 31, 2025

Introduction On July 4, 2025, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) was signed into law, ushering in one of the most comprehensive overhauls of U.S. tax and financial policy in decades. The bill spans nearly 900 pages and touches...

Friday, July 11, 2025

Even though it’s only been half a year, it feels like several years’ worth of events have occurred in 2025. Despite a lot of doom and gloom with current events, most of my clients have been pleasantly surprised during our mid-year...

Thursday, June 26, 2025

After three decades in the classroom, my mom is officially retiring. She spent her career pouring into the lives of students, working long hours, showing up with care and consistency, and saving diligently into her pension and...

Friday, June 20, 2025

We’ve all heard the classic advice: save more, spend less. And it’s solid advice up to a point. But what happens when you take frugality to the extreme? Believe it or not, pinching pennies can possibly backfire on your financial plan....

Tuesday, April 8, 2025

This market volatility is what we’ve been training for.💪🏽 Core beliefs we work to instill in our clients: 1. Time IN the market > Timing the market.⌛ 2. You don’t realize gains or losses until you sell your holdings. Stay the...

Thursday, February 27, 2025

As you probably know by now, I became a dad last summer. The birth of our daughter, Frankie, changed our lives forever for the better. Along with the joy, wonder, and purpose it has brought to my life, it has also added a whole new...

Friday, February 21, 2025

Financial planning is essential for achieving long-term financial security, but it comes with its own set of risks. As a wealth manager and financial planner, one of the main pillars that I work with individuals and families is risk...

Tuesday, February 18, 2025

Motherhood is absolutely life changing. It also comes with countless financial decisions! As both a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER®️ and a new mom, I've experienced firsthand the importance of making smart spending choices when it comes...

Monday, February 3, 2025

This month, we share: 📈The Week Ahead For The Market, 🪜Alex's FULL GUIDE For Building Generational Wealth, 📍Cetera's 2025 Market Outlook, 🤓Invites for Two Educational Seminars this month, 🏫Details on the elimination for WEP & GPO

Friday, January 31, 2025

The Social Security Fairness Act On January 5, 2025, President Biden signed Social Security Fairness Act into law, effectively repealing the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO). This is huge for...

Wednesday, December 4, 2024

In the Rundown for December, we highlight the week ahead in the market, Alex's Step 9 in his Guide To Building Generational Wealth, share the implications of a Trump White House, share Cetera Investment Management's End of Year Commentary,

Tuesday, November 5, 2024

This month, we share: 📈Election Week Market Outlook 🪜Alex's "Step 8" in Building Generational Wealth, 💌"Savvy Social Security For Women" Dinner Seminar, 🎥 "Building A Solid Financial Foundation" Video,  🦆Oregon Public Employees Re

Tuesday, October 8, 2024

In the Rundown for October, we breakdown the top news headline regarding the Fed's recent interest rate cut, share Step 7 of Alex's Guide To Building Generational Wealth, share the opening of the Women's Business Center, and more!

Monday, July 1, 2024

We cover Cetera's Mid-Year Market review, share our game plan while we're away, share a video on money things you should know in your 20's, highlight Brandon & Max in the community, share a feature in Shoutout LA, and more!

Monday, June 24, 2024

Federal Employees, As dedicated employees of the Federal government, your focus is on doing what you do to serve the country. Sometimes it can be tough to take time to think about your own financial future, especially when it comes to...

Friday, June 21, 2024

Step 9, Create an Estate Plan, showed us the steps to turn our personal wealth efficiently and effectively into generational wealth. Step 10, Share Your Success, takes creating generational wealth to the next level. Once you’ve...

Monday, June 17, 2024

Step 8, Next Gen Investments, took us into the realm of generational wealth, as we explored how to help the next generation while we are still alive. Step 9, Create an Estate Plan, takes this one step further as we think about how we...

Monday, June 10, 2024

Setting Financial Goals, building a Savings Plan, and creating Passive Income are very important steps toward building generational wealth. However, these mostly focus on building personal wealth. Step 8, Invest In The Next Generation,...

Friday, June 7, 2024

Long ago, I found a twitter quote that helped me understand why it is important to have a solid financial foundation. “If you can’t manage $1,000, you can’t manage $10,000. You don’t suddenly learn how to manage money by amassing more...

Tuesday, June 4, 2024

In the Rundown for June, we cover the latest goings on in the market, invite you to happy hour, share a video on credit card debt, highlight your advisors in the wild, share a video on how to crush your student loans, and invite you to a di

Monday, May 6, 2024

As dedicated educators of the Northwest, your focus is on nurturing the future. Sometimes it can be tough to take time to think about your own financial future, especially when it comes to the Teacher Retirement...

Wednesday, May 1, 2024

We get you a market update for the week ahead, invite you to a hike in Sierra Madre, share a video on the Oregon Public Teachers Pension, share what your advisors have been up to lately, shared Alex's "Secret To Building $1,000,000 in Wealt

Monday, April 8, 2024

As dedicated educators, your focus is on nurturing the future. Sometimes it can be tough to take some time to think about your own financial future, especially when it comes to the Oregon Public Employees Retirement...

Tuesday, April 2, 2024

In The Rundown for April, we share the market outlook for the second quarter, ways to slow the impact of inflation, a how to video on how to make the most of your Adviceworks client portal, 7 terms teachers should know about their CalSTRS p

Tuesday, March 5, 2024

The Consumer Expenditures report for 2022 shed light on where Americans are spending their hard-earned money. Some spending patterns that caught my eye were...

Friday, March 1, 2024

In this month's issue of the Rundown, we cover the TOP market headline, share a Wealth Planning Reference Guide for 2024, a video on how to navigate job loss, Alex's Step 4 for building generational wealth, & tips on how to create a budget

Thursday, February 15, 2024

Introduction: In the journey towards financial stability and success, creating and sticking to a budget is a fundamental step. As a financial advisor, I understand the importance of budgeting in helping individuals achieve their...

Friday, February 2, 2024

In The Rundown for this month, we cover 5 Keys To Investing In 2024, share Brandon's Comprehensive Guide for job loss, share our new planning software called Asset-Map, and share Brandon's 2024 Personal Finance calculator, and more!

Monday, January 22, 2024

As the new year rolls out, there are many things we need to keep track of throughout the year that pertains to our personal finances. Many people take more time planning vacations than thinking about their personal finances, often...

Thursday, January 18, 2024

After you develop your Savings Plan and Manage Risks, the next step toward building generational wealth is to Acquire Assets and Passive Income. This critical step is a culmination of successfully implementing steps 1-6. Once you do...

Monday, January 15, 2024

Experiencing job loss is undoubtedly a challenging and often overwhelming situation. As a financial advisor, I understand the profound impact it can have on your life. In this blog post, I aim to provide practical advice...

Monday, January 8, 2024

This month, we share Cetera's Market Outlook for 2024, our new office address and photos from our holiday party in December, Alex's Step Three: Eliminating Bad Debt in his Guide To Building Generational Wealth, how Brandon saved over $1,500

Monday, December 11, 2023

As a financial advisor, I firmly believe that mindful financial choices extend to every aspect of our lives, including travel. In this blog post, I'll share my personal journey of booking flights to Japan and Taiwan for specific dates...

Monday, December 4, 2023

In the Rundown for December, we cover the economic outlook for 2024, step 2 for building generational wealth, two of Brandon's blog posts that will prepare you for 2024, podcast episodes for small business owners, & a video for teachers!

Wednesday, November 29, 2023

As we step into the new year soon, it is crucial to stay informed about changes that may impact our financial well-being. One area that often undergoes adjustments is the contributions limits for retirement accounts. The IRS has recently r

Wednesday, November 1, 2023

In the Rundown for November, we cover the "Haunted Housing Market", share a generational wealth building video, Next Gen Financial Planning, our advisors in the wild, a new podcast episode on marketing for business owners, and so much more!

Wednesday, November 1, 2023

Gas prices in Los Angeles have been skyrocketing in recent times, causing many residents to feel the pinch at the pump. With prices reaching as high as $7 per gallon, it's no wonder that people are looking for ways to reduce their fuel...

Tuesday, October 10, 2023

Your credit score plays a pivotal role in your financial life. Whether you're applying for a loan, renting an apartment, or even setting up utility services, your credit score can influence the outcome. While many people are aware of the im

Wednesday, September 27, 2023

In The Rundown for October, we share: The TOP Market Related News Headline, A Video From Max , Step Five: Create A Savings Plan | Alex's Step By Step Guide For Building Generational Wealth, Our Webinar Replay For Teachers, and much more!

Saturday, September 23, 2023

After you develop your Savings Plan, the next step toward building generational wealth is to manage your risks. For those that have every played sports, we constantly hear the cliche, “Defense wins championships.” While...

Friday, September 15, 2023

Hi, my name is Tori Sierra and I'm a financial advisor who helps female business owners of color save money in taxes, maximize their after tax income, and save for their future selves. I'm also a yoga teacher and, today, I'm bringing...

Friday, September 15, 2023

Credit Card debt is at an all-time high, going over $1 Trillion for the first time in history. The average rate for a credit card during the pandemic was 14.39%. Currently, the average rate has skyrocketed to over 22%! The scariest...

Monday, September 4, 2023

We cover the top news headline you need to know, share what our advisors have been up to in the wild, a webinar replay for "How To Save Money In Taxes For Biz Owners", & share Alex's Sept Four in his Guide To Building Generational Wealth!

Monday, August 14, 2023

Once you’ve completed Step 4 and determined your financial goals, it’s time to put the Savings Plan in place that will make those goals a reality.  This is the process of working backwards from your goals to what action you should take toda

Wednesday, August 2, 2023

In The Rundown for August, we share:🔅 The TOP Market Related News Headline🔅Our Advisors In The Wild 🔅A Video To Find Unclaimed Property In CA 🔅 Tori's New Blog Post: "Embracing Change As A Business Owner"🔅The Hidden Cost of Getting Sic

Wednesday, July 26, 2023

When we fall ill, our primary concern is naturally our physical well-being. However, there is an often-overlooked aspect of illness that can have a profound impact on our lives: our financial plan. From medical expenses and lost income...

Thursday, July 20, 2023

Step 4 begins what I consider the fun part of the generational wealth building process. This is where your goals, values, and dreams come into play. This is where you begin to shape the type of life and type of impact you want to have....

Monday, July 3, 2023

In The Rundown for July, we share:🔅 The TOP Market Related News Headline🔅An Intro To Brandon's New Role 🔅A Guide To Unclaimed Property In California 🔅 A New Podcast Episode: "Embracing Change As A Business Owner"🔅Brandon's Video On Ups

Monday, June 26, 2023

California Unclaimed Property, a lesser-known topic among residents, holds a hidden treasure trove of forgotten assets waiting to be claimed. From dormant bank accounts and uncollected insurance policies to abandoned safe deposit boxes...

Friday, June 2, 2023

The June 2023 issue of The Rundown is out now! 📰 This Month's TOP Headline You Need To Know 💳 The Upside-Down Car Loans Dilemma 🔥 Reframe With Tori 📚 Step Three: Eliminate Bad Debt | Alex's Guide To Building Generational Wealth

Tuesday, May 30, 2023

Debt is not a bad thing. Sometimes debt gets a bad rap, but in reality, almost everyone has some form of debt. In fact, sometimes taking on debt is necessary to keep your financial journey moving. Yes, sometimes debt can become an...

Monday, May 29, 2023

When it comes to buying a car, many of us rely on auto loans to make the purchase more affordable. However, sometimes these loans can turn sour, leaving us in a situation commonly referred to as an "upside-down car loan." Business...

Monday, May 8, 2023

As our team has been working with our clients, we've noticed that more and more people are carrying a credit card balance. This inspired me to look into why we were seeing this type of financial behavior and what solutions we...

Tuesday, May 2, 2023

The May 2023 issue of The Rundown is out now! 📰 This Month's TOP Headline You Need To Know 💳 Credit Card Balance Transfer: Pros & Cons 🔥 Reframe With Tori 📚 Step Two: Emergency Fund | Alex's Guide To Building Generational Wealth

Monday, May 1, 2023

• The debt ceiling has been reached, and the clock is ticking before the U.S. will miss payments on its obligations.• Market fluctuations will likely worsen as political brinkmanship could last until the last second.•...

Thursday, April 27, 2023

An Emergency Fund is simply a pool of money set aside for unexpected emergencies. Once you have stabilized and your monthly net cash flow is consistently positive, your first goal should be to establish an Emergency Fund. When it comes...

Saturday, April 1, 2023

We break down the top news headline and why it matters to you, share what you need to know about your credit card statement, share this month's Hot Take, and reveal the first step in Alex's Step By Step Guide To Building Generational Wealth

Thursday, March 30, 2023

There is a new season of baseball on deck and a fresh commentary from Cetera Investment Management. “From Opening Bell to Opening Day” examines America’s national pastime and its similarities with investing and markets. No curveballs in thi

Thursday, March 30, 2023

If you are someone who frequently uses a credit card to make purchases, you must be familiar with the monthly credit card statements that show up in your mailbox or inbox. While it may be tempting to ignore these statements or give...

Tuesday, March 28, 2023

Stabilizing is simply the art of balancing your personal cash flow statement. For many, this first step toward building generational wealth will be the most challenging. Stabilizing can take lots of discipline, lots of time, and might...

Tuesday, February 28, 2023

We share the most significant headline of the month, Brandon's video on 3 Credit Cards You Need, Tori's Hot Take On Tax Refunds, and an introduction to Alex's Step-By-Step Guide For Building Generational Wealth

Friday, February 24, 2023

Were you born into a rich family or a poor one? The one thing every human has in common is that they have no control over which family they are born into. This should a uniting factor. In reality, humans still tend to make judgments...

Wednesday, February 1, 2023

We share the TOP news headline you need to know going into this month, deets on the SECURE Act 2.0 via video and blog, our HOT TIP for February to get the most from your credit cards, and we introduce the newest member of our team, Max!

Wednesday, February 1, 2023

As the Federal Reserve (Fed) looks to increase interest rates for the time being, High-Yield Savings Accounts (HYSA) can add value to cash you have on the sidelines for emergencies or other financial goals. For those who don’t...

Saturday, January 21, 2023

Did you know a large new bill was signed into law in December, 2022? The Secure Act 2.0 went somewhat under the radar, but its impact on retirement plans and personal finances will surely be felt for years to come. In this blog post, I...

Tuesday, January 17, 2023

In my last blog post, I broke down the different kinds of cards you should have in your wallet. In this post, I will go through the cards that are in my own wallet. Hopefully this provides you with an example of what a diversified...

Tuesday, January 10, 2023

As the new year has started, many family members and friends I’ve spoken with have a common new year’s resolution theme: to maximize whatever they do. This can be in the form of maximizing time throughout their day,...

Sunday, January 1, 2023

To kick off this fresh new year, we breakdown market headlines and why they matter, we cover "5 Reasons To Start An HSA", share this month's HOT TIP, and share our "2022 Wrapped"!

Saturday, December 31, 2022

Cetera Investment Management is pleased to release its annual Market Outlook for 2023 titled, "Low Expectations Are Easier to Beat." In this outlook, they discuss while they expect volatility to remain in both stocks and bonds, stocks have

Thursday, December 1, 2022

December's Rundown breaks down news headlines you need to know, Brandon shares "5 Tips To Help You Save Money While Traveling", we share books written by our incredible clients, and share this month's hot tip regarding the market & midterms

Monday, November 28, 2022

Since COVID restrictions have been easing this year, I’ve started traveling more. As I mentioned in my last blog post, I treated my whole family of 5 to a week long vacation in Maui, Hawaii. I showed how I used credit cards to...

Tuesday, November 1, 2022

In The Rundown for November, we cover market headlines you need to know, Tori highlights the similarities between wedding vows & investing, Brandon shares how he took his family of 5 to Maui using credit cards rewards, and we share photos f

Friday, October 28, 2022

It's official! Alex and I got married on Saturday, October 1st in Cambria, California, along the coast of San Luis Obispo, surrounded by our closest family and friends.   On October 3rd, we headed out for our honeymoon in Italy! We went...

Thursday, October 27, 2022

This past September I treated my whole family (my parents and my two younger brothers) to a weeklong vacation to Hawaii. We went to the island of Maui and had a relaxing time. As many of you might now, a weeklong stay in Maui is not...

Monday, October 24, 2022

Weekly RecapOctober 17-21, 2022 RecapInvestor Optimism GrowsStocks ReboundCorporate earnings and comments from Federal Reserve officials were the focus last week. Thus far, just over 20% of the S&P 500 companies have released earnings...

Tuesday, September 27, 2022

Cetera Investment Management has released its 2022 Fourth Quarter Outlook. In this outlook, they discuss how the Fed’s commitment to fight inflation at the cost of economic growth and the labor market. The risk of recession...

Friday, September 2, 2022

In The Rundown for September, we cover market headlines you need to know, share a new Teacher Talk with Tori video, Brandon shares valuable insight on the value of money, and Alex gives us the bottom line when it comes to the recent student

Monday, August 29, 2022

By now, you've probably heard the announcement. After promising student loan forgiveness in his 2019 campaign, Biden finally announced his administration's plan. While some argue that the plan does not go far enough, others...

Tuesday, August 2, 2022

As we sit down with our clients to help achieve their financial goals, our goal as advisors is to help educate them in the big world of finance. One idea or subject that is somewhat hard for people to grasp is Time Value of Money,...

Tuesday, August 2, 2022

In our August Rundown, we break down market headlines you need to know, share the new way to prepare for long-term care in Alex's latest Wealth & Wellness video, review the pros and cons of credit card balance transfers, share three ways in

Thursday, July 14, 2022

Do you know how you pay your financial advisor? Surprisingly, many people do not know the answer to this question. The financial services industry is complicated and there is no single standard method for financial advisors to charge....

Monday, July 4, 2022

As our team has been working with our clients, we've noticed that more and more people are carrying a credit card balance. This inspired me to look into why we were seeing this type of financial behavior and what solutions we...

Friday, July 1, 2022

We break down market headlines, share how to maximize your 401(k), identify the pros and cons of paying off your mortgage, demystify crypto, and share this month's hot tip!

Monday, June 13, 2022

• Market sell-off continues as investors sell both stocks and bonds.• Fed comments after their meeting this week are very important for market direction.• Given negative market sentiment, room for positive surprises...

Friday, June 10, 2022

Wouldn't it be nice to pay off your mortgage? Emotionally, the answer is probably yes. If we take a look at the numbers, however, it might not be as nice as it seems. One of the most common questions we get from our clients, especially...

Tuesday, June 7, 2022

The 401(k) is one of the most well known investment accounts geared towards saving for retirement. In our experience as advisors, we’ve seen many clients utilize this account, but fail to to truly maximize their investments. In...

Tuesday, May 31, 2022

In this month's Rundown, we cover market headlines you need to know, break down the two main types of life insurance, share guidelines for when you can retire, provide three takeaways from Cetera's market commentary, and share this month's

Tuesday, May 24, 2022

Weekly RecapMay 16-20, 2022 RecapStocks Formally Avert Bear MarketS&P 500 Declines a Seventh WeekThe S&P 500 closed fractionally higher last Friday, rebounding from an earlier intra-day low that was momentarily down more than 20% from...

Thursday, May 12, 2022

Markets are in a deep correction and investors are looking for clues about when this decline will end. While forecasting the exact bottom is a fool’s errand, there are clues to look for.

Wednesday, May 11, 2022

Finding the right time to retire depends on your work benefits, your health, your retirement goals and a number of other factors. While there is no one size fits all approach when it comes to retirement planning, there are some general guid

Friday, April 29, 2022

In May's edition of The Rundown, we cover headlines you need to know, share a new video called "When Can I Retire?", invite you to listen in on a conversation with economist and comedian Ben Stein, share "5 Things To Do With My Tax Refund"

Monday, April 25, 2022

As a majority of Americans finished filing their taxes this past April 18th, the IRS is refunding millions of dollars back to everyone who’ve filed and have paid more than what they needed to. Essential, the money you may be...

Thursday, March 31, 2022

🌷Happy April! 🌷 📝In this month's issue of The Rundown, we cover: 🗝️ The second quarter economic outlook for 2022, 🗝️ The two simple ways you can choose to work with our team, 🗝️ The benefits & risks of "Buy Now, Pay Later", 🗝️ Th

Monday, March 28, 2022

The concept of Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) is nothing new. To the older generation, BNPL is essentially what they called the “installment plan” or “layaway plan” with a modern twist. Think of the infomercials on...

Monday, March 14, 2022

According to a study, published by Capital One and The Decision Lab, 77% of participants reported feeling anxious about their financial situation. In our new YouTube series called “MINDFUL MONEY” , I share tips on how to...

Wednesday, March 9, 2022

In the last 2 years, we faced an unexpected pandemic that temporarily caused us to shut down our economy, we've seen dramatic increases in inflation, and now we are witnessing Russia's assault on Ukraine and democracy as a whole.

Thursday, March 3, 2022

Saving your hard-earned money into an individual retirement account (IRA) can help tremendously in saving for your retirement. Data from the Congressional Research Service Department reveals that in 2019, about 25% of U.S. households owned

Wednesday, March 2, 2022

We give you a monthly rundown on the latest market headlines, important financial tips, and strategies to set you up for a successful month!

Friday, February 18, 2022

With the tax return deadline approaching, taxes are certainly top of mind for many investors. One of the most common goals that I hear from my clients is to save money on taxes. So, what are some methods to do this? A quick way to lower you

Tuesday, February 8, 2022

Taxes; you can’t get away from them, and everyone will pay them one way or another. Taxes are something we have always heard about, but if I were to ask you what they were and what they were used for, would you know? Well, taxes...

Thursday, January 27, 2022

In our February newsletter, we review the latest market headlines, debut our latest "Teacher Talk With Tori" video and Brandon's newest blog post on budgeting, and share this month's hot tip!

Thursday, January 13, 2022

Within the topic of personal finance, budgeting is the foundation. From our experience, many people have a hard time differentiating between what a need is and what a want is when allocating money towards various things in life. Though it c

Monday, January 3, 2022

In our first newsletter in 2022, we break down news headlines and why they matter to your portfolio, Alex shares a blog post about why he got his CFP designation and what that means for our clients, Brandon debunks 5 credit card myths, and

Thursday, December 23, 2021

My Personal Journey Ever since I became a financial adviser in 2016, getting my Certified Financial Planner® designation has been an important goal. The Certified Financial Planner® designation represents the highest level of...

Monday, December 20, 2021

There are a lot of myths that circulate around credit cards and credit scores which have caused confusion among some people. In this blog post, we will cover 5 of the more common myths we hear revolving around credit cards and credit scores

Tuesday, November 30, 2021

In this month’s newsletter, we break down news headlines, including market implications of the Omicron variant, Alex covers HSAs, & Brandon shares 5 financial gifts that will make a difference in the future to get you ready for the holidays

Monday, November 22, 2021

With supply chains being hit hard by Southern California’s backlog of ships, we might have trouble getting the latest and greatest toys, tech, or jewelry this holiday season. This predicament, coupled with rising inflation, may...

Friday, November 12, 2021

For many people, healthcare is one of the largest necessary expenses every year. There are all sorts of health insurance plans ranging from low premium plans with high deductibles to high premium plans with low deductibles. Regardless...

Friday, November 5, 2021

Over the last several months, inflation has become a hot topic for good reason. We are seeing substantial levels of inflation for the first time in almost 15 years. While it is concerning to see the increasing prices of daily...

Friday, October 29, 2021

In this month’s newsletter, we break down news headlines, Brandon shares "5 Websites That Can Help You Save Money", I share what I celebrate most about my heritage, and more!

Friday, October 22, 2021

With the holiday season coming up, everyone is trying to save a bit of money when buying gifts for someone they love or even for themselves. Below are 5 websites that I use to help me save money doing everyday shopping. Rakuten...

Tuesday, September 28, 2021

We review market headlines, share a couple blog posts by Brandon, a webinar on our Adviceworks client portal, some market updates/commentaries, and more!

Tuesday, September 21, 2021

Back in college, when money was scarce for a broke college student, every penny counted. I worked a full-time job at a local restaurant while also being a full-time student. I found different ways to make my dollars stretch, but also...

Thursday, September 16, 2021

As an advisor, I get the question all the time: “Will Social Security still be around when I retire?”. This is especially concerning for millennials and younger generations who have heard their whole lives that the Social...

Monday, September 6, 2021

As someone who loves to play the long-term credit card game, I've found ways to maximize the value of my credit cards and make life a bit easier. This can be challenging when dealing with something that most Americans find daunting....

Monday, August 30, 2021

HAPPY SEPTEMBER! In this month's newsletter, we celebrate something BIG, break down recent market headlines, review the Senate's budget framework, share Alex's latest blog post & YouTube video, invite you to a Cetera 'IN THE ROOM' event, &

Tuesday, August 24, 2021

What is Long Term Care? Long Term Care is a specific type of healthcare designed to meet a person’s health or personal needs over either a short or long period of time. Typically, one will require Long Term Care if they can no...

Thursday, August 5, 2021

August Newsletter by Tori Gutierrez

Wednesday, July 28, 2021

From phone calls informing you that your car’s insurance is expired to emails from foreign princes asking for money, there are an abundance of financial scams out there that take advantage of millions of Americans. Last September...

Saturday, June 26, 2021

In last month's blog post, I listed 5 ways college students can make money during their college/university career. In this article, I introduce how to make some extra cash during retirement for retirees. With 2020 affecting Americans...

Wednesday, June 2, 2021

Over the coming months, there will likely be many headlines about inflation that add to the noise. We hope this blog article cuts through the noise and provides some education and context around the inflation conversation.

Wednesday, May 26, 2021

With millions of students graduating high school over these next couple of months, there will be many people continuing on to higher education, whether that be a community college, trade school, or university. Of those people, many...

Monday, April 26, 2021

If you have been following our blog for a while, you probably know that we are always on the hunt for a good deal. There's nothing wrong with a good deal, but SOMETIMES that way of thinking can leave you in a bit of trouble. We believe...

Sunday, April 18, 2021

Diversification is the act of investing in a variety of different areas in order to reduce the overall risk of your portfolio.1 Essentially, it takes the age old saying of "Don't put all of your eggs into one basket," and applies that...

Friday, April 9, 2021

An IRA, which is short for "Individual Retirement Account", is an account that you can save money into for your retirement. A 401(k) is also an account that you save money into for your retirement, but is sponsored by your employer,...

Wednesday, March 24, 2021

Think of a credit card company like a casino. Your goal when playing their games are to make money. There’s the saying “the house always wins”. That is only the case if you let them win. In this blog post, we will...

Monday, March 8, 2021

Our team of advisors has over a decade of experience working with teachers. Every year we help several of our clients comfortably retire from teaching. One of the main ways we help our clients is by educating them on how their benefits...

Friday, February 26, 2021

What is a car lease? As simple as it is, a car lease is the financing of a car’s depreciation. Unless you took an accounting course back in high school or college, you are probably wondering what depreciation is. Depreciation is...

Friday, February 5, 2021

In this episode, I explain the basics of the California State Teacher's Retirement System's (CalSTRS) Defined Benefit Supplement, or "DBS". *What is it?*Will you have a benefit from the DBS?*What role will it play in your...

Friday, January 8, 2021

The start of the New Year gives us a moment to reflect on the previous year and plan for the new one. As we put together our calendars for the new year, there are some important dates to remember. Below is a breakdown by month of dates...

Monday, December 28, 2020

As we prepare to start the New Year, now is a great time to join in on the tradition of New Year’s “resolutions.” 2020 was an unprecedented year with Covid-19 that really opened our eyes to the important things in...

Friday, December 4, 2020

What kind of relationship do you want with your advisor? To answer this question, you should first ask yourself if you're a... 1. "Do It Yourself-er" 2. "Collaborator" 3. "Delegator"...

Monday, November 30, 2020

“Discipline Equals Freedom” Off the bat, from the title of this blog, you are probably thinking how does discipline equal freedom? They are a complete dichotomy of each other. However, without one, you can’t have the...

Thursday, November 5, 2020

As investors, how do we invest with confidence when there is so much uncertainty and volatility? Stick to common investment strategies, such as "dollar cost averaging".

Thursday, October 29, 2020

5 Tips & Tricks to Save Up to $100/Month Saving money each month doesn’t have to feel like an uphill battle. Our assistant, Brandon, is passionate about personal finance and saving money in small ways that have a HUGE impact....

Wednesday, September 30, 2020

12 Activities To Keep You Healthy During Quarantine As financial advisors, one of our main goals is to help clients alleviate the stress in their lives. The primary way we do this is by addressing financial stress. We do this by...

Monday, September 28, 2020

For Our Teachers: Navigating the world of 403(b)s can be complicated, especially if you're a teacher just trying to navigate your new reality of a virtual classroom for your students. If you're in the same boat as many overwhelmed and...

Friday, September 4, 2020

INVESTING 101 WITH ALEX In Episode 3 of Investing 101, Alex discusses how to construct an investment portfolio based on "Modern Portfolio Theory". "Modern Portfolio Theory" is a mathematical framework investors and advisors use to...

Wednesday, August 26, 2020

"The 2020 Election and Your Portfolio". With 2020’s overabundance of explosive headlines, including a pandemic, an economic recession, and civil unrest, the 2020 Election has been somewhat overlooked until recent weeks. The election...

Wednesday, August 19, 2020

Introducing our new series, "Teacher Talk With Tori"! Okay I've been very excited to launch this new series because it was made SPECIFICALLY for California public school teachers. My mom is a 3rd grade teacher and I know how much of...

Monday, August 17, 2020

Hi everyone! In our second episode of our "Investing 101" series, Alex covers different types of investment vehicles available to investors on the market. If you have questions on which vehicle(s) might make the most sense for you,...

Wednesday, August 5, 2020

Is now a good time to buy a house? Is now a good time to sell? What about commercial real estate? Lately, we have been getting a lot of questions about the real estate market. Like the stock market, the real estate market is governed by...

Wednesday, July 29, 2020

Hi everyone! This is our first episode of our series called "Investing 101" where we spend a few minutes on a variety of topics involving investing. We will star off with a few videos on the basics and then go into some more advanced...

Wednesday, July 22, 2020

Hi everyone! Rounding out our "Get To Know" video blog series is licensed sales assistant (and backbone of our team), Brandon Chhan! Brandon has been with Cetera Investors for just under 3 years and is the hardest worker we know. We...

Wednesday, July 15, 2020

Hi everyone! In today's Q&A, we address the new and important regulation established by the SEC called "Regulation Best Interest". This new regulation aims to improve consumer confidence in their advisor. We answer questions on "Reg...

Thursday, July 9, 2020

When working with a trusted financial advisor, you probably assume that they are giving advice in your best interest. But, how can you be sure? What is Regulation Best Interest? On June 30th, 2020, the Securities and Exchange...

Wednesday, July 8, 2020

What are the biggest factors that influence your credit score? You've likely heard the term “FICO score”. This is one of the most popular types of credit scores that lenders use to decide if and how much credit to offer....

Friday, July 3, 2020

For this week's Q&A, we discuss the basics of the California Teacher's Pension! We discuss: What is the CalSTRS pension? What are the different pension formulas and which one applies to me? What are the factors that determine my...

Monday, June 29, 2020

Hey everyone! Next up in our "Get To Know" series is a short introduction to financial adviser, Alex Sierra. Alex loves helping his clients develop sophisticated financial strategies designed meet their goals. Learn a bit more about...

Friday, June 26, 2020

Hi everyone! In today's episode, we discuss one of my favorite topics: Socially Conscious Investing. We discuss these 4 questions: What is Socially Responsible Investing and why is everyone talking about it? How has Socially...

Thursday, June 25, 2020

In our last blog post about credit, we discussed the basics of credit, the different types of credit, and why credit is important. Next, we will review how to build credit and how to take where you are now and improve upon it. Building...

Friday, June 19, 2020

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Friday, June 19, 2020

Welcome to the very first of many VIDEO blogs! First up in our video blog series is an introduction to our team! Up first is "Get To Know: Tori". Tori has been a financial adviser for seven years and loves her clients very much. Learn...

Friday, June 12, 2020

We are answering YOUR questions every Friday! This was our first Q&A, which is 30 minutes on savings, long term care, and Alex's most recent blog post. Future Q&As will be 10 minutes! Send us your questions and we will try to answer...

Thursday, June 4, 2020

What Happened We all remember when news of the coronavirus hit and it became apparent that many businesses were going to have make significant cuts or shut down. We all remember getting the “Stay At Home” orders from the...

Wednesday, May 27, 2020

What is Credit? According to Experian, "Credit is the ability to borrow money or access to goods or services with the understanding that you’ll pay later." People use credit to buy almost everything, including food, clothing,...

Wednesday, May 20, 2020

Amid the Coronavirus pandemic, we are facing more uncertainty than ever before. Many are concerned about their health, their loved ones, their jobs, and their ability to pay the bills. Many are also uncertain about the economy and how...

Thursday, May 14, 2020

The answer to this question depends on your specific situation, but here are a few ideas that would have the biggest impact on your financial well-being: Pay your bills. This one might sound obvious, but if you have fixed inflexible...

Tuesday, December 10, 2019

Alex and I had so much fun at our client appreciation holiday party on Saturday! It's really nice to see clients outside of a meeting. We had a chance to relax and enjoying each other's company, delicious food, and drinks. But I think...