By Brad Stark, Published in the Daily Sound’s “Ask Seth & Brad” column on May 12, 2012 Dear S&B; With all the talk surrounding underfunded government pensions, how does one go about “fixing” them? Bruce – Santa Barbara If you want to fix an underfunded pension, the first thing you need to do is understand how [...]Read More

By Seth Streeter, Published in the Montecito Messenger’s “Montecito Money” column on May 25, 2012 It’s easy to lose perspective when it comes to money. This is true even for people who have received confirmation from experts that they have more than enough to sustain their lifestyle to age 100. A common belief is that [...]Read More

By Brad Stark, Published in the Daily Sound’s “Ask Seth & Brad” column on March 10, 2012 Every year Dalbar Inc. publishes the investment return estimates for the “average” investor. We can’t recall a time in history when the report was anything but disappointing. For the most recent report going back 20 years, they reported [...]Read More

By Brad Stark, Published in the Montecito Messenger’s “Montecito Money” column on March 23, 2012 During a lawsuit or divorce action it is commonplace to believe that money may have gone “missing.” So to find the secrets on how to discover when money may have gone astray or to find where it went, we solicited [...]Read More

By Brad Stark, Published in the Montecito Messenger’s “Montecito Money” column on January 27, 2012 Are you confused as much as the politicians and the media are about how the economy works? No wonder society is puzzled with economic reality lost among the jargon. Let’s boil down the backdrop into simple to understand concepts of [...]Read More

By Brad Stark, Published in the Daily Sound’s “Ask Seth & Brad” column on March 24, 2012 Whenever someone pulls money out of a retirement account (e.g., IRA, 401k, etc.), they could find themselves subject to three possible tax situations and generally facing one of three needs. There are different rules for those under age [...]Read More

By Seth Streeter, Published in the Montecito Messenger’s “Montecito Money” column on March 30, 2012 How do YOU define success?  Many people believe that the best measure of whether they have “arrived” in life is financial and material accumulation. Do you drive the newest Range Rover or Mercedes, or do you envy your neighbor who [...]Read More

By Brad Stark, Published in the Daily Sound’s “Ask Seth & Brad” column on April 14, 2012 Dear S&B: I am considering retirement but concerned if I have saved enough and a little apprehensive of moving from a regular paycheck to none. Any tips I should consider to calm the nerves? Stanley – Santa Barbara. [...]Read More

By Seth Streeter, Published in the Montecito Messenger’s “Montecito Money” column on March 9, 2012 Many people enjoy managing their own finances and investments. They find satisfaction in keeping up with the ever-changing economy, researching investment options, and watching their portfolio grow. Whether it is something they review periodically, or as part of their daily [...]Read More

By Brad Stark, Published in the Daily Sound’s “Ask Seth & Brad” column on April 28, 2012 Dear S&B: Does it really pay off to spend a lot of money on an expensive education? Stan – Santa Barbara Much has been written about the costs associated with education at all levels, especially college. But what [...]Read More