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.

Zelle and Venmo are two popular peer-to-peer payment platforms. They both allow users to send and receive money electronically. While they serve similar purposes, there are key differences in their features, functionality, and security. What is Zelle? Zelle is aREAD MORE

First Quarter 2025 in Review We began 2025 on a relatively solid economic footing with investors showing some optimism for the incoming administration. Unfortunately, things changed in the first quarter. Shifting trade policies, dollar weakness and cooling in technology sectorREAD MORE

Recent studies of retirees have led to the following conclusion: “Retirees say health is the #1 ingredient for a happy retirement.” Financial security, family and purpose were all important, but health was tops. And this makes perfect sense, as goodREAD MORE

Digital platforms are central to managing personal finances today, from online shopping and bill payment to banking and investing. While they have clear advantages over paper-based systems, there are risks involved with digital platforms that can cause real harm. ProtectingREAD MORE

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