Eclectic Associates

Since its founding in 1984, Eclectic Associates has operated as a fee-only financial planning firm. Our latest article explains the reasons behind this approach.

Why Are We Fee-Only? — Eclectic Associates, Inc. “Being fee-only planners, we believe we offer our clients objective advice. We never receive commissions on anything we recommend.” -Letter to a potential client from Bill Camp, December 1985 

As we enter the second half of the year, our Q2 letter reviews stock market developments and the role of AI in driving economic growth.

2024 Second Quarterly Letter — Eclectic Associates, Inc. Stocks were mixed during the quarter, with the S&P 500 up 4%, led by tech stocks. The utilities sector has also posted remarkably good performance as investors expect strong electricity demand to power data centers for artificial intelligence (AI).

People often ask us why our company is named "Eclectic Associates." Discover the story behind our company's name.

Where Did We Get Our Name? — Eclectic Associates, Inc. Bill Camp and his wife, Anita, decided on the company’s name in early 1984. Over a number of days they considered a lot of different names, but finally decided on the word “eclectic” while searching out words in the dictionary.

If you're thinking about paying off your mortgage before retirement, we've highlighted some important factors to consider first.

Should You Pay Off Your Mortgage Before Retirement? — Eclectic Associates, Inc. Perhaps you’re starting to see retirement and Social Security checks on the horizon. If you still have a mortgage, you may be wondering: “Should I plan on paying off this mortgage before retirement?

If you've been divorced, you may qualify for Social Security benefits through your ex-spouse's record. Discover more details in our newest article.

Maximizing Social Security Benefits for Divorcees — Eclectic Associates, Inc. Going through a divorce can be emotionally challenging, but it’s crucial to address the financial aspects as well. Seeking professional financial advice during this process can significantly impact your future stability.

As scammers become increasingly sophisticated, how can we safeguard ourselves? Read our latest article to learn what to watch out for and what steps to take if you fall victim.

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Can we truly forecast what lies ahead? Delve into examples where overly confident predictions might have led to misguided short-term investment choices.

What If You Could Predict the Future? — Eclectic Associates, Inc. Even though we all know we can’t predict the future, it doesn’t seem to stop us from trying. The news is filled with predictions and opinions from various “experts” doing the same thing.

With the conclusion of the first quarter, take a moment to explore our article examining past events and offering insights into what lies ahead for the rest of the year.

2024 First Quarterly Letter — Eclectic Associates, Inc. Stocks started the year strong with the S&P 500 gaining 10%, continuing the late 2023 rally. Tech stocks led, while value stocks, especially in the energy and financial sectors, also saw robust gains.

The IRS just announced new guidelines for Inherited IRA RMDs. Read out latest article to see if these changes apply to you.

Big News for (Some) Inherited IRA Owners — Eclectic Associates, Inc. First off, this update from the IRS only affects certain Inherited IRA and Inherited Roth IRAs - those where the original account owner (referred to as the decedent) passed away in 2020 or later.  If you have that type of inherited account, keep reading!

A surprise medical emergency can't be planned, but there are options if you get stuck with a hefty medical bill.

What Should You Do About Surprise Medical Bills? — Eclectic Associates, Inc. We don’t plan to have a medical emergency. Rather, something happens and we need to rush to the emergency room of a local hospital.

A balance sheet is a great starting point in gaining an accurate view of your financial situation. Check out our latest article for more information on building your own balance sheet.

The Value of a Balance Sheet — Eclectic Associates, Inc. At Eclectic Associates, we believe that getting a look at a client’s entire financial picture, not just their retirement and brokerage accounts, guides us in making sound and well-informed decisions for our clients.  Not only is it important for us to have a holistic view of a client’s over

Do you want to know more about 529s, UTMAs, and Kiddie Tax? Read over our article for the latest information on college savings and more.

Kiddie Tax, UTMAs, and 529s — Eclectic Associates, Inc. Recent changes in the tax law have expanded on the rules for 529 accounts, making them an extremely useful tool for helping the next generation get ahead whether they end up going to college or not. 

Advisor Russell W. Hall, CFP®, CPWA® interviewed local Elder Law Attorney, Daniel York, about the differences between Elder Law and Estate Planning. Browse through their conversation to learn more.

Elder Law vs. Estate Planning – What’s the Difference? — Eclectic Associates, Inc. Daniel (Dan) York is an Elder Law Attorney who practices in the Fullerton area.  During a recent presentation, Dan mentioned his concentration on elder law and how it differs from general estate planning.  We thought that was an intriguing and perhaps often misunderstood topic, so

In preparation for this year's election, take a minute to read our latest article about its effect on the stock market.

How Presidential Election Years Affect the Stock Market — Eclectic Associates, Inc. Election season is in full force here in the United States, but Tuesday, November 5th, 2024 still feels a long way away. Between election uncertainty and geopolitical events, we shouldn’t be surprised if stock market volatility rises. You may be wondering what to expect from the rest of this presi...

Learn more about investments, estate planning, and money management in the free four-week course at the La Mirada Resource Center taught by advisor, Russell Hall, CFP®, CPWA®. Register now!

Investments and Estates 101 — Eclectic Associates, Inc. Register for the free four-week workshop about investments and estate planning.

The close of 2023 brought unexpected market changes. Our Year-End letter reviews these shifts as we venture into 2024.

2023 Year-End Letter — Eclectic Associates, Inc. Despite numerous risks, the markets climbed “a wall of worry” and reversed much of the losses from 2022. Most of the gains were earned in the last nine weeks of the year.

Understand more about IRMAA (Income Related Medicare Adjustment Amount) and how it might affect you.

Who is IRMAA and Why is She Taking My Money? — Eclectic Associates, Inc. IRMAA or the Income Related Medicare Adjustment Amount is a Medicare surcharge or tax determined by your two-year prior MAGI (Modified Adjust Gross Income).

We are demystifying what it takes to have the credit score you strive for by sharing some practical debt management and credit usage tips.

Managing Your Debt and Credit Score — Eclectic Associates, Inc. Managing your credit card balance and overall credit usage percentage is a critical part of maintaining a good credit score.

Take some time to read up on various ways to make charitable donations before the year ends.

Give It Away Now — Eclectic Associates, Inc. If you, like so many others, are putting off making your charitable donations until it gets closer to the end of the year, we suggest you start on that right away.

Each year, the process of taking your Required Minimum Distribution seems to grow more and more complex. For a breakdown of some changes you should be aware of, read our latest article.

Three Required Distribution Changes You Should Know About — Eclectic Associates, Inc. As we enter into the final months of 2023, the deadline to comply with the Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) rules is quickly approaching.

For our perspective on how to approach handling this current market when it comes to technology stocks and fixed income, read our 2023 Third Quarterly Letter.

2023 Third Quarterly Letter — Eclectic Associates, Inc. We think investors are susceptible to making a couple of mistakes in the current market.

One of our advisors, Scott A. Rojas, CFP®, MBA teamed up with Medicare Plan Specialist Kelly Perkins to bring you meaningful and timely information regarding Medicare insurance coverage.

Medicare Checklist for 2023 and Beyond — Eclectic Associates, Inc. The Medicare Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) is here. This is the time frame each year when eligible individuals can make changes to their Medicare insurance coverage for the following year.

We thought it was time to address the issue of scams and fraud. Read on for scenarios to watch out for and how to keep yourself safe from becoming a victim yourself.

Scam Watch — Eclectic Associates, Inc. 10% of American adults join the ranks of scam victims each year.

Eclectic Associates is offering a free seminar next week on the evening of September 14th on ways to pay for a college education. This is a pro-bono, educational seminar for our community and not a sales presentation. For more information and to register, visit our page linked below.

ML: Paying for a College Education — Eclectic Associates, Inc. The college application process is daunting, but even harder is paying for college. We will cover saving options, merit scholarships, financial aid, FAFSA & CSS applications, education loans, and negotiating. Email Cheryl at [email protected] or call her at 714-738-0220 to re

If you are a pastor, be sure to read this article on the Minister's Housing Allowance to better understand and utilize this benefit.

Minister's Housing Allowance: Benefits and Pitfalls — Eclectic Associates, Inc. It’s important for American pastors to understand ministers housing allowance and seek out trusted counsel to make sure they take advantage of this tax benefit.

There is no "one-size-fits-all" when it comes to insurance. Get a glimpse into our approach when it comes to insurance planning and analysis for our clients.

Do You Need Insurance? — Eclectic Associates, Inc. At Eclectic Associates, we approach insurance differently.

Go check your beneficiary designations! Here's why:

Check Your Beneficiaries. Now! — Eclectic Associates, Inc. Naming beneficiaries is a relatively simple way to direct where your retirement and some other types of accounts will go when you die. 

Our 2023 Second Quarterly Letter is out. Read on for a recap of the last three months and a brief outlook.

2023 Second Quarterly Letter — Eclectic Associates, Inc. The highly anticipated recession of 2023 hasn’t happened yet and there are signs that it won’t happen this year.

The college admissions process can be overwhelming whether you are a parent or a student. We've provided a few tips that may help you get started when the time comes.

How I Survived the College Admissions Process — Eclectic Associates, Inc. I have provided a few tips that we learned through the college application and admissions process that may be helpful to you or to someone you know.

When it comes to the topic of Long-Term Care (LTC), we encourage our clients to prepare for the costs well before they need care. This article gives an idea of the cost of LTC in California right now.

In California, Long-Term Care Takes Long-Term Planning — Eclectic Associates, Inc. Long-term care insurance can be expensive, and historically premiums have increased significantly over time.