Sunpath Financial

Sunpath Financial Sunpath is a retirement specialist firm who offers a series of innovative financial planning and investment strategies. At Sunpath, our mission is no different.

For the past 25 years, our mentor has dedicated his time to helping United States Federal Employees retire with a smile on their face knowing that now, they can finally enjoy the fruits of their labor. We're in the business of helping people enjoy the latter half of their life. Retirement planning is creating a guideline for clients that allows them the flexibility to live by and enjoy their means

. "At the end of the day, our clients don't care what the market is doing, they want to enjoy the fruits of their labor. It's a huge responsibility, but one we're experienced in and are absolutely passionate about." - Joshua Crowe, CEO and founder of Sunpath, Inc.

8 Reasons to Hire a Fiduciary A fiduciary is a person or entity that is entrusted with the responsibility of acting in t...
05/30/2023

8 Reasons to Hire a Fiduciary

A fiduciary is a person or entity that is entrusted with the responsibility of acting in the best interests of another party. The benefits of having a fiduciary can be significant and include:

Legal and Ethical Duty: Fiduciaries have a legal and ethical duty to act in the best interests of the party they represent. This duty ensures that they prioritize the needs and objectives of the other party above their own, promoting trust and confidence.

Expertise and Knowledge: Fiduciaries are typically professionals who possess specialized knowledge and expertise in their respective fields. They can provide valuable advice and guidance based on their experience, helping to make informed decisions and navigate complex financial, legal, or business matters.

Objectivity and Impartiality: Fiduciaries are required to be impartial and free from conflicts of interest. Their primary obligation is to act in the best interests of the other party, regardless of personal or financial gain. This ensures that decisions are made objectively and without bias.

Risk Mitigation: Fiduciaries can help mitigate risks by carefully managing and overseeing assets or resources. They have a fiduciary duty to protect and preserve the interests of the other party, which includes taking appropriate measures to minimize risk and ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

Accountability and Oversight: Fiduciaries are accountable for their actions and decisions. They are obligated to provide regular reports and updates to the party they represent, promoting transparency and ensuring that the other party is well-informed about the management of their affairs.

Time and Stress Savings: Having a fiduciary can relieve individuals or organizations of the burden of managing complex matters on their own. Fiduciaries handle administrative tasks, monitor investments, and make strategic decisions, allowing the other party to focus on other aspects of their life or business.

Long-Term Planning: Fiduciaries often assist with long-term planning and goal-setting. They can help create and implement strategies that align with the other party's objectives, whether it's retirement planning, wealth management, estate planning, or business succession planning.

Personalized Approach: Fiduciaries typically tailor their services to the specific needs and goals of the other party. They take into account individual circumstances and preferences to develop customized plans and solutions that align with their best interests.

Overall, having a fiduciary provides a layer of protection, expertise, and trust, enabling individuals or organizations to effectively manage their affairs and achieve their financial, legal, or business objectives.

Sunpath Financial's advisors are licensed fiduciaries working in the best interest of their clients. If you're looking to consult with a company that values your interests, who's also legally bound to them, feel free to click the button below to receive your complimentary consultation.

Thank you Rita Eileen Ochoa for the introduction with the Billings family, your professionalism, and expertise in tax re...
02/17/2023

Thank you Rita Eileen Ochoa for the introduction with the Billings family, your professionalism, and expertise in tax resolutions is unmatched. What a beautiful and heartfelt couple. We're looking forward to serving the Billing's family estate.

with a dinner at Rusty Pelican in after a strenuous but successful and worthwhile session. It's exciting to work w...
02/16/2023

with a dinner at Rusty Pelican in after a strenuous but successful and worthwhile session.

It's exciting to work with the Robinsons, because they've known me since my adolescence...I was probably 16 when they became clients of my parents...and now, all these years later, I am serving their investment needs...

7 Common Retirement Mistakes from a 20+ Year AdvisorMistake #1: Not saving enoughAccording to the National Institute on...
12/09/2022

7 Common Retirement Mistakes from a 20+ Year Advisor

Mistake #1: Not saving enough

According to the National Institute on Retirement Security, the median retirement account balance for working-age households is just $3,000. This is clearly not enough to support a comfortable retirement. It's important to save as much as you can, as early as you can, in order to have enough money to live on in your golden years.


Mistake #2: Not diversifying your investments

Diversification is an important part of any investment strategy, and this is especially true for retirement planning. Investing all of your money in one type of asset, such as stocks or real estate, can be risky. If that asset loses value, it can take a big chunk out of your retirement savings. By diversifying your investments, you can spread out the risk and potentially earn higher returns over the long term.

Mistake #3: Not accounting for inflation

Inflation is the silent killer of retirement savings. Over time, the purchasing power of your money will decrease due to inflation, which means that your money won't go as far in retirement as it does today. It's important to account for inflation in your retirement plan and invest in assets that have the potential to grow faster than the rate of inflation.



Mistake #4: Not planning for healthcare costs

Healthcare costs can be a major expense in retirement, and they're only expected to rise in the coming years. It's important to plan for these costs and consider factors such as whether you'll have access to employer-sponsored healthcare in retirement, how much Medicare will cover, and whether you'll need long-term care insurance.


Mistake #5: Not understanding the tax implications of retirement income

Retirement income, including pensions, Social Security, and investment income, is subject to taxes. It's important to understand the tax implications of these sources of income in order to make informed decisions about how and when you'll receive them. This can help you avoid paying more in taxes than necessary and maximize your retirement income

Mistake #6: Not having a retirement plan

Many people make the mistake of not having a clear retirement plan. This can lead to poor decision-making and a lack of focus when it comes to saving and investing. It's important to sit down and create a retirement plan that outlines your goals, your savings and investment strategy, and your expected retirement income. This will help you stay on track and make informed decisions about your money.

Mistake #7: Not seeking professional advice

Finally, one of the biggest mistakes you can make when it comes to retirement planning is not seeking professional advice. A financial advisor can help you develop a personalized retirement plan and provide guidance on investing, taxes, and other important topics.

Click here for a complimentary year-end consultation: https://lnkd.in/ghunAWAF

12/01/2022

How to Reduce Your Taxes In Retirement

To reduce the amount of tax you'll pay in retirement, you should familiarize yourself with the type of tax and associated rates you can expect to pay.

In this video I highlight the most common types of tax retirees will be subject to including, Federal, State, and Local taxes, the goal is to come up with an average.

With that average you figure your monthly net income to know how much you'll be left with after tax, but it's also a great way to set a goal.

With that goal, you can use my 5 tax reduction strategies to begin lowering your annual tax bill.

Here are the resources I reference in the video:

State Tax for all 50 States: https://www.kiplinger.com/retirement/602202/taxes-in-retirement-how-all-50-states-tax-retirees

Federal Income Tax Brackets 2022: https://www.forbes.com/advisor/taxes/taxes-federal-income-tax-bracket/ #:~:text=The%202022%20Income%20Tax%20Brackets,filing%20status%20and%20taxable%20income.

California State Income Tax Brackets 2022: https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/taxes/california-state-tax

12/01/2022

The most common question I receive as an retirement investment advisor is, "Can I Retire Today?"

The answer depends on your secure retirement income sources, such as Social Security/Pensions, rental income and royalties, less taxes and your monthly expenses.

If a negative is produced you'll have what advisors call a "shortfall", that is a negative monthly net cash flow.

You will cover the shortfall with your retirement savings account, but how much will you need to save, and what rate of return will you need to average in order to cover your shortfall in perpetuity.

For those with enough to retire today, you'll want to work with an advisor to invest the money in a way that meets the requirements and standards of the 4%-rule.

For those who do not have enough saved, you'll need to get a plan in place, to figure how much you should be saving, what rate of return is necessary, and where the money should be invested in order to reach your goal.

21.95% INCREASE ON THE 4-YEAR & DOUBLE DIGIT INCREASES ON THE 1-YEAR, 3-YEAR, 5-YEAR.DON'T WAIT ON A GREAT RATE - GET ST...
10/28/2022

21.95% INCREASE ON THE 4-YEAR & DOUBLE DIGIT INCREASES ON THE 1-YEAR, 3-YEAR, 5-YEAR.

DON'T WAIT ON A GREAT RATE - GET STARTED TODAY!

What is a fixed rate?

A fixed rate is the percentage a bank or insurance company will pay you for lending them money.

The rate is applied to your investment on a monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, or annual basis depending on the offer. People invest in fixed rates for a myriad of reasons, but safety is the most common.

Today's rates are higher than yesterday's because the Fed is lifting them to deal with inflation. This is both good and bad for investors, good because they can achieve a 3-5% return with no market risk, bad because inflation is double what fixed rates are paying.

For that matter, investors should and do invest in fixed rates. For those with cash in high-yield or traditional savings, or even expiring CDs with low rates, take a look at the rate list comparison between October and September.

October versus September

Rates inched higher in October with smaller increases to shorter-terms (1-3 years), bigger increases to mid-terms (4-5 years), and no change to longer-terms (6+ years).

The biggest rate difference occurred with the 4-year term, from 4.1% in September, to 5% in October…that’s a 21.95% increase, so pretty good.

The 2-year, 3-year, and 5-year all saw double digit increases, whereas the 6+ years either saw no change or negative changes, and is expected to remain the same for sometime as the yield curve inverts. Here are the table comparisons for the previous two months:

August Fixed Annuity Rates Offered through Insurance Companies

2-Year MYGA in California:
Oceanview: 4% on $80k+
Oceanview: 3.65% on $20k+

3-Year MYGA in California:
Gilico: 4.6% on $250k+
Fidelity & Guaranty: 4.5% on $20k+

4-Year MYGA in California:
Gilico: 5% on $250k+ ,
Gilico: 4.9% on $10k+

5-Year MYGA in California:
Fidelity & Guaranty: 5.2% $20k+

6-10 Year MYGA in California: Rates not posted as they're lower than the 5-year.

Click here to view October's rate sheet: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Us-4-zcH5MXyhYaT4gzuFuhFmB1kLIMF/view?usp=share_link

September Fixed Annuity Rates Offered through Insurance Companies (last month)

2-Year Multi-Year Fixed Annuity in California: 3.40% (Oceanview)(Unchanged)

3-Year Multi-Year Fixed Annuity in California: 4.05% (American National)(Increase)

4-Year Multi-Year Fixed Annuity in California: 4.10% ((Oceanview)(Increase)

5-Year Multi-Year Fixed Annuity in California: 4.35% (Athene)(Unchanged)

6-10 Year Multi-Year Fixed Annuity in California: Rates not posted as they're lower than the 5-year.

Click here to view September's rate sheet: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-nNZQJ7ZXgrMjTe5qOMScRk-ZLUFp1A5/view?usp=share_link

**Minimum investments varies between $10,000 and $250,000+**

True Percentage Difference: September versus October

2-year: 0.6%
3-year: 0.55%
4-year: 0.9%
5-year: 0.85%
6 to 10 year: not available

Increase Difference as a Percentage: September versus October

2-year: 17.65%
3-year: 13.58%
4-year: 21.95%
5-year: 19.54%
6 to 10 year: not available

How do Fixed Annuity Rates Stack Up Against Bank CD Rates?

1-year: Goldman Sachs Marcus: 3.60% on $500+
3-year: Synchrony: 4.01% on $0+
5-year: Bread Savings: 4.25% on $1,500

The one year by Goldman Sachs' Marcus investment platform is actually for 18 months, I just posted 1 year because it was the closest comparison.

Marcus is the best short-term commitment, especially for those with a smaller investments $500+.

Annuities take the lead for any commitment greater than 2-years, whereas I couldn't find any notable banks with 2 year offers, Oceanview has a 2-year paying 4%...

Gilico's 3-year fixed annuity at 4.6% beats down Synchrony's 4.01%, the story remains the same for Gilicos 4-year at 5% versus Bread Savings' 4.25%...and there really wasn't much more from the Banks beyond 5 years.

Why Should You Start Investing Today?

With fixed rates so high, it leaves me wondering why more investors aren’t jumping in, and I am beginning to believe it’s because of the false narrative, that rates will be higher tomorrow, so just wait.

With a Hawkish Fed, the point is valid…its likely tomorrow’s rate will be higher than today’s, but then when do you decide when they’re “high enough” to get situated, more importantly, what do you sacrifice in waiting?

In this video, I use a calculator…not theories, not story time, but a compounding interest calculator to prove that, in fact, while making some general, yet reasonable assumptions, investing today is better than investing tomorrow.

I created this youtube video to explain why investing today makes more sense than waiting, and you can watch it by clicking this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PA1t7D5ieCQ&ab_channel=SunpathFinancial

10/04/2022

Can produce good returns?

A fixed indexed annuity promotes the protection of a CD with stock market-like returns...but just how much of that upside can investors expect on average.

In this video, I review the statement of a client who earned a whopping 20.75% in her Fixed Indexed Annuity during a reset period of 3/18/2020 - 03/18/2021.

Those double digit returns are not common, and from my experience, most of these accounts will produce a 3-6% annual rate of return, but if set up correctly and given the right market conditions, clients can strike it hard just like we see here.

Watch this episode to discover some of the dos and don'ts, and how this client took home a $57,000 earning on a $275,000 investment.

09/29/2022

Will you pay a penalty for working while you collect your social security benefit, and how much of it will be refunded?

For those of you unfamiliar with the Work Penalty, it’s a benefit penalty that applies to those who choose to collect their social security benefit while they continue to work.

The amount of penalty you pay depends upon whether or not you are receiving benefits while earning income before your full retirement age, or in the year of your full retirement age.

In either case, you will receive an ‘exempt amount’, if you make less than that amount, you pay no penalty, if you make more than that amount, you must pay a penalty.

The exempt amount (or threshold) is lower before your full retirement age, and higher in the year you turn until you reach your full retirement age, the associated penalty works the same.

In the years leading up to your full retirement age, the penalty is 50%, in the year you turn your full retirement age, the penalty is 33.33%.

After you have attained your full retirement age, you are no longer subject to the work penalty and can earn as much as you want while collecting your benefit.

The good news is that the penalty you pay is refunded back to you through an increase to your monthly benefit when you reach your full retirement age.

It's as if you delayed your benefit, and you can learn everything you need to know about it by watching this educational video.

09/21/2022

There's a reason annuities are marketed to, and so popular among, those on the verge of or in retirement, and it has everything to do with risk.

When you retire you’ll become dependent on your retirement savings to make up some or all of your income.

The risk is that negative market returns plus your withdrawals could reduce your account balance to a point where positive market returns are no longer enough to fulfill your withdrawals for life.

Annuities shift that market risk from you to an insurance company by providing one of 3 types of guarantees, and you can learn about them by watching this video.

Please be sure to like and subscribe because it will help me to continue making educational content for you and your peers.

09/16/2022

With fixed rates so high, it leaves me wondering why more investors aren’t jumping in, and I am beginning to believe it’s because of the false narrative, that rates will be higher tomorrow, so just wait.

With a Hawkish Fed, the point is valid…it’s likely tomorrow’s rate will be higher than today’s, but then when do you decide when they’re “high enough” to get situated, more importantly, what do you sacrifice in waiting?

In this video, I use a calculator…not theories, not story time, but a compounding interest calculator to prove that, in fact, while making some general, yet reasonable assumptions, investing today is better than investing tomorrow.

09/15/2022

Will You Run Out of Money In Retirement?

The math is pretty simple, add and subtract your retirement income (Social Security, Pensions, etc.) from your expenses, and if the result is negative, divide your retirement savings by it.

This will give you a rough idea as to how many years your retirement savings will last...The problem with this loose math is that it's exactly that, not accurate, it doesn't tell the whole story.

It's easy to overlook the true cost of running a retirement account because there are so many moving parts. We've got withdrawals, market returns, taxes, advisor/fund fees.

The bottom line is that what's added to your account each year via market returns needs to be equal to or greater than what's taken from it.

In this episode, I start with a common scenario and move into a failing plan from a recent client of ours, while talking about potential solutions. For this edition, I do not plan for taxes, but the concept is the same.

Address

100 Bayview Circle Suite 100
Newport Beach, CA
92660

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Tuesday 9am - 7pm
Wednesday 9am - 7pm
Thursday 9am - 7pm
Friday 9am - 6pm
Saturday 9am - 2pm

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+19496745248

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