Defined Financial Planning - Financial Advisor

11/04/2025

It's official! We have joined Mariner. We are excited to become part of their family! Please make sure you are following us to receive the latest insights, investment and financial planning advice.

Acquisition adds approximately $164 million in AUA, reflects growing industry demand for scale and integrated advisory platforms,

02/27/2024

For many, a large cash windfall like an inheritance is a dream come true. The sudden infusion of money into your accounts often means more financial freedom than you’ve ever had before. But as Sam Gaeta, CFP® writes in his latest Kiplinger article, it’s important to manage those windfalls properly lest you squander them with ill-fated purchases or investments. Read the article where Sam makes the case for doing nothing — at least, at first — when you’re the recipient of such a windfall.

An inheritance or lottery win can be a stroke of good fortune, but if you mismanage your funds, you could end up worse off than before your windfall.

11/09/2023

Life insurance is often seen as something you get when you’re well into adulthood. But as Brianna Gutierrez explains in her latest article for Kiplinger, it’s an important thing to consider even when you’re still young. Read the article here -

An even better question is this: Would someone who depends on you for their standard of living suffer financially if you were to suddenly pass away?

08/14/2023

Intentionally-Defective Grantor Trusts may sound sketchy. However, the “defective” part is not only perfectly legal, but can be key to passing on your wealth efficiently.

Sometimes it might take an IDGT, or intentionally defective grantor trust, to preserve generational wealth. But how does that work?

05/24/2023

The collapse of three banks in just a few months has people understandably nervous about choosing the right places for their cash-equivalent investments. Sam Gaeta breaks down a good way to approach liquid investing in his latest article for .
Read it here -

People are understandably nervous about the safety of their cash accounts. The three-bucket method helps you divide your funds based on when you’ll need to access them.

04/24/2023

A lot of people were surprised when they found out they owed capital gains taxes on mutual funds that lost money, even if they haven’t sold those funds! I explain what happened and how to avoid the Mutual Fund Tax Bomb in my latest article in Kiplinger Read it here.

It’s bad enough when your mutual fund’s assets lose value, but owing unexpected capital gains taxes after those losses is doubly frustrating.

02/01/2023

What’s your retirement personality? As Sam Gaeta discusses in his latest article for Kiplinger, it’s important to understand your approach to retirement finances. Even the best financial plans risk failure if they aren’t tailored to fit your personality.

There are many ways to think about retirement planning, and your personality can influence yours. If your personality and plan match, you have a greater chance of retirement success.

12/27/2022

In the wake of another interest rate hike by the Federal Reserve, there are many questions about why rates are rising, and how the economy is reacting to the increases. Sam Gaeta joined NBC Bay Area with answers.

12/23/2022

Choosing a sound investment strategy is vital to maximizing your retirement dollars, but that doesn’t stop at simply picking which assets to acquire. How those assets are bought and sold can make a surprising difference in your net gains! In a new article for Kiplinger, Director of Operations Brianna Gutierrez explains how trade inefficiencies can cost you, and how to make sure your adviser is minimizing them.

Investors who ask their adviser to shop around for more efficient pricing on trades could end up with a lot more money in their retirement accounts at the end of the day.

12/09/2022

Inflation is still high, but the latest report showed that it may be cooling. Sam Gaeta joined ABC7 insight for approaching this period of elevated inflation and interest rates.

12/05/2022

Tis the season for giving! Ahead of the holidays the staff of Defined Financial Planning held a present-wrapping party. We delivered gifts to kids at the Marin Foster Care center. The holiday season is a good time to reflect on all we're grateful for and give help and comfort to those in need.

10/24/2022

Inflation is costing many of us hundreds of dollars more per month. Sam Gaeta joined NBC Bay Area to explain what the Federal Reserve is doing to bring inflation under control, and give tips for keeping your finances healthy amidst rising prices.