At what point should I use a financial advisor?

This is a good question, and depends on each unique individual with worries, concerns and goals. However, generally speaking, it is a good idea to have a professional advisor when you start saving for retirement and planning for your future. There are many considerations that can save money but also show you the best use of your money for growing your wealth.

Are you a fiduciary advisor, and will you act in my best interests at all times?

We are Fiduciary advisors and therefore adhere to the highest Fiduciary standard of being legally bound to prioritize our client’s “best interests” while at all times acting in good faith. You may assume that all advisors uphold the Fiduciary standard of care, but this is not accurate, as only 12% of financial advisors choose to meet this exalted standard.

What qualifications, credentials, and licenses do you hold?

We hold MBA, CFA & RIA – also college concentration in Economics.

How many years you’ve been practicing?

We have been in the business of professionally advising clients on financial matters for over two decades.

How are you compensated / what is your fee structure?

First, there are no hidden fees or costs. Our compensation is “pure” fee-based, on percent of assets on advisory, which a sliding declining percent fee scale based on assets: https://www.mcapitalmgt.com/fees

What is your investment philosophy / strategy?

We craft financially secure futures by focusing on specific goals: liquidity, sustained growth, guaranteed income, portfolio risk containment, all within the context of the client’s objectives and resources. Since we emphasize that the understanding of risks embedded in a portfolio is central to providing value to our clients, we actively manage and build diverse, multi-asset portfolios to capture long-term positive returns while having resilient portfolios that may help weather market volatility.

Have you worked with clients in situations similar to mine?

We have a very diverse client base with respect to asset sizes, ages, needs, goals, and the type of concerns that led to engaging our advisory services. In short, over the past 20+ years we have most likely worked with a client with similar situations.

What kinds of services do you provide?

Beyond investments — financial planning, tax planning, estate planning, insurance, retirement income, etc.

How will our working relationship work?

Will require at least two meetings a year to review portfolios, financial situation, goals, and your overall financial path? We also frequently communicate via email, phone, and video calls.

Do I need to have a certain asset size for you to work with me?

Typically, we require a minimum of about $250,000 as this is the amount need to properly develop a diversified, multi-asset portfolio. However, if goals are different with just income portfolio, we can accommodate a lower asset amount.

Does it cost money to meet an advisor the first time?

No, we offer a complimentary advisory meeting where we offer guidance, review portfolios and do a mini-financial checkup.

What is the process and how do I make an appointment?

You can email or call our office where we can answer some of your other questions and setup a convenient time for an office appointment. Email us contactus@mcapitalmgt.com or call (805) 965-7955.

Two Markets in One Week: Inflation Blinks, Tech Rebounds, and Risk Returns - Montecito Capital Management, Financial Advisory Firm

Two Markets in One Week: Inflation Blinks, Tech Rebounds, and Risk Returns

Author: Montecito Capital Management

Market Performance: A Tepid Week That Ended with a Rally

After a volatile, stop-and-start week, U.S. equities finished on a more constructive note. The S&P 500 ended the week roughly flat, posting a modest gain of about 0.1%, while the Nasdaq Composite outperformed with a rise of approximately 0.5%, supported by a late-week recovery in technology shares. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lagged, finishing down roughly 0.7%, despite participating in Friday’s rebound.

Across the tape, the week unfolded in two distinct phases summed up on the economic front as inflation cooled, and unemployment rose. Early weakness reflected lingering concerns over stubborn inflation, unemployment concerns, elevated yields, and the risk that the Federal Reserve would remain restrictive longer than markets had hoped. As the week progressed, cooler inflation data helped stabilize bond markets and ease rate expectations, improving the valuation backdrop for equities. That shift, combined with oversold conditions and year-end positioning, led to renewed risk appetite and a stronger finish by week’s end.

Tech Sector: From Retreat to Rebound

The technology sector mirrored the broader market’s split personality. Mid-week selling pressure hit major growth names as investors took profits following strong year-to-date gains. Skepticism around AI valuations resurfaced, and concerns that aggressive capital spending could pressure near-term margins weighed on sentiment, particularly with rates still elevated earlier in the week.

Oracle became a focal point of those concerns. Shares came under pressure as investors questioned the scale and timing of the company’s AI-related infrastructure spending, including the near-term impact on free cash flow and margins. Uncertainty around return on invested capital, combined with broader worries that enterprise AI monetization may take longer to materialize, temporarily weighed on both Oracle and the broader software complex.

By Friday, the tone changed decisively. Cooling inflation reduced pressure on yields and improved the outlook for long-duration growth assets, prompting investors to step back into beaten-down tech leaders. AI-linked names led the rebound as confidence returned.

Oracle reversed sharply higher late in the week following news of a U.S.-based joint venture tied to TikTok alongside Silver Lake and other partners. The announcement helped reframe the narrative around Oracle’s AI investments, easing concerns about demand visibility and reinforcing confidence that enterprise spending on cloud and AI infrastructure remains durable.

This two-step pattern — short-term weakness followed by a sharp rebound — became a defining feature of the week, highlighting how quickly sentiment can swing even within powerful secular themes like artificial intelligence.