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.

Weekly Equity Market Recap (Ending Dec 5, 2025) - Montecito Capital Management, Financial Advisory Firm

Author: Montecito Capital Management

Last week, U.S. equities posted modest gains amid a mix of economic signals and mounting anticipation of the Federal Reserve’s December policy decision. From Friday, November 28, through Friday, December 5, the major indexes delivered the following returns:

S&P 500: +0.31%
Nasdaq Composite: +0.91%
Dow Jones Industrial Average: +0.50%

While the overall moves were modest, they reflected a market navigating both optimism around a potential Fed rate cut and caution stemming from broader economic uncertainties.

Key Drivers of Market Action

Fed Rate Cut Expectations: Investor sentiment was lifted by expectations for a 25-basis-point reduction at the December FOMC meeting. This helped support the S&P 500 near record highs. At the same time, rising long-term Treasury yields tempered some of the enthusiasm, keeping gains in check.
Labor Market Signals: Thursday’s jobless claims report came in better than expected, pointing to ongoing labor market strength. This reinforced the possibility of a “soft landing” for the economy but also moderated overly aggressive rate-cut expectations.
Corporate Earnings and Sector Trends: Overall, third-quarter 2025 earnings were solid and provided a positive tailwind. However, technology stocks faced pressure, with the sector down about 4.4% for the month, slightly dampening the Nasdaq’s performance. In other areas, companies like Southwest Airlines revised down forecasts due to weaker demand tied to the ongoing federal government shutdown—the longest in U.S. history—which weighed on travel and consumer-oriented sectors.
Broader Market Pressures: Earlier in the month, the S&P experienced a roughly 5% pullback as rate-cut optimism waned. Meanwhile, renewed funding market stress prompted cautious commentary from central bank officials regarding balance sheet plans.

Overall, last week reflected a market walking a fine line: balancing hopes for Fed support against lingering fiscal uncertainties from the shutdown and signs of uneven sector performance.

Looking Ahead: Key Economic Data (Week of December 8-12, 2025)

Investors will face a packed economic calendar, including delayed releases due to the government shutdown. Highlights include:

Monday, December 8: NFIB Small Business Optimism Index (December); Consumer Credit (October, delayed)
Tuesday, December 9: JOLTS (Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey, October, delayed); monthly GDP estimates
Wednesday, December 10: Consumer Price Index (CPI, November); Federal Budget Balance (November)
Thursday, December 11: Producer Price Index (PPI, November); Initial Jobless Claims (week ending December 6); Employment Cost Index (Q4, delayed)
Friday, December 12: Retail Sales (September, delayed); University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment (preliminary December); Import/Export Prices (November)

CPI, JOLTS, and retail sales are expected to be particularly influential, providing insight into inflation trends, labor market dynamics, and consumer behavior—all key factors for the Fed’s upcoming policy decision.

Fed Rate Cut Prospects

Markets are heavily pricing in a 25-basis-point rate cut at the December 9-10 FOMC meeting, with Fed funds futures implying an 85-93% probability. A decision to hold rates steady is seen as unlikely (7-15%), while hikes or larger cuts remain extremely low probability (<1%). Beyond the headline rate, investors will closely watch Chair Powell’s press conference for guidance on 2026 policy, which could drive significant market reaction.