Frank Deptola & Associates, LLC

At Frank Deptola & Associates, we believe gratitude is one of the greatest investments we can make. This Thanksgiving, we want to extend our sincere appreciation to our clients, partners, colleagues, and community. Thank you for your trust, collaboration, and continued support throughout the year. It’s an honor to serve you, and we are grateful for the relationships that make our work meaningful.

Wishing you and your loved ones a warm and joyful Thanksgiving!

On this Labor Day, Frank Deptola and Associates recognizes the dedication, skill, and perseverance of the American workforce. The progress of our communities and the strength of our economy are built on the commitment of individuals who contribute their talents each day. Happy Labor Day Weekend.

We are excited to announce that Frank Deptola has been recognized as a Five Star Wealth Manager for the 11th consecutive year! This prestigious recognition highlights Frank’s unwavering commitment to providing personalized financial strategies and exceptional client service. Out of 2,712 advisors considered in Orange County, only 117 earned this honor, further solidifying Frank’s standing as one of the region’s top wealth managers.

The "Deptola Difference" is the personalized, white-glove service approach that help sets Frank apart from other wealth managers. Read our blog below to discover how this personalized philosophy has helped Frank achieve such remarkable success: https://www.deptola.com/blog.htm?ID=16998

2015-2025 FIVE STAR WEALTH MANAGER AWARD, created by Five Star Professional. The 2025 award was presented in February 2025 based on data gathered within 12 months preceding the issue date. 2,712 advisors were considered, 117 advisors were recognized. Advisors pay a fee to hold out marketing materials. Not indicative of advisor’s future performance. Your experience may vary. For more information, please visit https://www.fivestarprofessional.com

On this Veterans Day, we honor the brave men and women who have served and sacrificed to protect the freedoms we often take for granted. Their courage, commitment, and unwavering dedication to our country inspires us all.

Happy Labor Day! I want to take a moment to appreciate everyone who works hard to make our nation stronger. While this holiday often marks the end of summer, it’s also a time to celebrate the dedication and contributions of our incredible workforce. Whether you’re planning a family cookout, a relaxing day at the beach, or giving your team a well-deserved break, let’s remember to thank those who make our lives better every day.

Today, we celebrate the land of the free and the home of the brave. Let's honor our nation's history and enjoy the festivities with family and friends. Wishing everyone a safe and joyful Independence Day!

We are excited to share that Frank Deptola has been honored as a 2024 Five Star Wealth Manager in Orange County by Five Star Professional for the 10th year in a row. This prestigious accolade highlights the and showcases our firm's commitment to excellence. Learn more about this recognition on our blog: https://www.deptola.com/blog.htm?ID=16031

From all of us at Frank Deptola & Associates, warmest wishes for a joyous holiday season filled with many cherished moments. We're immensely grateful for your partnership throughout the years. May this festive season bring you peace, happiness, and prosperity. Thank you for being part of our journey. Happy Holidays from our family to yours!

Brian and I were invited to attend a breakfast meeting with Cathie Wood, CEO and CIO of ARK Invest, at the Ayres Hotel in Costa Mesa, CA. Cathie has over 40 years of experience identifying and investing in innovation, Cathie founded ARK to focus solely on disruptive innovation while adding new dimensions to research. She is an internationally know specialist in disruptive technology centered around DNA sequencing, robotics, artificial intelligence, energy storage, and blockchain technology.

Cathie has been recognized as an influential fund manager across various outlets. In 2018, editors at Bloomberg acknowledged Cathie by selecting her to its second annual Bloomberg 50 list of people across business, entertainment, finance, politics, technology, and science who have defined global business. Additionally, Fortune named Cathie to its exclusive roundtable of experts in the annual Fortune Investors Guide: The Best Investing Advice for 2019 From Fortune’s Experts. In 2016, Cathie received the “Women in Finance – Outstanding Contribution Award” from Market Media. Cathie also has been a featured speaker at the World Economic Forum (China) in 2016 & 2017, the World Strategic Forum (Miami) in 2017, The Sohn Hearts and Minds Investment Leaders Conference (Australia) in 2018 and 2019, and Singularity University’s Exponential Finance in 2017 and Global Summit in 2019.
We were among a select group of about 15 advisors invited to attend this breakfast. Over the course of about two hours, Ms. Wood answered numerous questions from the audience. Some of her main points were that it is important to understand both the amount of money in the money supply as well as the velocity of money movement in the economy to get a better understanding of GDP. She also talked about crypto-currency and the attempts to regulate it. She also voiced her concern over the massive 400 bps (i.e., 4%) interest rate increases the economy has gone through since the beginning of 2022 and illustrated the magnitude of these increases using a simple comparative historical example:

When interest rates were 4 – 5 %, a 4% increase equated to an 80 – 100% increase

By comparison, for example, in 2021 when interest rates were 1% or less, putting a 4% increase on them equates to a 400 to 500% increase in the cost of money.

Combined with how quickly these increases have occurred puts a new perspective on the current economy. Coupled with all the unprecedented geo-political events going on around the world, which were brought up and discussed, it is very clear that the government needs to not default on U.S. debt or it could easily cause a global financial crisis.

It was a stimulating, open discussion. We were privileged to be able to participate.

In 1960, there were 5.1 workers for each Social Security beneficiary; in 2023 there are 2.7, dropping steadily to 2.2 by 2045.

Each year, the Trustees of the Social Security and Medicare Trust Funds provide detailed reports to Congress that track the programs’ current financial condition and projected financial outlook. These reports have warned for years that the trust funds would be depleted in the not-too-distant future. Read more on how Congress is attempting to rescue “America’s Safety Net:”

https://www.deptola.com/blog.htm?ID=13135

HOT TOPIC: Rescuing America’s Safety Net A March 2023 survey found that more than 90% of Americans worry about the Social Security program, and about half of those said they worry a great deal. A separate survey the same month found that more than 80% of Americans worry Medicare will not be able to provide the same level of benefits in the...