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Ryan A. Hughes

Founder & Portfolio Manager at Bull Oak
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My grandparents adopted me as a child. Growing up in a household that experienced the Great Depression, worrying about money was the standard.

This upbringing provided valuable lessons and helped develop my philosophy on money management. There’s no substitute for level-headed, data-informed financial advice.

I’m deeply passionate about financial planning, and it pains me to see good-hearted people who have worked hard for their money not realize their full potential.

That’s why I started Bull Oak.

Since launching the firm, I’ve been honored to be listed in InvestmentNews 40Under40, and our firm has been named one of the fastest-growing by Wealth Management Magazine. But most importantly, our clients are raving fans.

Here are a few more highlights:

MBA from the UCLA Anderson School of Management
BS from the University of Southern California
Finance experience at Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley, and Wedbush Securities
Proud U.S. Navy veteran as a Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure (VBSS) team member
Two amazing kids and a fantastic wife who has supported me through it all

Employment
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  • Bull Oak
    Founder & Portfolio Manager
    started Jan 2014
  • 104% Tariffs on Chinese Imports: A Costly Blow to Consumers
    Ryan warns that 104% tariffs on Chinese imports will lead to "higher prices across the board," as costs are passed to consumers. This inflationary pressure reduces choices and stifles competition. A trade war with China could also trigger global economic slowdown and stagflation in the U.S., with high prices and stagnant growth offering little relief.
  • Investing in Downturns: A Golden Opportunity for Long-Term Gains
    Ryan says, "The single best time to invest is during an economic downturn." He advises dollar-cost averaging and warns against buying just a few stocks. His top tip: "Stop looking at your portfolio" to maintain a long-term perspective. This approach helps investors capture market recovery and avoid short-term panic.
  • 2025 CD Rates: Inflation and Policy Impact Predictions
    Ryan suggests that inflation concerns and President Trump's policies could lead to higher CD rates in 2025. He notes, "CD rates are entirely dependent on short-term interest rates." While now is a decent time for CDs, Ryan advises considering T-Bill funds or ETFs for short-term income before committing to longer-term CDs.
Recent Quotes
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  • CNBC: https://www.cnbc.com/2020/04/16/5-ways-you-can-lower-monthly-costs-if-youre-struggling-financially.html

    "5 ways you can trim your monthly expenses right now if you’re struggling financially" by Megan Leonhardt, 1/12/2021

    "When it comes to determining what to cut out, prioritize your expenses, says Ryan Hughes, founder of San Diego-based financial planning firm Bull Oak Capital. Decide what’s essential and what can you live without, perhaps just temporarily until you’re back on your feet financially.

    Steaming services and magazine subscriptions are “low hanging fruit,” Hughes says. If you don’t need them right now, go onto your account and cancel or contact customer service.

    In addition to finding and cutting any nonessential subscriptions, Hughes recommends creating a budget to make it easier to track your money. “Going through the budgeting process exposes a lot of hidden expenses that are fairly painless to reduce or eliminate,” he says.

    “The most effective approach to negotiate for lower interest rates is to have another offer in hand,” Hughes says, adding that it doesn’t take long to shop around and secure different offers. Once you have those, you have the leverage to push your current rates down since you’ve shown that you are prepared to take your business elsewhere.

    Beyond credit cards, Hughes recommends considering taking advantage of the current low interest rates by refinancing your mortgage if you have one. If your interest rate is currently over 4% (rates are now 3.31%), you have good credit and you plan to stay in your home for a while, this may lower your monthly payment and cut the overall interest you end up paying."

  • Financial Planning: https://www.financial-planning.com/news/how-small-rias-can-compete-with-the-giants

    "How smaller RIAs can compete in a rapidly consolidating industry" by Tobias Salinger, 09/18/2024

    "We can use our size to our advantage," said Ryan Hughes, the founder of Rancho Santa Fe, California-based RIA firm Bull Oak. "I think that that's something that we really don't talk enough about. I feel like this industry is changing very rapidly. There are a lot of changes going on out there, and so we can do something that bigger firms can't do, and that is adapt very quickly."

    Limited resources underscore the importance of strategic planning for smaller RIAs — which often "don't really have a process" behind their operations, Hughes said.

    "You've got to have a process," he said. "Whatever you promise your clients, you've got to stick with it. If you're going to promise a client, 'Hey, we're going to deliver excellent value. We're going to be doing X, Y and Z throughout the year,' you've got to actually live up to it. And so whether that's your CRM or project management tool, or whatever it is that you're using, make sure that you actually stick to it."

  • InvestmentNews: https://www.investmentnews.com/rias/how-small-but-mighty-rias-can-take-the-fight-to-larger-firms/257195

    "How small but mighty RIAs can take the fight to larger firms" by James Burton, 09/16/2024 (covering FutureProof Conference 2024)

    Ryan Hughes, founder of Bull Oak, said smaller RIAs can adapt to change quicker but that ultimately, success hinges on good advisors giving clients genuine value. To that end, he urged advisors to remember it’s a people business and that while big firms may have an army of CFPs and qualified professionals, the most important thing is having clients who trust you.

    “If you are just an asset allocator and not a real financial advisor, you're going to have a really hard time growing,” he said. “We've really embraced that. We're very planning heavy. We outsource taxes as part of our fee, and we're just trying to provide as much value as we can to our clients.”

    “If you are a good advisor and you're providing good value, you are going to compete against the big firms out there,” he added.