Thad Ortez, Financial Advisor at Raymond James

01/05/2026

A separate report found the average 401(k) savings rate, including employee and employer contributions, was a combined 14.2% during the second quarter of 2025, according to a Fidelity Investments analysis of more than 25,000 corporate plans and 24.6 million participants.

cnbc.com

11/05/2024

Today, our office team had the pleasure of sharing lunch with some long-time clients. Rob and I have been working with this family for nearly 20 years, assisting them with everything from funding college education to planning for retirement, and even helping to settle the estate of one of their parents.
Next week, they'll be relocating across the country to enjoy their retirement with their son and grandchildren.

It was a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the past two decades and the milestones they've achieved along the way.

rootedwm.com

05/06/2024

Last Saturday, I paid a visit to a client at their home to assist in orchestrating a family meeting. It unfolded in an exceedingly casual atmosphere, allowing me to interact with their children and grandchildren while delving into the ways I'm aiding their parents. The children posed insightful inquiries and expressed genuine gratitude for my effort in meeting with them.

I find myself hoping for more families to embrace such gatherings. Our conversation didn't veer into discussions about the exact wealth of the parents or any specific financial figures. Instead, we focused on the aspirations of my clients and the strategies we've implemented to ensure a smooth and tax-efficient transfer of their assets to their children.

02/06/2024

Last month, I had the privilege to speak to 40 cadets attending the Stanislaus County Sheriff's Office Regional Training Program. There were individuals, ranging from 20 to 46 years old, from over 8 different Police and Sheriff Departments from the local area. I gave a 2-hour presentation on financial wellness including overall budgeting, investing for retirement, pension, life insurance, and estate planning. No matter your age or career path, you should always be learning more about personal finances.

11/18/2023

This last week, Robert Powell, Jarrod Martinez and I joined Jeff Marvin at his charity golf tournament. We were part of 240 golfers who helped raise over 85.000 for Tunnel to Towers. They are an amazing charity that supports the families of fallen first responders.

05/09/2023

Today, I had lunch with the Vice-President and Portfolio Manager for one of the largest California Municipal Bond mutual funds. It was great to get his insight into the world of municipal bonds and how they are positioning themselves for the future. We discussed current interest rates, the California budget and other opportunities in municipal bonds. I enjoy learning more to truly benefit my clients.

04/18/2023

At Rooted Wealth Management, we believe in giving back to our community. As an office, each of us volunteer with multiple non-profit organizations as well as provide financial help to many more. Check out our website for a list of charities and non-profit organizations that we support.

www.rootedwm.com

09/01/2022

I'm proud to announce we have officially launched our new brand – Rooted Wealth Management! Rooted in Faith, Family and Community. Check out our new website for more information.

www.rootedwm.com

08/17/2022

This week, a client brought in their 18 year old who is leaving for college. We discussed finances, budgeting, student loans, credit cards, compounding interest and retirement savings. It felt great to use my 20+ years of experience, education and talents to hopefully guide a new adult in her life. She asked some great questions and is excited to start her own retirement savings.

It's never too early to have these discussions with our youth.

06/17/2022

This morning I spoke with a client whose wife is battling stage 4 cancer. She is in the hospital and may only have a few days left to live. We chatted for a few minutes, and I offered my support through prayer. As much as I hate these conversations, I truly appreciate being a part of my clients lives. I assured him that we had everything taken care of on our end. Equities are currently in a bear market, interest rates and inflation are both rising, and we didn't discuss any of it. It doesn't matter. He didn't' care. Turn off the TV. Stop watching the news. Spend time with the ones you love.

05/10/2022