Ray Lucia Sr

Ray Lucia Sr. is an American retired Certified Financial Planner, author, and broadcast personality recognized for developing the Buckets of Money® retirement strategy, a time-segmented approach to retirement income planning. Over a career spanning more than 30 years, he served as President and CEO of Raymond J. Lucia Companies, Inc. He became widely known for translating complex financial concepts into practical guidance for retirees and pre-retirees across the United States. Born on April 3, 1950, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Ray relocated with his family to Poway, California, at age ten. Raised in San Diego County, he distinguished himself as both a student and athlete, excelling as a quarterback. He played football at Palomar Junior College before transferring on scholarship to Western Illinois University, later continuing his education at San Diego State University until knee injuries ended his athletic career. Ray earned a bachelor’s degree in Education from United States International University and began working as a high school teacher and football coach. Motivated by a growing family and a deep interest in investing and economics, he transitioned into the financial services industry. He founded Raymond J. Lucia Companies, Inc., building the firm rapidly through an emphasis on retirement income planning, investor education, and disciplined portfolio management focused on long-term outcomes. During his advisory career, Ray Lucia Sr. introduced the Buckets of Money® strategy to address market volatility and longevity risk in retirement. The approach divides retirement assets into multiple time-based segments, allowing income to be drawn from conservative assets first while growth-oriented investments remain invested longer. This framework challenged traditional withdrawal rules and became one of the most recognized retirement income models in the industry.