An Introduction to John Rhoads & David Lucca
John Rhoads and David Lucca are responsible for establishing the firm’s economic outlook, investment strategy, investment selection and ongoing management.
John Rhoads
John Rhoads
John Rhoads has devoted more than 40 years to helping his clients navigate their financial lives. His career, in many ways, mirrors the history of the financial services industry - with John usually on the front edge of each change curve.
Fresh out of the Air Force in 1964, John started his professional career in the insurance arena, but quickly realized that insurance didn’t solve all his clients’ needs. He soon became licensed to help his clients with the investment side of their lives. His career grew from insurance planning to investment planning to the new profession of financial planning, and finally into fee-only private asset management. Each step of the way, John has also been willing to leave behind old ways of doing things when it meant his clients could be served more effectively.
Along the way, John also served as a branch manager for a national securities firm, running the Dallas branch office called Dallas/Rhoads/Associates.
John Rhoads, Air Force days, circa 1961
John Rhoads – Professional Acccomplishments
Next, John was early in joining the new profession of financial planning, earning the designation of Certified Financial Planner designation, and teaching Dallas-area CFP candidates the investment section of the CFP preparation materials. In these classes, he taught two students who would become lifelong friends, and pivotal in shaping his own future career: Ricky Grunden and David Lucca. In 1996 Ricky and Dave officially became partners with John, and the company was re-named Rhoads Grunden Lucca Capital Management, Inc. This was later shortened to Rhoads Lucca Capital Management.
John has received numerous industry honors and awards during his 40 years in the financial services field, including the honor of being named one of Ticker Magazine’s “Ace Advisers” for 1998. He is a trusted source that adds depth and perspective to the work of the financial media.
John’s enthusiasm for investing and for life is contagious to everyone who spends time with him – including us! For over 20 years, John has taught adult Sunday School at Grace Bible Church, in Dallas, TX, where he is also an Elder. In his free time you will find John playing golf, supporting his “team” the Dallas Cowboys and enjoying time with his wife of 47 years, Mary, his two daughters and 6 grandchildren.
In discussing the firm’s philosophy, John says, “We start with doing the right thing first. People need advisors they can trust, who’ll treat them right and put their interests first. For money management and investment advice, that’s Rhoads Lucca Capital.”
David Lucca
David Lucca
David Lucca began his investment career in 1986 as a financial planner, earning the designation of Certified Financial Planner three years later. After practicing as a CFP for 12 years, Dave was among the first investment advisers in the nation to give back this same designation.
He did this after seeing that the investment philosophy behind the credential no longer fit the dramatic changes that were coming to the markets. His argument that the firm couldn’t serve clients well with an outdated investment philosophy, was confirmed when the 2000-2008 bear market struck investors.
By taking the investment road less-traveled several years in advance, Dave and John created the innovative investment strategies that allowed Rhoads Lucca clients to survive the bear market of 2000 and avoid the devastating losses that clients of other investment firms experienced.
Dave Lucca goes head to head with George Foreman
David Lucca – Professional Accomplishments
He was chosen by his professional peers as President of the National Association of Active Investment Managers (NAAIM) in 2000. Ticker Magazine chose Dave as one of “Five Ace Advisors” in America in 2000, winning “Greatest Contribution to the Industry”. Dave is interviewed and quoted frequently as an investment authority in the media, including the Wall Street Journal, Business Week, the Washington Post, and many others.
Dave is a graduate of The Pennsylvania State University and also earned a Master’s degree from Dallas Theological Seminary. For years, Dave taught as an adjunct faculty member for the College for Financial Planning in Dallas-area colleges. He has been included in Who’s Who in America: Finance & Industry since the 1990s.
Anyone who knows Dave, knows he is a Penn State Football fan (“long-suffering Penn State Football fan” is the way he describes it). He also has a passion for unique experiences, that leads him into some unusual adventures, like flying to Russia with his wife Jan to adopt a daughter, climbing Mt. Fuji in Japan with his son John, sailing with his daughter in the Virgin Islands, or recently meeting with two-time, World Heavyweight Champion, George Foreman.
Dave and his wife Jan live far from Wall Street, in the middle of Pennsylvania Amish country. They have three adult children and their dog, Bear. Dave is a prolific reader, and seemingly interested in everything. He often making connections between ideas that are later integrated into the firm’s investment strategy. He is passionate about creating growth and income that’s safe and predictable for our clients.
If you prefer working together with professional wealth advisors with a long history of success, we encourage you to meet John Rhoads and David Lucca.