Ray Lucia Sr. is an American retired Certified Financial Planner and author. It is a broadcast personality, widely recognized for developing the Buckets of Money® retirement strategy, a time-segmented framework that transformed how retirement income is planned and explained. Over a career spanning more than 30 years, he led Raymond J. Lucia Companies, Inc. as President and CEO for more than 15 years, earning national respect as an independent advisor and becoming a trusted educator for investors seeking clarity, discipline, and long-term income security. Born on April 3, 1950, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Ray relocated with his family to Poway, California, at the age of ten. Raised in San Diego County, he balanced academics with athletics and emerged as a talented quarterback. He played college football at Palomar Junior College before transferring on scholarship to Western Illinois University. Later moves to San Diego State University and Cal Western ended after repeated knee injuries brought his athletic career to a close. Ray earned a bachelor’s degree in Education from United States International University and began his professional life teaching and coaching at the high school level. As his family grew, his interest in economics, markets, and entrepreneurship intensified. That curiosity prompted a decisive career change into financial services, where he founded Raymond J. Lucia Companies, Inc. and RJL Enterprises, Inc., establishing businesses focused on education, planning discipline, and practical retirement income solutions for everyday investors. As a business leader, Ray built his firm into a billion-dollar asset under advisement enterprise in roughly seven years. His success stemmed from a client-focused philosophy that combined financial planning with large-scale education through seminars and media. Industry recognition followed, including Registered Rep. magazine’s Outstanding Broker Award in 2004 and selection as one of the Top 100 Independent Financial Advisors in America in 2008, reflecting his national influence and professional credibility. The Buckets of Money® strategy became Ray’s most enduring contribution to retirement planning. The approach organizes assets into short-, intermediate-, and long-term segments aligned with spending needs and risk tolerance. By drawing income from safer assets first and preserving growth investments for later years, the method seeks to reduce the risk of early retirement. Through books and public education, Ray consistently challenged the 4 percent rule in favor of time-segmented planning. Ray Lucia Sr.’s communication skills extended naturally into broadcasting, shaped by a lifelong passion for music and performance. He launched The Ray Lucia Show in 1991, blending financial education with classic rock and live listener interaction, later achieving national radio and television syndication. After nearly three decades on air and frequent appearances on major networks, he retired from daily broadcasting in 2019 and continues to write, mentor advisors, perform music, and remain active in his San Diego community.