Newsletters
Most Americans spend more time planning for vacations and
holidays than planning for their retirement.1
Will you outlive your retirement income? How much liability insurance should
you have? Should you add stocks to your portfolio? Are your financial
expectations for the coming year realistic?
Our financial newsletters are designed to provide helpful information on a wide
variety of financial topics. Simply click on one of the newsletter topics
below to read the article in its entirety.
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November
How Much Is Enough?
When you look at your life insurance coverage as a lump sum, it might seem like a lot of money, but how much is it in relation to your annual income?
Investing Can Be Funds
The popularity of mutual funds is not surprising, considering the benefits they can offer to investors. Some of these benefits could help make mutual funds an important part of your portfolio.
Leaving Memories, Not a Mess
Although it is not a legal document, a letter of instructions enables you to clearly describe your preferences for a variety of issues, such as organ donations, memorial/funeral arrangements, and other details that are not specified in a will or a trust.
Gauging Investor Sentiment
Technical analysis, the evaluation of securities based on historical prices and other trading variables, is based in part on market psychology and thus looks at a host of sentiment indicators for clues about the near future.
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October
HOT TOPIC: Government Intervenes in Credit Crisis
September was an unsettling month for the financial markets that Americans may not soon forget. Here's a look at what happened.
Adding Stability in Volatile Times
One strategy that can add growth potential to a portfolio, without assuming many of the risks associated with the financial markets, involves purchasing an annuity contract from an insurance company.
Will Going Green Grow Green?
About one out of every nine dollars under professional management in the United States is already invested according to socially screened criteria. There are several key questions to ask yourself when considering how this rising tide could affect your portfolio.
Increase Your Protection
If your net worth exceeds the amount of liability coverage provided by your homeowners and auto insurance policies (each usually tops out somewhere between $300,000 and $500,000), you might want to consider an umbrella liability insurance policy.
Should You Found a Foundation?
If you want to control how and where your donations are used, create an entity that has the potential to last for generations, and unite family members behind a worthy cause — and don’t mind some fairly strict paperwork requirements — this type of organization might be worth considering.
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September
Beat the Big Three What Ifs
Taxes, inflation, and medical costs — among other factors — could have an unanticipated effect on your retirement. There may be little you can do to combat them once you are no longer working.
Stay Off the Phishing Hook
In the run-up to this year’s April 15 tax deadline, taxpayers forwarded more than 33,000 phishing scam e-mails to the IRS, causing the agency to put phishing at the top of its annual list of scams of concern to taxpayers.
Charity That Pays
By organizing your giving, you can make it more effective, allowing your largess to benefit not only the intended charity, but potentially yourself and your heirs. Two popular ways to structure your giving are charitable lead trusts and charitable remainder trusts.
Life Lessons
Research shows that most people who own life insurance may not have adequate coverage. The real problem is that many of these people may not find out that they lack the proper coverage until it's too late.
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August
The Election and Your Money
In this year’s election, there are issues, such as energy, free trade, and inflation, playing a role that could have a significant effect on investors and consumers over the next four years.
It’s Your Home, Not Your Retirement
Although downsizing or using a reverse mortgage to free up home equity can be appropriate for some older retirees, planning to rely on your home to fund your retirement is a corner you may not want to paint yourself into.
Protect Your Downside
When the economy takes a turn for the worse, bond mutual funds offer investors a chance to diversify their holdings and dampen risk.
Every Little Bit Helps
IRA catch-up contributions enable investors aged 50 and older to make up ground in saving for retirement, whether they had a late start or just want to sock away more money.
What’s in It for You?
The Economic Stimulus Act of 2008 contained favorable provisions that will benefit small business. It appears that the government wants to inspire businesses to spend freely, too.
Good Time to Keep Going
Inflation is rising. Home prices are falling. Oil and stock prices are volatile. Could this be a good time to ramp up your retirement savings? You might be surprised at the answer.
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July
Get Schooled on Saving for College
One way to be prepared for the possibility that the tab for higher education may be higher than expected is to take advantage of the tax benefits of 529 plans.
Are the Times A-Changin'?
As the election year rolls along, Americans are facing an uncertain future and an election that could be the harbinger of great change.
Estimate Your Estate
It is imperative to have an estate conservation strategy. Taking an inventory of your assets is a good place to start.
Surviving the Estate Tax with Survivorship Life
People who never imagined they would have enough assets to trigger estate taxes could be in for a surprise. One way to help plan for this possibility is by purchasing a survivorship life insurance policy.
It's Not as Bad as You Think
Economic indicators, including GDP, are signaling continued growth, but consumer confidence is lower than it's been in years. Why do these figures seem to be moving in opposite directions?
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June
What Does the Dollar Do for You?
Which is preferable, a strong dollar or a weak one?
No Better Time Than Now
You may not associate this time of year with reviewing the beneficiaries on your life insurance policy — nonetheless, it can be a good time to take this important step.
For Income, Pick Up This Split
A split-annuity strategy can help you begin receiving an income stream that has the potential to last well into the future.
Heir-Tight Estate Conservation
An incentive trust can help reinforce the lessons you taught your children during your life.
Population Boomer
The nearly 80 million boomers, who have reinvented so many aspects of American life, appear poised to leave their unique mark on retirement and possibly transform the economy in the process.
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May
Define Your Own Benefits
Everyone wants to be a happy retiree someday, but there's a big problem.
Where Will You Roll?
An IRA is not really an investment in itself, but rather a special type of account that can be invested in thousands of ways.
New Lease on Life
Can your risk-protection strategy benefit from a whole-life insurance policy?
Go Green, But with Care
Socially responsible investing has become a force to be reckoned with.
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April
Conserve Your Estate
Are your estate strategies up-to-date and ready for whatever legislative changes lie ahead?
More Reasons to Convert
Thanks to tax law changes, converting traditional IRA assets to a Roth IRA, or rolling over employer-sponsored retirement plans to a Roth, has become more attractive.
The Cost of Care
When preparing for life in retirement, you should consider the possibility that you may need long-term care at some point.
Fuel for the Economy
The world has become so dependent on oil that most economies simply could not exist in their present forms without it.
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March
Should Your Portfolio Have a Conscience?
Socially responsible investing has been around at least since the 1960s, but it seems to be getting more attention lately.
Six Times More Likely
It may be uncomfortable to consider the possibility that you could become disabled; however, preparing for the possibility now could help you avoid some more serious discomfort later.
The World Is Your Oyster
If you want to expand your portfolio’s geographic boundaries, international mutual funds may be a good option.
The Consumer Price Index and You
Inflation is a long-term, sustained rise in the general level of prices, as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
Weather: It Matters
Weather is common fare for small talk, but it’s difficult to think of many topics that can have a bigger effect on economic activity.
Take Advantage of Temporary Tax Laws
A raft of favorable tax provisions are in effect right now, but you better act fast. Most of them are scheduled to expire within the next two years.
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January
The Coming Retirement Boom
In 2008, a new era will dawn that economists and policymakers have been anticipating for years with a mixture of curiosity and trepidation: baby boomers will begin turning 62, ushering in an unprecedented long-term shift in the balance between working and retired Americans.
Happy Birthdays?
The road to retirement winds through several birthdays that affect most Americans’ retirement benefits and tax circumstances.
Betting Your Life on Low Coverage
If you are close to retiring or have already retired, you may be wondering whether your life insurance policy meets your current needs.
Regain Your Individuality
When employees leave their jobs, they have a choice to make: they can withdraw the money, leave the money in their former employers’ retirement accounts, or roll the money into another retirement plan.
You’ve Sold It: What’s Next?
If you are a business owner who is considering selling your enterprise soon, you may be able to reap even greater rewards by doing a little prep work now.
Inflation Could Make a Comeback
Inflation took a big jump in November, the largest monthly increase in two years. But it’s unusual for inflation to flare during an economic slowdown, and this odd pairing puts the Federal Reserve in a tough spot.
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December
Life Insurance Goes to College
Life insurance is usually thought of in terms of tragic outcomes, but if life goes as planned, you may still be able to use it to send your kids to college.
World of Opportunity
It may be tempting to think that investing at home is enough, but that kind of thinking misses opportunities that may be available through foreign investments.
Money and the Battle of the Sexes
When both spouses are informed about the household finances, it can reduce the potential for mistakes, misunderstandings, and lost opportunities.
Giving for the Greater Good
When you utilize a structured giving strategy, your efforts can help reap greater benefits for you, your heirs, and your favorite charity.
An ILIT Might Fit
If you are concerned about estate taxes, an ILIT might be the way to go.
Oil's Above-Ground Problems
It used to be that the main concern about oil was finding enough of it in the ground to meet world demand. Despite dire predictions to the contrary, most experts believe that there is still plenty of oil in the ground. Why then has the price of oil doubled since 2004?
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