Newsletters

Forty-three percent of Americans spent more time planning their most recent vacation than planning for their retirement.^1
1 AARP, 2008

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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• February

  HOT TOPIC: Does the Estate Tax Have a Future?
  For the first time since 1915, the federal government has no law in place to tax large estates when they are transferred to heirs. But will Congress allow the estate tax repeal to stand?

  Are You Making These Cash Mistakes?
  With interest rates at historic lows, what should you do with the money you save?

  Don't Forget the World
  If your portfolio doesn't include some global equities, it may be missing a key dimension.

• January

  HOT TOPIC: What's Ahead for 2010?
  Economists expect the economy to grow by a respectable 3% in 2010, but they don't hold out much hope for the employment situation. What else can investors and consumers expect from the coming year?

  The Benefits of Social Security
  Take this quiz to assess how much you know about Social Security benefits.

  Love and Marriage and Retirement
  More than 80% of married couples 45 to 72 say they don't agree on when they should retire, what their retirement lifestyle should look like, or whether they will work in retirement.

  Beware the Better-Than-Average Effect
  Economists have found that, on average, people tend to believe that their own lives are improving at a faster rate than most everyone else's.

• December

  Hot Topic: 2010: The Year of the Roth Conversion?
  Starting in 2010, anyone, regardless of income, can convert retirement plan assets to a Roth IRA.

  An Extra Layer of Protection
  Umbrella liability insurance can help protect a family from the financial ruin that a civil liability trial could bring.

  Getting the Right Mix
  Asset allocation is the process of dividing investment dollars among asset classes that often behave differently in different market cycles.

  New Year: Check and (Re)balance
  Even if people have become jaded about making new year's resolutions, it shouldn't stop them from doing what they need to do to accomplish their financial goals.

  Mark Your Calendar
  Once we approach the end of our working years, birthdays take on a renewed importance.

  Ready or Not, You're Retired!
  In 2009, 47% of retirees left the workforce earlier than they expected.

• October

  HOT TOPIC: Moving Forward from the Credit Crisis
  On Monday, September 15, 2008, the country awoke to news that three of the nation's largest financial institutions were unable to survive without help. Now, more than a year after that fateful September day, the economy shows signs of stability.

  Estate Conservation You Can Trust
  Trusts are popular estate conservation tools that can help facilitate the smooth transfer of estate assets and maintain the family’s privacy.

  Retirement Countdown in a Down Market
  The process leading up to retirement should begin years beforehand to help protect portfolio assets in the event that the markets are affected by unfavorable economic conditions.

  Fixed Annuities May Offer Stability
  A source of guaranteed income may help remove some of the uncertainty associated with retiring when the financial markets are fluctuating.

• September

  HOT TOPIC: The Personal Saving Rate: What It Doesn't Mean to You
  The term "personal saving rate" can be misleading. It doesn't define "saving" in the same way that most people do. What should the personal saving rate mean to you?

  One Final Letter
  A letter of instructions can help someone clearly state his or her preferences for many important issues such as organ donation, funeral arrangements, and other details not enumerated in a trust.

  A Long Look at the National Debt
  To better comprehend the size and scope of the national debt, it helps to measure it against the size of the overall economy.

• August

  HOT TOPIC: Michael Jackson's Eccentricities Did Not Extend to His Estate Plan
  Critics are calling Michael Jackson's estate plan a hit. What did the King of Pop do right?

  Note to Self: Check Beneficiary Designations
  Outdated beneficiary forms have the potential to cause needless grief and hardship for surviving loved ones who are your intended heirs.

  Still Time for Stimulus Benefits
  The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 offers some short-term tax benefits designed to encourage consumer activity and boost particular sectors of the economy.

• July

  HOT TOPIC: Looking for a Recovery in Odd Places
  Are signs of an economic recovery showing up in hemlines and lipstick sales?

  Get Your Retirement Reality Check
  A retirement needs-calculation goes beyond the commonly suggested target to have 70% of pre-retirement income.

  It's Not Too Late to Consider Life Insurance
  Results from one survey suggest that confidence in financial security tends to increase as life insurance coverage increases.

• June

  HOT TOPIC: Social Security and Medicare in Crosshairs
  An entitlement crisis has been looming on the horizon for several years. Unfortunately, according to the latest reports from the trustees of the Social Security and Medicare trust funds, a spike in unemployment has helped to hasten the arrival of these programs’ insolvency.

  Estate of Emergency?
  To help ensure that an estate is distributed according to one's wishes, it’s important to have certain legal documents in place.

• May

  HOT TOPIC: Don't Risk an IRA Rollover Mistake
  A rising unemployment rate means more people face an important decision about what to do with the money in their former employer’s retirement plan. Fortunately, an IRA rollover can help, but only if it's done correctly.

  Celebrate Life and the Benefits of Insuring It
  In addition to the protection it can bring, life insurance can also offer some tax benefits.

  A Question of Identity
  Not only is identity theft costly, it can also be a major hassle that affects a person’s credit score for years. The key to preventing ID theft is awareness.

• April

  HOT TOPIC: The Fed Plans to Spend Trillion or More to Spur Growth
  For the first time in a generation, the Federal Reserve has undertaken a campaign to influence long-term interest rates, a departure from recent monetary policy that has focused almost exclusively on short-term rates.

  Never Too Old—or Too Rich—to Consider Life Insurance
  There are many possible reasons to consider owning life insurance, even if you have convinced yourself that it's no longer necessary in your situation.

  Defend Your Retirement from Inflation
  Over long periods, inflation can pose a significant threat to quality of life for retirees, primarily because it reduces the purchasing power of their retirement incomes.