Newsletters
Forty-three percent of Americans spent more time planning their most recent vacation 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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September
An Estate is a Terrible Thing to Waste
A will is certainly the best place to start. However, the goal of any estate strategy should be a smooth transfer of wealth to your heirs.
Retirement with All the Fixins'
One of the most appealing aspects of a traditional pension is a guaranteed lifetime income. Fortunately, you can begin building your own guaranteed lifetime income with a fixed annuity.
TIPS for Fighting Inflation
Although inflation has been fairly quiet over the past few years, it remains a perennial concern for investors because it reduces the value of money over time.
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August
HOT TOPIC: New Year, Higher Taxes?
After the Waterford Crystal ball descends in Times Square on New Year’s Eve, most people will see their taxes ascending for 2011 — at least that’s the current situation. Find out how high they could go.
Leaving Your Job? Put an IRA to Work
The way in which you handle your retirement plan assets when leaving a company is an important decision that could affect your retirement savings considerably.
Stocking Up on Cash: Scared or Prepared?
Having enough cash to make it through an illness, injury, job loss, or other financial emergency can help you avoid taking on debt or tapping your retirement assets.
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July
HOT TOPIC: Celebrity Estate Planning Gone Wrong
Ever notice that celebrities seems to be experts at leaving their estates in chaos? Fortunately, their mistakes serve as useful reminders of why estate planning is so important.
Inflation Gets Personal
The CPI attempts to measure the rate of inflation experienced by the average American, but this figure may not be entirely applicable to your situation.
Save More to Have More
There's one solution to a retirement savings shortfall that is so simple you might never have given it serious consideration: Set aside more of your current income. Even if you believe that you are currently saving as much as possible toward retirement, you might change your mind after you run the numbers.
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June
HOT TOPIC: The Great Inflation-Deflation Debate
We're all used to worrying about inflation and its long-term effect on purchasing power. However, there's a growing chorus warning that deflation is the next big concern for the U.S. economy.
When Investing Pays Dividends
Aside from the potential for steady payments, dividends can be a good way to assess a company's health, quality of earnings, and future prospects.
Get to Know Your Beneficiaries
It's a good idea to review your beneficiary designations on a regular basis to help ensure there is no debate over who will inherit your retirement assets and receive your life insurance benefits.
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March
Pursuing Both Growth and Value
Maintaining a balance of growth and value investments may help investors add a new dimension of diversification to their portfolios.
Working for Social Security
There's nothing wrong with wanting to work in retirement, but if you decide to earn some extra income, make sure you understand how it will affect your Social Security benefits.
A Simple Way to Help Your Family
A letter of instructions, while not a legal document, can help your family cope during a difficult period by providing information that has no place in a will.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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November
Playing Catch-Up with Contributions
Something as simple as increasing your contributions to tax-advantaged retirement programs can go a long way toward helping you pursue your long-term financial goals.
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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.
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