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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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.Going Global
International funds enable investors to diversify not only across industry sectors but national borders as well. Despite this benefit, international mutual funds come with additional risks that should be considered carefully.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.Help Your Family Help You
Obviously, most of us prefer to keep our personal finances personal, but opening a discussion about family finances could help prevent headaches and challenges when difficulties strike.The Board of Directors: A Key to Company Success
Given the wide and important role that the board plays, it is a good idea to look beyond the glossy portraits and become familiar with the individuals tasked with guarding shareholder wealth. -
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.Save the Date
There are several key retirement milestones tied to specific birthdays or ages. This quiz asks readers to identify several.Is It Ever OK to Make Early Withdrawals?
There are few ways to sabotage your retirement goals more effectively than tapping your retirement assets before you reach age 59½.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.Investor Emotions and Where to Find Them
Anyone who has watched the stock market for any length of time knows it is subject to two key investor emotions: greed and fear.
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May
How Health-Care Expenses Could Affect Your Retirement Lifestyle
Given the discussion over the future of U.S. health care, is it time to recalculate how much money you will need to pay for medical care in retirement?Protection for a Price
Variable annuities give contract holders the ability to purchase guarantees to help protect against downside risks.The Return of the Initial Public Offering
After a drought of initial public offerings over the past few years, the IPO market finally began to perk up in the second quarter of 2009.A Potential Income Source for the Risk-Averse
Although no financial instrument is entirely without risk, the guarantees offered by a fixed annuity can help address the concerns of even the most risk-averse investors.Test Your College Funding Knowledge
If you want to help your children or grandchildren accumulate enough money to afford college, a good first step is to become familiar with 529 plans and the Coverdell Education Savings Account.The Problem with Investment Gains
Believe it or not, a significant investment gain, especially one from an unexpected source, can pose a risk to your progress toward long-term goals if it's not handled properly. -
April
HOT TOPIC: New Rules Likely Making Credit Cards More Expensive
New rules designed to limit credit-card issuers from quietly raising interest rates and fees will undoubtedly help consumers become more aware of the terms and conditions on their credit cards. But the real news is that the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009 (CARD) may actually be making credit cards more expensive to use.Getting Something for Giving
Charitable trusts may help your charity of choice while also providing you with potential tax benefits.An Average Way to Invest
Dollar-cost averaging might help investors make the most of a highly volatile period.Interest Rates: Be Ready for Anything
There is a strategy to help bondholders limit the risk of continued low rates and put them in a position to benefit if the rates go higher.Shelter Your Retirement Lifestyle
An umbrella liability insurance policy takes effect in the event that the limits of your primary insurance policies are exhausted.A Graceful Departure
An exit strategy is important for any business owner who plans to leave the company he or she has nurtured and built.
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March
HOT TOPIC: Sum of All Fears: Are Risk Aversion and Greed All in the Mind?
Do you change your investment strategy as the markets go up and down, or do you stay the course? As difficult as it may be, staying the course is usually the more advisable approach — but research shows that you may need to defy your brain to do it.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.Don't Let a Disability Cripple Your Family's Finances
One way to help protect against the financial ruin that a disability can bring is through disability income insurance.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.Most Recoveries Are Announced Months After They Begin
Because it can take so long for the National Bureau of Economic Research to determine when a recession began or ended, people who delay financial decisions until they are certain a recession is over are at a disadvantage because they may be operating on old information. -
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?Patching the Alternative Minimum Tax
The future of the AMT is uncertain, yet it is important to consider the possible effects of the AMT on your tax situation.Tips for Healthy Life Insurance
If you are about to retire or have recently entered retirement, it's a good time to consider whether your current life insurance policy meets your needs.What Does a Fed Chairman Do?
The Federal Reserve plays an important role in our economy, and the chairman is its most visible player. His behavior is a good source of clues about what the future may hold.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?Are Target-Date Funds Off Target?
Target-date funds are not for everyone, so it's important to gather all the facts.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.When Tea Leaves Won't Do
Economic indicators can be a good source of clues about trends, but it takes experience and skill to interpret their meaning. -
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
HOT TOPIC: Investors Flock to Bond Funds, But What Happens When Rates Rise?
Investors are on track to invest 11 times more money in bond funds in 2009 than they will invest in stock funds. This is not surprising, considering the market volatility in 2008, but are these investors operating on false assumptions about the capabilities of bond funds?Home Equanimity
The contraction of the housing market has caused many people to take a second look at the way they view their homes.The Measure of a Life
One way to help mitigate the financial blow of the loss of a head of household is through life insurance.Confident in Consumer Confidence?
The consumer confidence index can be a useful tool, but it should play only a minor role in an investor’s overall outlook.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.Measuring the Jobs Situation
Many people understand that a rising jobless rate is one of the hallmarks of a shrinking economy. But the national unemployment rate does not always reveal a complete picture of the jobs outlook. -
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.Making Moves to the Money Market
Money market funds are mutual funds that invest solely in cash-equivalent assets that are categorized as low-risk, low-return investments.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.Get Ready for Earnings Season
Earnings can provide a key to understanding the performance of an individual company and the behavior of the stock market in general.
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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?A New Way to Diversify
Exchange-traded funds are unique investments that resemble mutual funds in some ways and behave like stock in other ways.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.Insurance for Your Whole Life
If your situation calls for life insurance coverage that extends beyond your working years, it might be time to consider whether permanent life insurance would be appropriate.Variable Annuities Add Guarantees
Investors who would rather not choose between a guaranteed income and above-average investment gains may want to consider variable annuities with living benefit guarantees.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?Municipal Haste
Municipal bonds offer an opportunity to earn an income that may be free of federal income tax.The Long Road Ahead
The stock market has had its share of roller-coaster thrills lately, but don’t be tempted to react emotionally.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.Looking for an End to the IPO Drought
Even if you never expect to participate in an IPO, it’s wise to keep an eye on the pace of new listings.