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
HOT TOPIC: A Bear Market History Lesson
If it feels like the sky is falling, it wouldn’t be the first time. But is the downturn that began in October 2007 all that different from bear markets of the past? Here’s a look back at the nine other bear markets that have occurred since 1950.
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?
TIPS for Managing Inflation
The U.S. Treasury issues a form of debt that helps protect investors from the effects of inflation: Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS).
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.
Why Do Lower Prices Equal Higher Yields?
The price/yield relationship is rooted in the secondary bond market, where bonds may trade at a premium or discount of the par (or face) value.
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.
Your Best Interest
Successfully managing credit is crucial, but there are some arcane credit-card rules that may affect your balance, your interest rate, and even your credit score.
Put Some Infrastructure in Your Portfolio
The normally placid muni bond market has been roiled by a confluence of variables related to the stock market, slow economic growth, and credit-market woes. One result has been yields high enough to get the attention of investors who normally stick to Treasurys.
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
Take It Year by Year
The Federal Reserve has been cutting interest rates fast and deep. Although not all consumer rates are directly affected by the cuts, they highlight turmoil in the credit markets, rising inflation, and the possibility of slower economic growth.
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.
What's Next for IPOs?
Only 10 companies went public on U.S. stock exchanges in the first quarter of 2008. Even if you never participate in an initial public offering, the IPO market can reveal a wealth of clues about the financial climate at home and abroad.
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