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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December
Don’t Bet Your Life on These Insurance Myths
Learning about common life insurance misconceptions can help you make one of the most important decisions for those you leave behind.
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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?
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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.
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.
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.
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August
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.
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May
Define Your Own Benefits
Everyone wants to be a happy retiree someday, but there's a big problem.
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April
Conserve Your Estate
Are your estate strategies up-to-date and ready for whatever legislative changes lie ahead?
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.
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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February
A Grand New Contribution
If you were waiting for the day when you could sock away some serious dough in your individual retirement account, the time has arrived.
Living Comes with Guarantees
Several types of living benefit guarantees are available that can provide valuable protection for variable annuity owners.
The Trouble with Timing
The speculation that drives market timing can often cause investors to get in right before a downturn or to flee before realizing potential gains.
Retirement, Boomer Style
As the baby boomers leave the workforce for retirement, the nation is facing a shortage of workers to take their places. This demographic shift is expected to affect not only Social Security and Medicare, but the U.S. economy, as well.