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.

  • June

    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.

    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.

  • May

    Protection for a Price
    Variable annuities give contract holders the ability to purchase guarantees to help protect against downside risks.

    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

    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.

    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.

  • March

    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.

  • 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.

    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.

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

  • November

    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.

    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.

  • October

    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.

  • 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.