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
HOT TOPIC: What You Don't Know About Life Insurance
The common perception is that life insurance is primarily needed to help protect young families in the event that a major wage earner dies before the children are grown. The reality is that far more people either need or could benefit from owning the appropriate life insurance policy.
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.
Keeping Up with College Costs
The cost of a college education continues to rise rapidly, reaching new highs along the way. This worksheet can help you prepare for these mounting costs.
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.
Small Business Offered Rare Health Insurance Incentives
Many of the precious few incentives for employers in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act are targeted to small business.
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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.
A Question of Identity
The Federal Trade Commission estimates that up to 9 million Americans are victims of identity theft each year. Education is the first step to help protect yourself from ID theft. Take this short quiz to see how much you know.
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.
The Growing Popularity of Preferred Stocks
Investors may be attracted to "preferreds" because they are a potential source of dividend income. Preferred stocks have evolved in recent years as the demands of investors have changed.
A Look at the Second-Half Outlook
Here we are halfway through the year and there's still no clear verdict on whether investors were justified in their optimism. But there are a number of developments on the horizon that could be important to investors.
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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.
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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.
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.
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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?
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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.
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March
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.
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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?
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.
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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.
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.
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.
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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.
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.