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
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.
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.
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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.
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.
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.
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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.
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.
Getting Something for Giving
Charitable trusts may help your charity of choice while also providing you with potential tax benefits.
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
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.
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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?
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.
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December
An Extra Layer of Protection
Umbrella liability insurance can help protect a family from the financial ruin that a civil liability trial could bring.
Mark Your Calendar
Once we approach the end of our working years, birthdays take on a renewed importance.
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November
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.
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.
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October
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.