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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

    When Investing Pays Dividends
    Aside from the potential for steady payments, dividends can be a good way to assess a company's health, quality of earnings, and future prospects.

    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.

    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

    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?

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

    The Return of the Initial Public Offering
    After a drought of initial public offerings over the past few years, the IPO market finally began to perk up in the second quarter of 2009.

    A Potential Income Source for the Risk-Averse
    Although no financial instrument is entirely without risk, the guarantees offered by a fixed annuity can help address the concerns of even the most risk-averse investors.

    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.

  • 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.