Articles
Welcome to our research center! We've put together a library of information
on important financial topics that we believe you'll find helpful.
Simply click on one of the general financial topics below and you'll find a
selection of easy-to-understand information sheets about related financial
concepts and strategies. This information is updated regularly to reflect the
latest facts, figures, legislation, and economic trends.
Estates & Trusts
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Wills and trusts allow you to spell out how you would like your property distributed, but they also go beyond that.
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A living trust can help control the distribution of your estate upon death.
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The probate process can be lengthy and complex. There are strategies you can use to help avoid the probate process.
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To retain the tax advantages associated with charitable giving, your gift must be made to a qualified organization.
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If you haven’t taken steps already, consider planning now for the distribution of your estate’s assets.
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If you believe your estate will be subject to estate taxes, consider how your heirs will pay the bill.
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An A-B trust can be an effective way to help reduce estate taxes and preserve family assets for heirs.
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Compare the advantages and disadvantages of different gifting strategies available for planned giving.
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Charitable lead trusts are designed for people who would like to benefit a charity now rather than later.
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A designated income beneficiary could receive payment of a specified amount from a charitable remainder trust.
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A wealth replacement trust could be used to gift appreciated assets to a charity as well as provide for heirs.
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One estate planning strategy that families with closely held businesses could consider is the family limited partnership.
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Sole ownership, joint tenancy, tenancy in common, and community property have special benefits for property owners.
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Careful estate planning is still one of the most important ways to manage and protect your assets for your heirs.
Retirement
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A Roth 401(k) is funded with after-tax money, and allows for tax- and penalty-free withdrawal of earnings if requirements are met.
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A 403(b) plan is a tax-deferred retirement savings plan that can only be offered by a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt entity.
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Annuities, an insurance-based financial vehicle, can provide many benefits that retirement investors might want.
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Many realize it’s important to save for retirement, but knowing exactly how much to save is another issue altogether.
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There are a variety of retirement planning options that could help meet your needs. Here are some of the most popular.
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Greater demand is being placed on the Social Security system as the baby boom generation has begun to retire.
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The Social Security Administration’s retirement estimator gives estimates of your future benefits based on your actual Social Security earnings record.
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Tax-deferred retirement plans for self-employed individuals have higher contribution limits than IRAs.
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An indexed annuity may provide some upside potential and downside protection.
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When receiving money accumulated in your employer-sponsored retirement plan, you have two options: lump sum or annuity.
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If you do not participate in an employer-sponsored retirement plan, you might consider a traditional IRA.
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401(k) employer-sponsored retirement plans have many benefits, including that the funds accumulate tax-deferred.
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Employer-sponsored retirement plans are more important than ever, but managing the assets can be confusing.
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If you start saving for retirement sooner, the more money you are likely to accumulate and possibly retire sooner.
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Qualified Roth IRA distributions in retirement are free of federal income tax and aren’t included in gross income.
Tax Planning
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There can be a substantial benefit to deferring taxes as long as possible.
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Many traditional tax-advantaged investment strategies have gone away, but there are still some alternatives.
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Changes to the tax code have left a few key deductions for itemizers, like medical, dental and some business expenses.
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While stable, CDs can create quite an income tax bill. Fixed annuities and municipal bonds can offer tax advantages.
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Consider a trustee-to-trustee transfer to an IRA versus a lump-sum distribution from a workplace retirement plan.
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It’s important to understand tax-exempt vehicles when establishing a comprehensive tax planning strategy.
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Want to keep more of your mutual fund profits? You may be interested in strategies to help lower your tax liability.
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A 1035 exchange allows you to exchange your life insurance policy for one from another company without tax liability.
Investing
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ETFs have unique attributes and attempt to track all types of indexes, industries, or commodities.
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The labels “growth” and “value” reflect different approaches that can be used when making investment decisions.
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An important element to successful investing is to manage investment risk while maintaining the potential for growth.
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Bonds are issued by many entities and share many characteristics, each type of bond has certain benefits and risks.
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A bond is simply evidence of a debt from a government entity or a corporation and represents a long-term IOU.
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Bond ratings gauge a bond issuer’s financial ability to repay its promised principal and interest payments.
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Stock market indexes can be useful benchmarks for gauging the performance of an investment portfolio over time.
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The difference between purchasing an individual stock versus shares in a mutual fund to potentially earn dividends.
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A mutual fund is a collection of stocks, bonds, and other securities with certain benefits and risks.
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With closed-end funds, investors pool their money together to purchase a professionally managed portfolio of stocks and/or bonds.
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It’s important to understand mutual fund loads, or sales charges, and exactly what they entail so you can make informed investing decisions.
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An annuity is a flexible financial vehicle that can help protect against the risk of living a long time because it provides an option for a lifetime income.
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Both fixed and variable annuities could be appropriate options for an individual interested in purchasing an annuity.
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Understanding different types of investment risk can help investors manage their money more effectively.
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There are five broad asset classes that you should take into consideration when constructing your investment portfolio.
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Asset allocation is a method used to help manage investment risk; it does not guarantee a profit or protect against investment loss.
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There are several funding methods for a child's college education including mutual funds and Section 529 plans.
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Starting to invest early for college and remaining consistent can help investors reach their goals.
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There are other ways to invest in stocks and bonds besides owning individual shares or bonds.
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Dollar-cost averaging involves investing a set amount of money on a regular basis, regardless of market conditions.
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529 plans are tax-advantaged college savings plans that generally allow people of any income level to contribute.
Cash Management
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A sound cash management program uses a disciplined approach: accounting, analysis, allocation, and adjustment.
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Before making investment decisions, it is helpful to determine the real rate of return on the investment.
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Short-term cash management instruments can help you establish a sound cash management program.
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Money market funds can be a highly liquid and effective cash management tool.
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There are numerous investment alternatives available to help provide liquidity.
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Biweekly mortgage payments can have a dramatic effect on the amount of interest homeowners have to pay.
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Here are some smart ways to refinance your home.
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It's important to understand the options, such as financial aid grant programs, when having to pay for college.
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There are a number of savings alternatives that could help you earn a reasonable rate of return.
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Historically, one of the best ways to fight the effects of inflation has been to utilize growth-oriented investments.
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Shifting some debt to a home equity loan, which typically allows interest payments to be tax deductible, could have its advantages.
Risk Management
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An annuity is a contract between you and an insurance company to pay you future income in exchange for premiums you pay.
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Company-owned life insurance is one way to help protect a business from financial problems caused by the death of a key employee.
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Couples who want to help protect their legacy from estate taxes could consider last-survivor life insurance.
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Term life insurance differs from permanent forms of life insurance in that it offers temporary protection.
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Some of the pros and cons of whole life insurance.
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Consider a universal life insurance policy if you want the flexibility to change your premium or death benefit.
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Variable life insurance gives you the control to allocate your account value among a variety of investment options.
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Even if your state doesn’t require certain types of auto insurance, it may be wise to purchase multiple types to ensure you are covered for a variety of situations.
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When it is time to make an insurance claim, it helps if you are familiar with your policies and the steps you should take to file a claim.
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Several factors could undermine the financial security provided by the proceeds of your life insurance policy.
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To help you choose insurance wisely, determine how much coverage and what kind of policy is best for your situation.
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Since your home is one of your greatest assets, you should make sure it is adequately protected. That's where homeowners insurance enters the picture.
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Knowing the basics of a disability income insurance policy is a good first step toward protecting your family.
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There are three basic types of medical insurance plans: fee-for-service, managed care, and high-deductible health plan.
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Consider additional liability insurance to help protect you from the potentially devastating effects of liability lawsuits.
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Selecting health insurance is often one of the most important decisions you will make. Do you know the different types?
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Using a financially sound insurance company is an important part of ensuring your family’s financial security.
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The odds of needing long-term care increase as you age. Prior planning can help protect you from financial ruin.
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Medicare is the federal health insurance program for those persons age 65 and over. But what does it cover?
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When selecting a life insurance policy, examine all your options, as well as the positives and negatives of each type.
Portfolio Compass
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Portfolio Compass | January 16, 2019
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Portfolio Compass | December 19, 2018
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Portfolio Compass | November 14, 2018
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Portfolio Compass | October 17, 2018
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Portfolio Compass | September 19, 2018
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Portfolio Compass | August 15, 2018
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Portfolio Compass | July 19, 2018
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Portfolio Compass | June 13, 2018
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Portfolio Compass | May 16, 2018
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Portfolio Compass | April 18, 2018
Client Letters
Outlook
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