Articles
79% of Americans agree they would benefit from having basic financial education and information.
Source: The 2018 Consumer Financial Literacy Survey, The National Foundation for Credit Counseling
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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Estate Planning
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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Living Trusts
A living trust can help control the distribution of your estate upon death.
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Family Limited Partnerships
One estate planning strategy that families with closely held businesses could consider is the family limited partnership.
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Property Ownership
Sole ownership, joint tenancy, tenancy in common, and community property have special benefits for property owners.
Retirement
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SEP IRAs
A SEP IRA is a type of plan under which the employer contributes (up to a certain limit) to an employee’s IRA.
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SIMPLE Plans
The SIMPLE plan may appeal to small business owners as it is easy to set up, administer, and allows for a tax deduction.
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Stretch IRAs
A “stretch” or “multigenerational” IRA may be a useful approach to extend tax-deferred savings that can benefit your heirs for generations.
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IRA Rollover
If you leave a job or retire, you should consider your options regarding your employer retirement plan assets.
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Roth 401(k)
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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Why Purchase Annuities
Annuities, an insurance-based financial vehicle, can provide many benefits that retirement investors might want.
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Split-Annuity Strategy
A split-annuity strategy can generate immediate income while potentially stretching some retirement savings.
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Annuity Living Benefits
Living benefits can help protect variable annuity owners from running out of money in retirement.
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How Much Do I Need to Save?
Many realize it’s important to save for retirement, but knowing exactly how much to save is another issue altogether.
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A New Chapter for Retirement
With the changing pension landscape, it is important to take charge of your own retirement security.
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1035 Exchanges
A Section 1035 exchange is a tax-free exchange of an existing annuity contract or life insurance policy for a new one.
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Unforgettable Birthdays
There are key dates after you turn 59 that can impact your taxes, Medicare eligibility, and retirement benefits.
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Your Business and Retirement
Allocating too much of your retirement investments to one company, even your own, can be a risky proposition.
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Self-Employed Retirement Plans
Tax-deferred retirement plans for self-employed individuals have higher contribution limits than IRAs.
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Indexed Annuities
An indexed annuity may provide some upside potential and downside protection.
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Retirement Plan Distributions
When receiving money accumulated in your employer-sponsored retirement plan, you have two options: lump sum or annuity.
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Traditional IRAs
If you do not participate in an employer-sponsored retirement plan, you might consider a traditional IRA.
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401(k) Plans
401(k) employer-sponsored retirement plans have many benefits, including that the funds accumulate tax-deferred.
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Managing Retirement Plans
Employer-sponsored retirement plans are more important than ever, but managing the assets can be confusing.
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Save Now or Save Later
If you start saving for retirement sooner, the more money you are likely to accumulate and possibly retire sooner.
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Roth IRAs
Qualified Roth IRA distributions in retirement are free of federal income tax and aren’t included in gross income.
Cash Management
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Cash Management Basics
A sound cash management program uses a disciplined approach: accounting, analysis, allocation, and adjustment.
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Managing Cash
There are numerous investment alternatives available to help provide liquidity.
Risk Management
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Business Owner Policies
A business owner policy is an insurance package that assembles the basic coverages required by a business owner in one bundle.
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Life Insurance for Business Owners
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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Term Life Insurance
Term life insurance differs from permanent forms of life insurance in that it offers temporary protection.
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Whole Life Insurance
Some of the pros and cons of whole life insurance.
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Universal Life Insurance
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
Variable life insurance gives you the control to allocate your account value among a variety of investment options.
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Maximizing Your Insurance Benefits
Several factors could undermine the financial security provided by the proceeds of your life insurance policy.
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Insuring Your Future
To help you choose insurance wisely, determine how much coverage and what kind of policy is best for your situation.
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Types of Health Coverage
There are three basic types of medical insurance plans: fee-for-service, managed care, and high-deductible health plan.
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HMOs and PPOs
Selecting health insurance is often one of the most important decisions you will make. Do you know the different types?
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Evaluating Insurance Companies
Using a financially sound insurance company is an important part of ensuring your family’s financial security.
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Long-Term Care Costs
The odds of needing long-term care increase as you age. Prior planning can help protect you from financial ruin.
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Long-Term-Care Needs
If you were to suffer an illness or disability that required long-term nursing care, would you be covered?
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Types of Life Insurance
When selecting a life insurance policy, examine all your options, as well as the positives and negatives of each type.