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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March
HOT TOPIC: Sum of All Fears: Are Risk Aversion and Greed All in the Mind?
Do you change your investment strategy as the markets go up and down, or do you stay the course? As difficult as it may be, staying the course is usually the more advisable approach — but research shows that you may need to defy your brain to do it.
Pursuing Both Growth and Value
Maintaining a balance of growth and value investments may help investors add a new dimension of diversification to their portfolios.
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.
Don't Forget the World
If your portfolio doesn't include some global equities, it may be missing a key dimension.
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January
HOT TOPIC: What's Ahead for 2010?
Economists expect the economy to grow by a respectable 3% in 2010, but they don't hold out much hope for the employment situation. What else can investors and consumers expect from the coming year?
Are Target-Date Funds Off Target?
Target-date funds are not for everyone, so it's important to gather all the facts.
The Benefits of Social Security
Take this quiz to assess how much you know about Social Security benefits.
Love and Marriage and Retirement
More than 80% of married couples 45 to 72 say they don't agree on when they should retire, what their retirement lifestyle should look like, or whether they will work in retirement.
Beware the Better-Than-Average Effect
Economists have found that, on average, people tend to believe that their own lives are improving at a faster rate than most everyone else's.
When Tea Leaves Won't Do
Economic indicators can be a good source of clues about trends, but it takes experience and skill to interpret their meaning.
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December
Hot Topic: 2010: The Year of the Roth Conversion?
Starting in 2010, anyone, regardless of income, can convert retirement plan assets to a Roth IRA.
An Extra Layer of Protection
Umbrella liability insurance can help protect a family from the financial ruin that a civil liability trial could bring.
Getting the Right Mix
Asset allocation is the process of dividing investment dollars among asset classes that often behave differently in different market cycles.
New Year: Check and (Re)balance
Even if people have become jaded about making new year's resolutions, it shouldn't stop them from doing what they need to do to accomplish their financial goals.
Mark Your Calendar
Once we approach the end of our working years, birthdays take on a renewed importance.
Ready or Not, You're Retired!
In 2009, 47% of retirees left the workforce earlier than they expected.
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November
HOT TOPIC: Investors Flock to Bond Funds, But What Happens When Rates Rise?
Investors are on track to invest 11 times more money in bond funds in 2009 than they will invest in stock funds. This is not surprising, considering the market volatility in 2008, but are these investors operating on false assumptions about the capabilities of bond funds?
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.
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.
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
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.
Making Moves to the Money Market
Money market funds are mutual funds that invest solely in cash-equivalent assets that are categorized as low-risk, low-return investments.
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.
Retirement Countdown in a Down Market
The process leading up to retirement should begin years beforehand to help protect portfolio assets in the event that the markets are affected by unfavorable economic conditions.
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.
Get Ready for Earnings Season
Earnings can provide a key to understanding the performance of an individual company and the behavior of the stock market in general.
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September
HOT TOPIC: The Personal Saving Rate: What It Doesn't Mean to You
The term "personal saving rate" can be misleading. It doesn't define "saving" in the same way that most people do. What should the personal saving rate mean to you?
A New Way to Diversify
Exchange-traded funds are unique investments that resemble mutual funds in some ways and behave like stock in other ways.
One Final Letter
A letter of instructions can help someone clearly state his or her preferences for many important issues such as organ donation, funeral arrangements, and other details not enumerated in a trust.
Insurance for Your Whole Life
If your situation calls for life insurance coverage that extends beyond your working years, it might be time to consider whether permanent life insurance would be appropriate.
Variable Annuities Add Guarantees
Investors who would rather not choose between a guaranteed income and above-average investment gains may want to consider variable annuities with living benefit guarantees.
A Long Look at the National Debt
To better comprehend the size and scope of the national debt, it helps to measure it against the size of the overall economy.
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August
HOT TOPIC: Michael Jackson's Eccentricities Did Not Extend to His Estate Plan
Critics are calling Michael Jackson's estate plan a hit. What did the King of Pop do right?
Municipal Haste
Municipal bonds offer an opportunity to earn an income that may be free of federal income tax.
The Long Road Ahead
The stock market has had its share of roller-coaster thrills lately, but don’t be tempted to react emotionally.
Note to Self: Check Beneficiary Designations
Outdated beneficiary forms have the potential to cause needless grief and hardship for surviving loved ones who are your intended heirs.
Still Time for Stimulus Benefits
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 offers some short-term tax benefits designed to encourage consumer activity and boost particular sectors of the economy.
Looking for an End to the IPO Drought
Even if you never expect to participate in an IPO, it’s wise to keep an eye on the pace of new listings.
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July
HOT TOPIC: Looking for a Recovery in Odd Places
Are signs of an economic recovery showing up in hemlines and lipstick sales?
Get Your Retirement Reality Check
A retirement needs-calculation goes beyond the commonly suggested target to have 70% of pre-retirement income.
Higher Education Pays, But So Will You
It’s likely that admission to the nation’s top colleges and universities will remain competitive, but adequate college savings can help ensure that a student’s opportunity to attend his or her school of choice is not compromised by the lack of resources.
It's Not Too Late to Consider Life Insurance
Results from one survey suggest that confidence in financial security tends to increase as life insurance coverage increases.
Good Care Begins Early
Ironically, people who avoid important discussions because they don’t want to be a burden are sowing seeds for even greater troubles because they are forestalling preparation and ignoring the risks associated with aging, possibly until it’s too late.
Stalking the Mighty Consumer
Economists, traders, investors, and policymakers all take great interest in the financial health of consumers and what they may do next.
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June
HOT TOPIC: Social Security and Medicare in Crosshairs
An entitlement crisis has been looming on the horizon for several years. Unfortunately, according to the latest reports from the trustees of the Social Security and Medicare trust funds, a spike in unemployment has helped to hasten the arrival of these programs’ insolvency.
Estate of Emergency?
To help ensure that an estate is distributed according to one's wishes, it’s important to have certain legal documents in place.
It's Time to Get Real
During times of market volatility, it can be easy for investors to lose sight of two seemingly immovable obstacles standing in the way of their long-term investment goals: taxes and inflation.
Inflation Goes to College
Over the past 10 years, tuition and fees have grown more than 4% faster than the rate of general inflation at public four-year colleges and more than 2% faster than inflation at private four-year colleges.
Testing Your Liability Limits
This quiz tests the reader’s understanding of personal liability.
The Positives of Negative Correlation
Few asset groups are perfectly negatively correlated, but a portfolio may still be able to benefit from the correlation principle.
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May
HOT TOPIC: Don't Risk an IRA Rollover Mistake
A rising unemployment rate means more people face an important decision about what to do with the money in their former employer’s retirement plan. Fortunately, an IRA rollover can help, but only if it's done correctly.
Celebrate Life and the Benefits of Insuring It
In addition to the protection it can bring, life insurance can also offer some tax benefits.
A Question of Identity
Not only is identity theft costly, it can also be a major hassle that affects a person’s credit score for years. The key to preventing ID theft is awareness.
Exchange-Traded Funds Can Be for Conservative Portfolios, Too
If you avoided ETFs because they were predominantly composed of stocks, the growing availability of bond ETFs might warrant a second look.
The Land of Income Mobility
In America, just about anyone who is dissatisfied with his income has the opportunity to roll up his sleeves and move into a different income bracket.
Recapping Market Capitalization
The blurring of lines between large-cap, mid-cap, and small-cap companies is an indication that it may be time to evaluate whether your portfolio holdings have shifted toward or away from your investment objectives.
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April
HOT TOPIC: The Fed Plans to Spend Trillion or More to Spur Growth
For the first time in a generation, the Federal Reserve has undertaken a campaign to influence long-term interest rates, a departure from recent monetary policy that has focused almost exclusively on short-term rates.
Never Too Old—or Too Rich—to Consider Life Insurance
There are many possible reasons to consider owning life insurance, even if you have convinced yourself that it's no longer necessary in your situation.
Avoid the Timing Trap
Market timing is a risky approach that could have a significant effect on a portfolio’s long-term performance.
Income Now or Later
Immediate and deferred fixed annuities are insurance products that could help retirees safeguard some of their nest eggs and provide a steady income stream throughout retirement.
Defend Your Retirement from Inflation
Over long periods, inflation can pose a significant threat to quality of life for retirees, primarily because it reduces the purchasing power of their retirement incomes.
Separate Your Business from Your Portfolio
Allocating too much of your investment capital to one company — even your own — is a risky proposition.
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