Articles
75% of Americans agree they would benefit from having basic financial education and information.
Source: The 2016 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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Avoiding Probate
The probate process can be lengthy and complex. There are strategies you can use to help avoid the probate process.
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Charitable Giving
To retain the tax advantages associated with charitable giving, your gift must be made to a qualified organization.
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Gifting Strategies
Compare the advantages and disadvantages of different gifting strategies available for planned giving.
Retirement
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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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Retirement Plan Distributions
When receiving money accumulated in your employer-sponsored retiremnt plan, you have 2 options: lump sum or annuity.
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401(k) Plans
401(k) employer-sponsored retirements plans have many benefits, including that the funds accumulate tax-deferred.
Tax Planning
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Tax Deferral
There can be a substantial benefit to deferring taxes as long as possible.
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Tax-Advantaged Investments
Many traditional tax-advantaged investment strategies have gone away, but there are still some alternatives.
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Tax-Advantaged Alternatives
While stable, CDs can create quite an income tax bill. Fixed annuities and municipal bonds can offer tax advantages.
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Tax Strategies for Retirement Plans
Consider a trustee-to-trustee transfer to an IRA vs a lump-sum distribution from a workplace retirement plan.
Investing
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Diversification
An important element to successful investing is to manage investment risk while maintaining the potential for growth.
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Investment Risks
Understanding different types of investment risk can help investors manage their money more effectively.
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Asset Classes
There are 5 broad asset classes that you should take into consideration when constructing your investment portfolio.
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Asset Allocation
Asset allocation is a method used to help manage investment risk; it does not guarantee against investment loss.
Cash Management
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Doubling Your Money
Before making investment decisions, it is helpful to determine the real rate of return on the investment.
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Cash Management Tools
Short-term cash management instruments can help you establish a sound cash management program.
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Managing Cash
There are numerous investment alternatives available to help provide liquidity.
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Effects of Inflation
Historically, one of the best ways to fight the effects of inflation has been to utilize growth-oriented investments.
Risk Management
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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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Types of Health Coverage
There are 3 basic types of medical insurance plans: fee-for-service, managed care, and high-deductible health plan.
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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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Medicare Coverage
Medicare is the federal health insurance program for those persons age 65 and over. But what does it cover?