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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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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Controlling the Distribution
If you haven’t taken steps already, consider planning now for the distribution of your estate’s assets.
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Gifting Strategies
Compare the advantages and disadvantages of different gifting strategies available for planned giving.
Retirement
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SIMPLE IRAs
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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Why Purchase Annuities
Annuities, an insurance-based financial vehicle, can provide many benefits that retirement investors might want.
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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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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 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.
Tax Planning
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Required Minimum Distributions
Required minimum distribution is the annual amount that must be withdrawn from a qualified retirement plan/account.
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Withdrawing Before Age 59.5
Tax-deferred retirement account withdrawals before age 59½ generally triggers a 10% federal income tax penalty.
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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 Deductions
Changes to the tax code have left a few key deductions for itemizers, like medical, dental and some business expenses.
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Tax Strategies for Retirement Plans
Consider a trustee-to-trustee transfer to an IRA versus 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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Mutual Funds vs. Stocks
The difference between purchasing an individual stock versus shares in a mutual fund to potentially earn dividends.
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Mutual Funds
A mutual fund is a collection of stocks, bonds, and other securities with certain benefits and risks.
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Annuities
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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College Savings Plans
There are several funding methods for a child's college education including mutual funds and Section 529 plans.
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529 Plans
529 plans are tax-advantaged college savings plans that generally allow people of any income level to contribute.
Cash Management
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College Financial Aid
It's important to understand the options, such as financial aid grant programs, when having to pay for college.
Risk Management
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Why Purchase Life Insurance
If you have a family who relies on your income, it is important to have life insurance protection.
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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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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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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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Types of Life Insurance
When selecting a life insurance policy, examine all your options, as well as the positives and negatives of each type.