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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Charitable Giving
To retain the tax advantages associated with charitable giving, your gift must be made to a qualified organization.
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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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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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IRA Rollover
If you leave a job or retire, you should consider your options regarding your employer retirement plan assets.
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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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Save Now or Save Later
If you start saving for retirement sooner, the more money you are likely to accumulate and possibly retire sooner.
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-Free Investments
It’s important to understand tax-exempt vehicles when establishing a comprehensive tax planning strategy.
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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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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Asset Classes
There are five 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 a profit or protect against investment loss.
Cash Management
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Reverse Mortgages
There are techniques that can enable older homeowners to use their property to finance their lifestyle.
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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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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Insurance Claims
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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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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Protecting Your Home
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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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.