Articles

Estates & Trusts

• Avoiding Probate

  The probate process can be lengthy and complex. There are strategies you can use to help avoid the probate process.

• Controlling the Distribution

  If you haven’t taken steps already, consider planning now for the distribution of your estate’s assets.

• Gifting Strategies

  Compare the advantages and disadvantages of different gifting strategies available for planned giving.

• History of the Federal Estate Tax

  Careful estate planning is still one of the most important ways to manage and protect your assets for your heirs.

Retirement

• 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.

• Your Business and Retirement

  Allocating too much of your retirement investments to one company, even your own, can be a risky proposition.

• Planning Options

  There are a variety of retirement planning options that could help meet your needs. Here are some of the most popular.

• 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

• Required Minimum Distributions

  Required minimum distribution is the annual amount that must be withdrawn from a qualified retirement plan/account.

• Tax Deductions

  Changes to the tax code have left a few key deductions for itemizers, like medical, dental and some business expenses.

Investing

• Bond Ladders

  A bond ladder is a strategy involving the purchase of bonds that have staggered maturity dates.

• Mutual Fund Taxes

  Mutual fund taxes can be cumbersome, but there are ways to help mitigate the amount of taxes you may owe.

• Stock

  Before investing in stocks, it is important to understand some of the basics and the risks involved in owning stocks.

• Diversification

  An important element to successful investing is to manage investment risk while maintaining the potential for growth.

• Types of Bonds

  Bonds are issued by many entities and share many characteristics, each type of bond has certain benefits and risks.

• Mutual Funds vs. Stocks

  The difference between purchasing an individual stock versus shares in a mutual fund to potentially earn dividends.

• Investment Risks

  Understanding different types of investment risk can help investors manage their money more effectively.

• Asset Allocation

  Asset allocation is a method used to help manage investment risk; it does not guarantee a profit or protect against investment loss.

• Dollar-Cost Averaging

  Dollar-cost averaging involves investing a set amount of money on a regular basis, regardless of market conditions.

Cash Management

• Doubling Your Money

  Before making investment decisions, it is helpful to determine the real rate of return on the investment.

• Biweekly Mortgages

  Biweekly mortgage payments can have a dramatic effect on the amount of interest homeowners have to pay.

• Smart Financing Ideas

  Here are some smart ways to refinance your home.

Risk Management

• Why Purchase Life Insurance

  If you have a family who relies on your income, it is important to have life insurance protection.

• 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.

• Split-Dollar Life Insurance

  Split-dollar life insurance is an arrangement to purchase and fund life insurance between two parties.

• Last-Survivor Life Insurance

  Couples who want to help protect their legacy from estate taxes could consider last-survivor life insurance.

• Insuring Your Future

  To help you choose insurance wisely, determine how much coverage and what kind of policy is best for your situation.

• Types of Life Insurance

  When selecting a life insurance policy, examine all your options, as well as the positives and negatives of each type.