Newsletters

Forty-three percent of Americans spent more time planning their most recent vacation than planning for their retirement.^1
1 AARP, 2008

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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• 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.

• November

  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.

• October

  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.

• September

  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.

• 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?

  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.

• July

  Get Your Retirement Reality Check
  A retirement needs-calculation goes beyond the commonly suggested target to have 70% of pre-retirement income.

  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.

• June

  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.

• 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.

  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.

• April

  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.