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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Living Trusts
A living trust can help control the distribution of your estate upon death.
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Charitable Giving
To retain the tax advantages associated with charitable giving, your gift must be made to a qualified organization.
Retirement
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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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Roth 401(k)
A Roth 401(k) is funded with after-tax money, and allows for tax- and penalty-free withdrawal of earnings if requirements are met.
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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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A New Chapter for Retirement
With the changing pension landscape, it is important to take charge of your own retirement security.
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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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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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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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Estate Tax
Everything you own, whatever the form of ownership, is subject to federal, and possibly state, estate taxes.
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Tax Deferral
There can be a substantial benefit to deferring taxes as long as possible.
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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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Stock Indexes
Stock market indexes can be useful benchmarks for gauging the performance of an investment portfolio over time.
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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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Investment Risks
Understanding different types of investment risk can help investors manage their money more effectively.
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Asset Classes
There are five broad asset classes that you should take into consideration when constructing your investment portfolio.
Cash Management
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Cash Management Basics
A sound cash management program uses a disciplined approach: accounting, analysis, allocation, and adjustment.
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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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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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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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Maximizing Your Insurance Benefits
Several factors could undermine the financial security provided by the proceeds of your life insurance policy.
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Evaluating Insurance Companies
Using a financially sound insurance company is an important part of ensuring your family’s financial security.