Newsletters
Will you outlive your retirement income? 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.
December
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Charitable Gifts of Life Insurance
Life insurance offers a way to make a substantial gift to charity while also benefiting from favorable tax rules.
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Year-End 2024 Tax Tips
Here are some things to consider when weighing potential tax moves before the end of the year.
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An Umbrella Policy Offers Extra Liability Coverage
An umbrella personal liability insurance policy can provide additional coverage in the event of a high-dollar liability claim or legal judgment.
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Two Tax-Friendly Retirement Plans for the Self-Employed
Setting up a retirement plan provides a way to help shelter more income from taxes and save money for the future.
November
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If You Don’t Have a Will Yet, Why Not?
Although 64% of Americans think having a will is important, only 32% have one. This article looks at reasons people don’t have a will and why they need one regardless of the reason.
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FAFSA for 2025-2026 School Year Opens December 1
Following a disastrous rollout last year, this article provides tips for submitting the redesigned Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the 2025–2026 school year.
October
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HOT TOPIC: The Fed Finally Cut Interest Rates
The Fed’s first rate cut of one-half percentage point in four years marks a critical juncture for the economy, with significant implications for consumers, businesses, and investors.
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Can You Put the Brakes on Rising Auto Insurance Premiums?
Auto insurance premiums increased more than 18% between July 2023 and July 2024. This article outlines some steps that may help reduce premiums.
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Do You Have Enough Life Insurance?
Life insurance needs change over time. This article presents five guidelines to help determine an appropriate amount of life insurance coverage.
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Making the Most of Your Credit Card
Credit cards are being used more than ever. This article offers suggestions for choosing and using a credit card.
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A Pension Strategy That May Boost Your Income
A strategy called pension maximization may enable a married pensioner to elect the higher payments of a single-life annuity while also providing for the spouse’s financial future.
September
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HOT TOPIC: Should You Worry About Market Volatility?
On August 5, 2024, the S&P 500 dropped 3% from its previous close but bounced back quickly. This article explains why investors would be wise to tune out the noise of market volatility.
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It’s Complicated: Inheriting IRAs and Retirement Plans
The SECURE Act of 2019 dramatically changed the rules governing how IRA and retirement plan assets are distributed to beneficiaries.
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Eight Great Investing Quotes
This article offers eight quotes from successful investors, economists, and other insightful thinkers that may help provide perspective and focus for an investing strategy.
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Thinking of Selling Your Home? Don’t Be Surprised by Capital Gains Taxes
This article explains the basics of capital gains taxes when selling a home.
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Just Your Average Millionaire
The average net worth of U.S. families surpassed $1 million for the first time in 2022, but wealth levels vary greatly by age, housing status, education, and income.
August
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Watch for These Hazards on the Road to Retirement
The road to retirement is typically not a smooth ride. This article looks at five potential risks that can slow progress along the way.
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Mixing It Up: Asset Allocation and Diversification
This article explains how asset allocation and diversification can work together to help mitigate portfolio risk.
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After the Loss of a Loved One, Watch Out for Scams
Scammers often prey on those who are most vulnerable. This article outlines common scams that target people who have lost a loved one.
July
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HOT TOPIC: The Economic Impact of an Aging World
This article looks at some of the demographic trends and economic challenges related to global aging.
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Should You Buy or Lease Your Next Vehicle?
Skyrocketing new vehicle costs and high interest rates could make leasing a cost-saving option. This article looks at the advantages and disadvantages of owning vs. leasing.
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Can Home Improvements Lower Your Tax Bill? It Depends
Most home improvements are not tax deductible, but certain types of projects might help reduce your tax burden in other ways.
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Saving for College: 529 Plan vs. Roth IRA
529 plans and Roth IRAs can both be used to save for college. This article compares the features of these two saving options.
June
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Investor, Know Thyself: How Your Biases Can Affect Investment Decisions
While traditional economic models assume that people make rational decisions, most humans don’t think like robots. This article summarizes some common biases that can influence financial decisions.
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Insurance Gaps May Pose Risks for High-Net-Worth Households
It’s important for affluent families to reassess their liability coverage periodically, to make sure it’s sufficient based on their finances, lifestyles, and the related risks.
May
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HOT TOPIC: What Stubborn Inflation Could Mean for the U.S. Economy
This article looks at some of the reasons behind the inflation numbers, the likely effect on Fed decisions, and the potential economic impact.
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Housing Market Trends: Are They Helping or Hurting the Economy?
U.S. home values held steady in 2023, even as mortgage rates rose to the highest levels in a generation. What could the current state of the housing market mean for the broader U.S. economy?
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Where Will You Live as You Grow Older?
Many people would rather not think about the consequences of aging in general, much less that they might eventually need to rethink their living situation.
April
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Beware of These Life Insurance Beneficiary Mistakes
Naming a life insurance policy’s beneficiaries should be a relatively simple task, but there are some situations that can lead to unintended and adverse consequences.
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What’s Required of the Executor of an Estate?
Being named as the executor of an estate is generally an honor but settling an estate can be a difficult and time-consuming job. This article provides an overview of typical executor responsibilities.
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How a Family Limited Partnership Can Power an Estate Plan
A family limited partnership is a legal agreement that enables business owners and their heirs to address succession, estate, and tax planning needs, all at once.
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Fixed Annuities: Retirement Income for Now or Later
Purchasing a fixed annuity shifts the risk for future investment returns to the insurance company and could help create a pension-like income stream for retirement.
March
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Key Retirement and Tax Numbers for 2024
This article presents the IRS’ cost-of-living adjustments for 2024 that affect contribution limits for retirement plans and various tax deduction, exclusion, exemption, and threshold amounts.
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How Savers and Spenders Can Meet in the Middle
Couples who have opposite philosophies regarding saving and spending often have trouble finding common ground. This article offers some tips to learn to work with financial differences.
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The Federal Reserve’s Key Meeting Dates in 2024
This article outlines the Federal Reserve’s three main objectives and provides the meeting schedule of the Federal Open Market Committee.
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Roth 401(k) News: Is It Time to Rethink How You Save for Retirement?
High-income participants will not be allowed to make pre-tax catch-up contributions to a traditional 401(k) or similar plan starting in 2026, but they will be able to contribute to a workplace Roth.
February
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Do You Have These Key Estate Planning Documents?
This article provides an overview of four estate planning documents that almost everyone should have: a durable power of attorney, a medical directive, a will, and a letter of instruction.
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Small Businesses Could Face Borrowing Challenges
Despite tougher lending conditions and higher interest costs, many people who need capital for business purposes may need to borrow money. This article discusses some common financing options.
January
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Understanding Life Insurance
Life insurance can help replace much-needed income after the death of a provider. With the wide variety of policies available, it’s important to understand the basic types of coverage.
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Will You Work Beyond Traditional Retirement Age?
Does your income strategy beyond traditional retirement age include receiving a paycheck? This article looks at the advantages and disadvantages of working later in life.
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Setting a Retirement Savings Goal
Only 51% of workers or their spouses have tried to estimate the savings they would need to live comfortably in retirement. This article offers a simple worksheet to help calculate a savings target.
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SECURE 2.0 Makes It Easier to Give and Receive
The SECURE 2.0 Act modified the rules for qualified charitable distributions to allow funding a charitable gift annuity or charitable remainder trust from an IRA.
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How to Kill Your Zombie Subscriptions
With inflation cutting into consumers’ purchasing power, getting rid of a few unnecessary recurring charges could be a painless way to help balance the household budget.