- Term Life Insurance
Term life insurance differs from permanent forms of life insurance in that it offers temporary protection.
- Whole Life Insurance
Some of the pros and cons of whole life insurance.
- Universal Life Insurance
Consider a universal life insurance policy if you want the flexibility to change your premium or death benefit.
- Maximizing Your Insurance Benefits
Several factors could undermine the financial security provided by the proceeds of your life insurance policy.
- Assessing Disability Income Insurance
Knowing the basics of a disability income insurance policy is a good first step toward protecting your family.
- Evaluating Insurance Companies
Using a financially sound insurance company is an important part of ensuring your family’s financial security.
- Long-Term Care Costs
The odds of needing long-term care increase as you age. Prior planning can help protect you from financial ruin.
- Long-Term-Care Needs
If you were to suffer an illness or disability that required long-term nursing care, would you be covered?
- Cash Management Basics
A sound cash management program uses a disciplined approach: accounting, analysis, allocation, and adjustment.
- Doubling Your Money
Before making investment decisions, it is helpful to determine the real rate of return on the investment.
- Money Market Funds
Money market funds can be a highly liquid and effective cash management tool.
- Savings Alternatives
There are a number of savings alternatives that could help you earn a reasonable rate of return.
- Effects of Inflation
Historically, one of the best ways to fight the effects of inflation has been to utilize growth-oriented investments.
- 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.
- Bonds
A bond is simply evidence of a debt from a government entity or a corporation and represents a long-term IOU.
- Stock Indexes
Stock market indexes can be useful benchmarks for gauging the performance of an investment portfolio over time.
- Mutual Funds vs. Stocks
The difference between purchasing an individual stock versus shares in a mutual fund to potentially earn dividends.
- Mutual Funds
A mutual fund is a collection of stocks, bonds, and other securities with certain benefits and risks.
- Closed-End Funds
With closed-end funds, investors pool their money together to purchase a professionally managed portfolio of stocks and/or bonds.
- Annuities
- Fixed vs. Variable Annuities
Both fixed and variable annuities could be appropriate options for an individual interested in purchasing an annuity.
- Asset Classes
There are five broad asset classes that you should take into consideration when constructing your investment portfolio.
- Asset Allocation
Asset allocation is a method used to help manage investment risk; it does not guarantee a profit or protect against investment loss.
- College Savings Plans
There are several funding methods for a child's college education including mutual funds and Section 529 plans.
- College Investment Options
Starting to invest early for college and remaining consistent can help investors reach their goals.
- Stock and Bond Investing Alternatives
There are other ways to invest in stocks and bonds besides owning individual shares or bonds.
- Dollar-Cost Averaging
Dollar-cost averaging involves investing a set amount of money on a regular basis, regardless of market conditions.
- Tax Deferral
There can be a substantial benefit to deferring taxes as long as possible.
- Mutual Fund Profits
Want to keep more of your mutual fund profits? You may be interested in strategies to help lower your tax liability.
- Future of Social Security
- Social Security Income
- Retirement Plan Distributions
When receiving money accumulated in your employer-sponsored retirement plan, you have two options: lump sum or annuity.
- Managing Retirement Plans
Employer-sponsored retirement plans are more important than ever, but managing the assets can be confusing.
- Save Now or Save Later
If you start saving for retirement sooner, the more money you are likely to accumulate and possibly retire sooner.
- Estate Planning
Wills and trusts allow you to spell out how you would like your property distributed, but they also go beyond that.
- Living Trusts
A living trust can help control the distribution of your estate upon death.
- Avoiding Probate
The probate process can be lengthy and complex. There are strategies you can use to help avoid the probate process.
- Charitable Giving
To retain the tax advantages associated with charitable giving, your gift must be made to a qualified organization.
- Preserving My Estate
Life insurance can be used to help preserve your estate’s value for your heirs.
- Controlling the Distribution
If you haven’t taken steps already, consider planning now for the distribution of your estate’s assets.
- Paying Estate Taxes
If you believe your estate will be subject to estate taxes, consider how your heirs will pay the bill.
- Gifting Strategies
Compare the advantages and disadvantages of different gifting strategies available for planned giving.
- Charitable Lead Trusts
Charitable lead trusts are designed for people who would like to benefit a charity now rather than later.
- Charitable Remainder Trusts
A designated income beneficiary could receive payment of a specified amount from a charitable remainder trust.
- Wealth Replacement Trusts
A wealth replacement trust could be used to gift appreciated assets to a charity as well as provide for heirs.
- Property Ownership
Sole ownership, joint tenancy, tenancy in common, and community property have special benefits for property owners.
- 529 Plans
529 plans are tax-advantaged college savings plans that generally allow people of any income level to contribute.
- History of the Federal Estate Tax
- United States Tax History
