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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• July

  HOT TOPIC: Celebrity Estate Planning Gone Wrong
  Ever notice that celebrities seems to be experts at leaving their estates in chaos? Fortunately, their mistakes serve as useful reminders of why estate planning is so important.

  Going Global
  International funds enable investors to diversify not only across industry sectors but national borders as well. Despite this benefit, international mutual funds come with additional risks that should be considered carefully.

  Inflation Gets Personal
  The CPI attempts to measure the rate of inflation experienced by the average American, but this figure may not be entirely applicable to your situation.

  Save More to Have More
  There's one solution to a retirement savings shortfall that is so simple you might never have given it serious consideration: Set aside more of your current income. Even if you believe that you are currently saving as much as possible toward retirement, you might change your mind after you run the numbers.

  Help Your Family Help You
  Obviously, most of us prefer to keep our personal finances personal, but opening a discussion about family finances could help prevent headaches and challenges when difficulties strike.

  The Board of Directors: A Key to Company Success
  Given the wide and important role that the board plays, it is a good idea to look beyond the glossy portraits and become familiar with the individuals tasked with guarding shareholder wealth.

• June

  HOT TOPIC: The Great Inflation-Deflation Debate
  We're all used to worrying about inflation and its long-term effect on purchasing power. However, there's a growing chorus warning that deflation is the next big concern for the U.S. economy.

  When Investing Pays Dividends
  Aside from the potential for steady payments, dividends can be a good way to assess a company's health, quality of earnings, and future prospects.

  Save the Date
  There are several key retirement milestones tied to specific birthdays or ages. This quiz asks readers to identify several.

  Is It Ever OK to Make Early Withdrawals?
  There are few ways to sabotage your retirement goals more effectively than tapping your retirement assets before you reach age 59½.

  Get to Know Your Beneficiaries
  It's a good idea to review your beneficiary designations on a regular basis to help ensure there is no debate over who will inherit your retirement assets and receive your life insurance benefits.

  Investor Emotions and Where to Find Them
  Anyone who has watched the stock market for any length of time knows it is subject to two key investor emotions: greed and fear.

• May

  How Health-Care Expenses Could Affect Your Retirement Lifestyle
  Given the discussion over the future of U.S. health care, is it time to recalculate how much money you will need to pay for medical care in retirement?

  Protection for a Price
  Variable annuities give contract holders the ability to purchase guarantees to help protect against downside risks.

  The Return of the Initial Public Offering
  After a drought of initial public offerings over the past few years, the IPO market finally began to perk up in the second quarter of 2009.

  A Potential Income Source for the Risk-Averse
  Although no financial instrument is entirely without risk, the guarantees offered by a fixed annuity can help address the concerns of even the most risk-averse investors.

  Test Your College Funding Knowledge
  If you want to help your children or grandchildren accumulate enough money to afford college, a good first step is to become familiar with 529 plans and the Coverdell Education Savings Account.

  The Problem with Investment Gains
  Believe it or not, a significant investment gain, especially one from an unexpected source, can pose a risk to your progress toward long-term goals if it's not handled properly.

• March

  Don't Let a Disability Cripple Your Family's Finances
  One way to help protect against the financial ruin that a disability can bring is through disability income insurance.

• February

  HOT TOPIC: Does the Estate Tax Have a Future?
  For the first time since 1915, the federal government has no law in place to tax large estates when they are transferred to heirs. But will Congress allow the estate tax repeal to stand?

  Tips for Healthy Life Insurance
  If you are about to retire or have recently entered retirement, it's a good time to consider whether your current life insurance policy meets your needs.

• January

  HOT TOPIC: What's Ahead for 2010?
  Economists expect the economy to grow by a respectable 3% in 2010, but they don't hold out much hope for the employment situation. What else can investors and consumers expect from the coming year?

  The Benefits of Social Security
  Take this quiz to assess how much you know about Social Security benefits.

  Love and Marriage and Retirement
  More than 80% of married couples 45 to 72 say they don't agree on when they should retire, what their retirement lifestyle should look like, or whether they will work in retirement.

• December

  An Extra Layer of Protection
  Umbrella liability insurance can help protect a family from the financial ruin that a civil liability trial could bring.

  Ready or Not, You're Retired!
  In 2009, 47% of retirees left the workforce earlier than they expected.

• November

  The Measure of a Life
  One way to help mitigate the financial blow of the loss of a head of household is through life insurance.

• 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.

  Fixed Annuities May Offer Stability
  A source of guaranteed income may help remove some of the uncertainty associated with retiring when the financial markets are fluctuating.

• 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.