Articles
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.
Market Commentary
- Weekly Market Commentary | November 4, 2024
- Weekly Market Commentary | October 28, 2024
- Weekly Market Commentary | October 21, 2024
- Weekly Market Commentary | October 14, 2024
- Weekly Market Commentary | October 07, 2024
- Weekly Market Commentary | September 23, 2024
- Weekly Market Commentary | September 16, 2024
- Weekly Market Commentary | September 9, 2024
- Weekly Market Commentary | September 3, 2024
- Weekly Market Commentary | August 26, 2024
- Weekly Market Commentary | August 19, 2024
- Weekly Market Commentary | August 12, 2024
- Weekly Market Commentary | August 5, 2024
- Weekly Market Commentary | August 5, 2024
- Weekly Market Commentary | July 29, 2024
- Weekly Market Commentary | July 22, 2024
- Weekly Market Commentary | July 15, 2024
- Midyear Outlook 2024 | Still Waiting for the Turn
- Weekly Market Commentary | July 1, 2024
- Weekly Market Commentary | June 24, 2024
- Weekly Market Commentary | June 17, 2024
- Weekly Market Commentary | June 10, 2024
- Weekly Market Commentary | June 3, 2024
- Weekly Market Commentary | May 28, 2024
- Weekly Market Commentary | May 20, 2024
- Weekly Market Commentary | May 13, 2024
- Weekly Market Commentary | May 6, 2024
- Weekly Market Commentary | April 29, 2024
- Weekly Market Commentary | April 22, 2024
- Weekly Market Commentary | April 15, 2024
- Weekly Market Commentary | April 8, 2024
- Weekly Market Commentary | April 1, 2024
- Weekly Market Commentary | March 18, 2024
- Weekly Market Commentary | March 11, 2024
- Weekly Market Commentary | March 4, 2024
- Weekly Market Commentary | February 26, 2024
- Weekly Market Commentary | February 20, 2024
- Weekly Market Commentary | February 12, 2024
- Weekly Market Commentary | February 5, 2024
- Weekly Market Commentary | January 29, 2024
- Weekly Market Commentary | January 22, 2024
- Weekly Market Commentary | January 16, 2024
- Weekly Market Commentary | January 8, 2024
- Weekly Market Commentary | January 2, 2024
- Weekly Market Commentary | December 18, 2023
- Outlook 2024 | Client Letter
- Outlook 2024 | A Turning Point
- Weekly Market Commentary | December 11, 2023
- Weekly Market Commentary | December 4, 2023
- Weekly Market Commentary | November 20, 2023
- Weekly Market Commentary | November 13, 2023
- Weekly Market Commentary | November 6, 2023
- Weekly Market Commentary | October 30, 2023
- Weekly Market Commentary | October 23, 2023
- Weekly Market Commentary | October 16, 2023
- Weekly Market Commentary | Oct 9, 2023
- Weekly Market Commentary | October 2, 2023
- Weekly Market Commentary | September 25, 2023
- Weekly Market Commentary | September 18, 2023
- Weekly Market Commentary | September 11, 2023
- Weekly Market Commentary | September 5, 2023
- Weekly Market Commentary | August 28. 2023
- Weekly Market Commentary | August 21, 2023
- Weekly Market Commentary | August 21, 2023
- Weekly Market Commentary | August 14, 2023
- Weekly Market Commentary | July 31, 2023
- Weekly Market Commentary | July 24, 2023
- Weekly Market Commentary | July 17, 2023
- Midyear Outlook 2023 | Executive Summary
- Midyear Outlook 2023 | Client Letter
- Midyear Outlook 2023
- Weekly Market Commentary | July 3, 2023
- Weekly Market Commentary | June 26, 2023
- Weekly Market Commentary | June 20, 2023
- Weekly Market Commentary | June 12, 2023
- Weekly Market Commentary | June 5, 2023
- Weekly Market Commentary | May 30, 2023
- Weekly Market Commentary | May 22, 2023
- Weekly Market Commentary | May 15, 2023
- Weekly Market Commentary | May 8, 2023
- Weekly Market Commentary | May 1, 2023
- Weekly Market Commentary | April 24, 2023
- Weekly Market Commentary | April 17, 2023
- Weekly Market Commentary | April 10, 2023
- Weekly Market Commentary | April 3, 2023
- Weekly Market Commentary | March 27, 2023
- Weekly Market Commentary | March 20, 2023
- Weekly Market Commentary | March 13, 2023
- Weekly Market Commentary | March 6, 2023
- Weekly Market Commentary | February 27, 2023
- Weekly Market Commentary | February 21, 2023
- Weekly Market Commentary | February 13, 2023
- Weekly Market Commentary | February 6, 2023
- Weekly Market Commentary | January 30, 2023
- Weekly Market Commentary | Jan. 23, 23
- Weekly Market Commentary | Jan-17-23
- Weekly Market Commentary | January 9, 2023
- Weekly Market Commentary | January 3, 2023
- Weekly Market Commentary | December 19, 2022
- Weekly Market Commentary | December 12, 2022
- Outlook 2023 | Client Letter
- Outlook 2023 | Finding Balance
- Weekly Market Commentary | December 5, 2022
- Weekly Market Commentary | November 14, 2022
- Weekly Market Commentary | November 7, 2022
- Weekly Market Commentary | Oct 31, 2022
- Weekly Market Commentary | October 24, 2022
- Weekly Market Commentary | October 17, 2022
- Weekly Market Commentary | October 10, 2022
- Weekly Market Commentary | October 03, 2022
- Weekly Market Commentary | September 26, 2022
- Weekly Market Commentary | September 19, 2022
- Weekly Market Commentary | September 12, 2022
- Weekly Market Commentary | September 06, 2022
- Weekly Market Commentary | August 29, 2022
- Weekly Market Commentary | August 22, 2022
- Weekly Market Commentary | August 15, 2022
- Weekly Market Commentary | August 8, 2022
- Weekly Market Commentary | August 1, 2022
- Weekly Market Commentary | July 25, 2022
- Weekly Market Commentary | July 18, 2022
- Midyear Outlook 2022 | Client Letter
- Midyear Outlook 2022 | Navigating Turbulence
- Weekly Market Commentary | July 5, 2022
- Weekly Market Commentary | June 27, 2022
- Weekly Market Commentary | June 21, 2022
- Weekly Market Commentary | June 13, 2022
- Weekly Market Commentary | June 6, 2022
- Weekly Market Commentary | May 16, 2022
- Weekly Market Commentary | May 9, 2022
- Weekly Market Commentary | May 2, 2022
- Weekly Market Commentary | April 25, 2022
- Weekly Market Commentary | April 18, 2022
- Weekly Market Commentary | April 11, 2022
- Weekly Market Commentary | April 4, 2022
- Weekly Market Commentary | March 21, 2022
- Weekly Market Commentary | March 14, 2022
- Weekly Market Commentary | March 7, 2022
- Weekly Market Commentary | February 28, 2022
- Weekly Market Commentary | February 22, 2022
- Weekly Market Commentary | February 14, 2022
- Weekly Market Commentary | February 7, 2022
- Weekly Market Commentary | January 31, 2022
- Weekly Market Commentary | January 24, 2022
- Weekly Market Commentary | January 18, 2022
- Weekly Market Commentary | January 10, 2022
- Weekly Market Commentary | December 27, 2021
- Weekly Market Commentary | December 20, 2021
- Outlook 2022 | Executive Summary
- Outlook 2022 | Client Letter
- Weekly Market Commentary | December 13, 2021
- Weekly Market Commentary | December 6, 2021
- Weekly Market Commentary | November 22, 2021
- Weekly Market Commentary | A Peek at Peak Inflation | Nov. 15, 2021
- Weekly Market Commentary | A Peek at Peak Inflation | Nov. 15, 2021
- Weekly Market Commentary | November 15, 2021
- Weekly Market Commentary | November 8, 2021
- Weekly Market Commentary | November 1, 2021
- Weekly Market Commentary | Oct. 25, 2021
- Weekly Market Commentary | Oct. 11, 2021 | Answering Top Debt Ceiling Questions
- Weekly Market Commentary | Oct. 4, 2021 | Early Thoughts on 2022
- Weekly Market Commentary | Oct. 18, 2021 | Q3 Earnings Preview: Less Upside
- Weekly Market Commentary | September 13, 2021
- Weekly Market Commentary | Sept. 27, 2021 | To Z Or Not To Z
- Weekly Market Commentary | August 30, 2021
- Weekly Market Commentary - September 20, 2021
- Weekly Market Commentary | August 23, 2021
- Weekly Market Commentary | August 16, 2021
- Weekly Market Commentary | August 9, 2021
- Weekly Market Commentary | July 26, 2021
- Weekly Market Commentary | Midyear Outlook 2021: Picking Up Speed
- Midyear Outlook 2021 - Client Letter
- Midyear Outlook 2021 - Picking Up Speed
- Weekly Market Commentary | July 12, 2021
- Weekly Market Commentary | June 28, 2021
- Weekly Market Commentary | June 21, 2021
- Weekly Market Commentary | June 14, 2021
- Weekly Market Commentary | June 7, 2021
- Weekly Market Commentary | May 24, 2021
- Weekly Market Commentary | May 24, 2021
- Weekly Market Commentary | May 17, 2021
- Weekly Market Commentary | May 10, 2021
- Weekly Market Commentary May 3, 2021
- Weekly Market Commentary | April 26, 2021
- Weekly Market Commentary | April 19, 2021
- Weekly Market Commentary | April 12, 2021
- Weekly Market Commentary | April 5, 2021
- Weekly Market Commentary | March 29, 2021
- Outlook 2021: Powering Forward
- Weekly Market Commentary | March 22, 2021
- Weekly Market Commentary | March 15, 2021
- Weekly Market Commentary | March 8, 2021
- Weekly Market Commentary | March 1, 2021
- Weekly Market Commentary | February 22, 2021
- Weekly Market Commentary | February 16, 2021
- Weekly Market Commentary | February 8, 2021
- Weekly Market Commentary | February 8, 2021
- Weekly Market Commentary | February 1, 2021
- Weekly Market Commentary | January 25, 2021
- Weekly Market Commentary | January 19, 2021
- Weekly Market Commentary | January 11, 2021
- Weekly Market Commentary - January 4, 2021
- Weekly Market Commentary | December 21, 2020
- Outlook 2022: Passing the Baton
Estates & Trusts
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What Key Estate Planning Tools Should I Know About?
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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How Can a Living Trust Help Me Control My Estate?
A living trust can help control the distribution of your estate upon death.
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What Are the Pitfalls of Probate?
The probate process can be lengthy and complex. There are strategies you can use to help avoid the probate process.
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How Can My Gift Benefit Me and the Charity?
To retain the tax advantages associated with charitable giving, your gift must be made to a qualified organization.
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How Can I Control the Distribution of My Estate?
If you haven't taken steps already, consider planning now for the distribution of the assets of your estate.
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How Will I Pay Estate Taxes?
If you believe your estate will be subject to estate taxes, consider how your heirs will pay the bill.
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Can I Benefit from an A-B Trust?
An A-B trust can be an effective way to help reduce estate taxes and preserve family assets for heirs.
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What Gifting Strategies Are Available to Me?
Compare the advantages and disadvantages of different gifting strategies available for planned giving.
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How Can I Benefit from a Charitable Lead Trust?
Charitable lead trusts are designed for people who would like to benefit a charity now rather than later.
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How Can I Benefit from a Charitable Remainder Trust?
A designated income beneficiary could receive payment of a specified amount from a charitable remainder trust.
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How Can I Benefit from a Wealth Replacement Trust?
A wealth replacement trust could be used to gift appreciated assets to a charity as well as provide for heirs.
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Could My Family Benefit from a Family Limited Partnership?
One estate planning strategy that families with closely held businesses could consider is the family limited partnership.
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What Is the Best Form of Property Ownership for Me?
Sole ownership, joint tenancy, tenancy in common, and community property have special benefits for property owners.
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What Is the History of the Federal Estate Tax?
Careful estate planning is still one of the most important ways to manage and protect your assets for your heirs.
Retirement
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What Is a Self-Employed Retirement Plan?
Tax-deferred retirement plans for self-employed individuals have higher contribution limits than IRAs.
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What Is an Indexed Annuity?
An indexed annuity may provide some upside potential and downside protection.
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What Is a Traditional IRA?
If you do not participate in an employer-sponsored retirement plan, you might consider a traditional IRA.
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What Is a 401(k) Plan?
401(k) employer-sponsored retirement plans have many benefits, including that the funds accumulate tax-deferred.
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How Should I Manage My Retirement Plan?
Employer-sponsored retirement plans are more important than ever, but managing the assets can be confusing.
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Save Now or Save Later?
If you start saving for retirement sooner, the more money you are likely to accumulate and possibly retire sooner.
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What Is a Roth IRA?
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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What Is Tax Deferral?
There can be a substantial benefit to deferring taxes as long as possible.
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What Tax Deductions Are Still Available to Me?
Changes to the tax code have left a few key deductions for itemizers, like medical, dental and some business expenses.
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What Tax-Advantaged Alternatives Are Available?
While stable, CDs can create an income tax bill. Fixed annuities and municipal bonds can offer tax advantages.
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What Is the Most Tax-Efficient Way to Take a Distribution From a Retirement Plan
Consider a trustee-to-trustee transfer to an IRA versus a lump-sum distribution from a workplace retirement plan.
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Is There Such a Thing as a Tax-Free Investment?
It's important to understand tax-exempt vehicles when establishing a comprehensive tax planning strategy.
Investing
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What Types of Bonds Are Available?
Bonds are issued by many entities and share many characteristics, each type of bond has certain benefits and risks.
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What Is a Bond?
A bond is simply evidence of a debt from a government entity or a corporation and represents a long-term IOU.
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What Is a Stock Index?
Stock market indexes can be useful benchmarks for gauging the performance of an investment portfolio over time.
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What Investment Risks Should I Know About?
Understanding different types of investment risk can help investors manage their money more effectively.
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What Are the Different Classes of Assets?
There are five broad asset classes that you should take into consideration when constructing your investment portfolio.
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What Is Asset Allocation?
Asset allocation is a method used to help manage investment risk; it does not guarantee a profit or protect against investment loss.
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What Is Dollar-Cost Averaging?
Dollar-cost averaging involves investing a set amount of money on a regular basis, regardless of market conditions.
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529 Lesson Plan: High Scores for 529 Plans
529 plans are tax-advantaged savings plans that generally allow people of any income level to contribute.
Cash Management
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What Are Some Tips for Managing My Money?
A sound cash management program uses a disciplined approach: accounting, analysis, allocation, and adjustment.
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What Are Some Smart Ways to Refinance?
Here are some smart ways to refinance your home.
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What About Financial Aid for College?
It's important to understand the options, such as financial aid grant programs, when having to pay for college.
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How Does Inflation Affect Me?
Historically, one of the best ways to fight the effects of inflation has been to utilize growth-oriented investments.
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Is a Home Equity Loan or Line of Credit Right for Me?
Shifting some debt to a home equity loan, which typically allows interest payments to be tax deductible, could have its advantages.
Risk Management
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Why Purchase Life Insurance?
If you have a family who relies on your income, it is important to have life insurance protection.
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Do I Need a Business Owner Policy?
A business owner policy is an insurance package that assembles the basic coverages required by a business owner in one bundle.
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What Is Life Insurance for Business Owners?
Company-owned life insurance is one way to help protect a business from financial problems caused by the death of a key employee.
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What Is Split-Dollar Life Insurance?
Split-dollar life insurance is an arrangement to purchase and fund life insurance between two parties.
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What Is Last-Survivor Life Insurance?
Couples who want to help protect their legacy from estate taxes could consider last-survivor life insurance.
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What Is Term Life Insurance?
Term life insurance differs from permanent forms of life insurance in that it offers temporary protection.
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What Is Whole Life Insurance?
Some of the pros and cons of whole life insurance.
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What Is 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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What Is Variable Life Insurance?
Variable life insurance gives you the control to allocate your account value among a variety of investment options.
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What Are the Main Types of Auto Insurance?
Even if your state doesn’t require certain types of auto insurance, it may be wise to purchase multiple types to ensure you are covered for a variety of situations.
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How Can I Insure My Future?
To help you choose insurance wisely, determine how much coverage and what kind of policy is best for your situation.
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How Can I Protect My Home?
Since your home is one of your greatest assets, you should make sure it is adequately protected. That's where homeowners insurance enters the picture.
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What Types of Health Coverage Are Available?
There are three basic types of medical insurance plans: fee-for-service, managed care, and high-deductible health plan.
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How Can I Extend My Liability Coverage?
Consider additional liability insurance to help protect you from the potentially devastating effects of liability lawsuits.
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What Is the Difference Between an HMO and a PPO?
Selecting health insurance is often one of the most important decisions you will make. Do you know the different types?
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Am I Prepared for Long-Term Care Expenses?
The odds of needing long-term care increase as you age. Prior planning can help protect you from financial ruin.
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What Does Medicare Cover?
Medicare is the federal health insurance program for those persons age 65 and over. But what does it cover?