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.
Wills and trusts allow you to spell out how you would like your property distributed, but they also go beyond that.
A living trust can help control the distribution of your estate upon death.
The probate process can be lengthy and complex. There are strategies you can use to help avoid the probate process.
To retain the tax advantages associated with charitable giving, your gift must be made to a qualified organization.
If you believe your estate will be subject to estate taxes, consider how your heirs will pay the bill.
Compare the advantages and disadvantages of different gifting strategies available for planned giving.
Careful estate planning is still one of the most important ways to manage and protect your assets for your heirs.
A SEP IRA is a type of plan under which the employer contributes (up to a certain limit) to an employee’s IRA.
The SIMPLE plan may appeal to small business owners as it is easy to set up, administer, and allows for a tax deduction.
If you leave a job or retire, you should consider your options regarding your employer retirement plan assets.
A Roth 401(k) is funded with after-tax money, and allows for tax- and penalty-free withdrawal of earnings if requirements are met.
Profit-sharing plans give employees a share in the profits of a company and can help to fund their retirements.
A money purchase plan is a retirement plan where employer contributions are based on a fixed percentage of compensation.
A 403(b) plan is a tax-deferred retirement savings plan that can only be offered by a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt entity.
Annuities, an insurance-based financial vehicle, can provide many benefits that retirement investors might want.
Living benefits can help protect variable annuity owners from running out of money in retirement.
Many realize it’s important to save for retirement, but knowing exactly how much to save is another issue altogether.
With the changing pension landscape, it is important to take charge of your own retirement security.
There are key dates after you turn 59½ that can impact your taxes, Medicare eligibility, and retirement benefits.
Allocating too much of your retirement investments to one company, even your own, can be a risky proposition.
An indexed annuity may provide some upside potential and downside protection.
If you start saving for retirement sooner, the more money you are likely to accumulate and possibly retire sooner.
Capital gains are profits realized from the sale of assets; a tax is triggered only when an asset is sold, not held.
Everything you own, whatever the form of ownership, is subject to federal, and possibly state, estate taxes.
The federal gift tax applies to gifts of property or money while the donor is living.
IRAs and employer-sponsored retirement plans are subject to annual contribution limits set by the federal government.
Required minimum distribution is the annual amount that must be withdrawn from a qualified retirement plan/account.
With traditional IRAs and most employer-sponsored retirement plans, taxes are not payable until funds are withdrawn.
Many traditional tax-advantaged investment strategies have gone away, but there are still some alternatives.
It is important to understand how dividends (taxable payments to shareholders) fit with your long-term goals.
ETFs have unique attributes and attempt to track all types of indexes, industries, or commodities.
The labels growth and value reflect different approaches that can be used when making investment decisions.
Mutual fund taxes can be cumbersome, but there are ways to help mitigate the amount of taxes you may owe.
Before investing in stocks, it is important to understand some of the basics and the risks involved in owning stocks.
An important element to successful investing is to manage investment risk while maintaining the potential for growth.
The difference between purchasing an individual stock versus shares in a mutual fund to potentially earn dividends.
A mutual fund is a collection of stocks, bonds, and other securities with certain benefits and risks.
With closed-end funds, investors pool their money together to purchase a professionally managed portfolio of stocks and/or bonds.
It’s important to understand mutual fund loads, or sales charges, and exactly what they entail so you can make informed investing decisions.
An annuity is a flexible financial vehicle that can help protect against the risk of living a long time because it provides an option for a lifetime income.
Both fixed and variable annuities could be appropriate options for an individual interested in purchasing an annuity.
Understanding different types of investment risk can help investors manage their money more effectively.
There are five broad asset classes that you should take into consideration when constructing your investment portfolio.
Asset allocation is a method used to help manage investment risk; it does not guarantee a profit or protect against investment loss.
There are several funding methods for a child's college education including mutual funds and Section 529 plans.
There are other ways to invest in stocks and bonds besides owning individual shares or bonds.
Dollar-cost averaging involves investing a set amount of money on a regular basis, regardless of market conditions.
529 plans are tax-advantaged savings plans that generally allow people of any income level to contribute.
A sound cash management program uses a disciplined approach: accounting, analysis, allocation, and adjustment.
Short-term cash management instruments can help you establish a sound cash management program.
Money market funds can be a highly liquid and effective cash management tool.
It's important to understand the options, such as financial aid grant programs, when having to pay for college.
If you have a family who relies on your income, it is important to have life insurance protection.
A business owner policy is an insurance package that assembles the basic coverages required by a business owner in one bundle.
Company-owned life insurance is one way to help protect a business from financial problems caused by the death of a key employee.
Term life insurance differs from permanent forms of life insurance in that it offers temporary protection.
Consider a universal life insurance policy if you want the flexibility to change your premium or death benefit.
Variable life insurance gives you the control to allocate your account value among a variety of investment options.
The odds of needing long-term care increase as you age. Prior planning can help protect you from financial ruin.
When selecting a life insurance policy, examine all your options, as well as the positives and negatives of each type.