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

Estates & Trusts

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.
How Can a Living Trust Help Me Control My Estate?

A living trust can help control the distribution of your estate upon death.
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.

Retirement

What Is a SIMPLE?

The SIMPLE plan may appeal to small business owners as it is easy to set up, administer, and allows for a tax deduction.
Why Do People Buy Annuities?

Annuities, an insurance-based financial vehicle, can provide many benefits that retirement investors might want.
How Much Do I Need to Save?

Many realize it’s important to save for retirement, but knowing exactly how much to save is another issue altogether.
How Can I Estimate My Future Social Security Benefits?

The Social Security Administration’s retirement estimator gives estimates of your future benefits based on your actual Social Security earnings record.
What Is a Self-Employed Retirement Plan?

Tax-deferred retirement plans for self-employed individuals have higher contribution limits than IRAs.
What Is a Traditional IRA?

If you do not participate in an employer-sponsored retirement plan, you might consider a traditional IRA.
Save Now or Save Later?

If you start saving for retirement sooner, the more money you are likely to accumulate and possibly retire sooner.
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

What Is the Capital Gain Tax?

Capital gains are profits realized from the sale of assets; a tax is triggered only when an asset is sold, not held.
What Is a Required Minimum Distribution?

Required minimum distribution is the annual amount that must be withdrawn from a qualified retirement plan/account.
What Happens If I Withdraw Money from My Tax-Deferred Investments Before Age 59½

Tax-deferred retirement account withdrawals before age 59½ generally triggers a 10% federal income tax penalty.
What Is Tax Deferral?

There can be a substantial benefit to deferring taxes as long as possible.
How Can I Benefit from Tax-Advantaged Investments?

Many traditional tax-advantaged investment strategies have gone away, but there are still some alternatives.

Investing

What Are Dividends?

It is important to understand how dividends (taxable payments to shareholders) fit with your long-term goals.
What Is Diversification?

An important element to successful investing is to manage investment risk while maintaining the potential for growth.
What Is a Stock Index?

Stock market indexes can be useful benchmarks for gauging the performance of an investment portfolio over time.
What Are the Different Classes of Assets?

There are five broad asset classes that you should take into consideration when constructing your investment portfolio.
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.
How Can I Save for My Child’s College Education?

There are several funding methods for a child's college education including mutual funds and Section 529 plans.
What Is Dollar-Cost Averaging?

Dollar-cost averaging involves investing a set amount of money on a regular basis, regardless of market conditions.
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.

Risk Management

Why Are Annuities Considered an Insurance Product?

An annuity is a contract between you and an insurance company to pay you future income in exchange for premiums you pay.
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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Articles

Market Commentary

Estates & Trusts

What Key Estate Planning Tools Should I Know About?

How Can a Living Trust Help Me Control My Estate?

How Can I Benefit from a Charitable Remainder Trust?

Retirement

What Is a SIMPLE?

Why Do People Buy Annuities?

How Much Do I Need to Save?

How Can I Estimate My Future Social Security Benefits?

What Is a Self-Employed Retirement Plan?

What Is a Traditional IRA?

Save Now or Save Later?

What Is a Roth IRA?

Tax Planning

What Is the Capital Gain Tax?

What Is a Required Minimum Distribution?

What Happens If I Withdraw Money from My Tax-Deferred Investments Before Age 59½

What Is Tax Deferral?

How Can I Benefit from Tax-Advantaged Investments?

Investing

What Are Dividends?

What Is Diversification?

What Is a Stock Index?

What Are the Different Classes of Assets?

What Is Asset Allocation?

How Can I Save for My Child’s College Education?

What Is Dollar-Cost Averaging?

529 Lesson Plan: High Scores for 529 Plans

Risk Management

Why Are Annuities Considered an Insurance Product?

Am I Prepared for Long-Term Care Expenses?

Portfolio Compass

Client Letters

Outlook