Newsletters
Will you outlive your retirement income? 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.
April
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HOT TOPIC: Bank Failures Shine Light on Interest Rate Risks
Read about the reasons some banks are coming under pressure, including the rapid rise of interest rates, financial market effects, and the role of the FDIC.
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Time for a Spring Cleanup: Organizing Your Financial Records
Spring is a good time to clean out and organize financial records. This article offers guidelines on how long different types of records need to be retained.
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Retiring in a Down Market? Don’t Panic
Market volatility makes most investors nervous, but a big downturn can be especially disturbing to those who are approaching retirement or newly retired. This article presents three fundamental concepts that may help investors keep market movements in perspective and maintain their focus on long-term goals.
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Trusts — Not Just for Estate Taxes
In the past, trusts were often used to avoid estate taxes, but that purpose has become less important for most people with current high exemption amounts. However, a properly constructed trust can serve many other purposes for families of more modest means.
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Business Owners: Should You Organize as an LLC?
Establishing an LLC creates a separate legal entity to help shield a business owner’s personal assets from lawsuits brought against the firm by customers or employees.
March
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HOT TOPIC: Red Ink: The Debt Ceiling and Deficit Spending
This report explains the potential consequences of not raising the debt limit in a timely manner and provides an overview of new projections from the CBO for future deficits and the national debt.
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Key Retirement and Tax Numbers for 2023
Find out about cost-of-living adjustments that affect retirement plan contribution limits and other deductions and threshold amounts.
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Creating Your Own “Operation London Bridge”
Queen Elizabeth II had a complex end-of-life plan, but you may also need an appropriate plan to help ease the burden on your family members.
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Double Up with a Spousal IRA
Do you know how to fund an IRA for a nonworking spouse? These IRS rules can help couples build retirement savings based on joint income.
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When Should Young Adults Start Investing for Retirement?
Now is the best time to start retirement investing for two key reasons: compounding and tax management. Read this article to learn more.
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The Inflation Experience is Painful – and Personal
This article discusses consumer price index categories, how they’re weighted, and the top drivers of inflation over the past year.
February
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HOT TOPIC: SECURE 2.0 Aims to Brighten the Future for Retirement Savers
This article provides an overview of upcoming changes that could affect workplace retirement plan participants and IRA owners due to legislation passed by Congress at the end of 2022.
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Balancing Stocks and Bonds in One Fund
Discover what to look for in a balanced mutual fund and learn how this type of fund might be used in a portfolio.
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Fixed for Life: What Can an Annuity Do for You?
Do you know the difference between immediate and deferred annuities and options for annuitization? Read this article to find out.
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Three Ways to Help Simplify Your Finances
Over time, finances can become complicated. Here are three ideas that might make them simpler and less stressful.
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IRA Strategies: After-Tax Money and the Pro-Rata Rule
The pro-rata rule determines how much of a traditional IRA distribution is taxable. Read this article to learn how the rule is applied.
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Small Businesses Should Prepare for Stronger Tax Enforcement
The IRS is receiving $80 billion to upgrade its technology and workforce. This article offers tips for business owners to help avoid a tax audit.
January
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Tips for Safe Online Shopping
This article offers ideas that could help online shoppers protect themselves from cyber criminals and scams.
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Taking Control of Your Retirement Savings
Leaving a job? Discover four options that are often available for managing funds in an employer-sponsored retirement plan.
December
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Is It Time to Buy an Electric Vehicle?
The electric-vehicle market is evolving quickly. This article offers some ideas to consider before purchasing an electric vehicle.
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Talk About These Money Matters Before the Wedding
Get an overview of financial topics couples should discuss to help keep surprises and disagreements from disrupting newlywed bliss.
November
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Retirement Savings in a Volatile Market
Emotional reactions can be an enemy of sound investing. This article offers perspective and strategies that may help investors stay the course.
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New Life for Your Old Insurance Policy
Did you know that there are alternatives to abandoning or surrendering current life insurance coverage? Learn more in this article.
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How Funding an HSA Could Help Strengthen Your Retirement Strategy
Discover how a well-managed health savings account can help you pay current and future medical bills as well as prepare for retirement.
October
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Passive, Active, or Both?
Index funds or traditional actively managed funds: Which approach, or both, is most effective?
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How Much Life Insurance Do You Need?
Three approaches to help determine an appropriate amount of life insurance coverage that can help meet changing financial needs.
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Building Financial Resilience
Steps to be better positioned for turbulent events such as inflation, roller-coaster markets, and global events — and hopefully emerge even stronger.
September
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HOT TOPIC: Unpacking the Inflation Reduction Act: What’s in It?
This article provides an overview of provisions that could affect consumers and businesses, including clean energy tax credits, Medicare changes, and new corporate taxes.
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How Life Insurance Could Help Mitigate Taxes in Retirement
A permanent life policy can be used to help supplement retirement income, pay for long-term care services, or leave a tax-free legacy.
August
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Inflation Protection for Investment Dollars
Did you know that Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS) can help hedge a bond portfolio against inflation? This article explains how.
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Life Insurance Living Benefits
In addition to the death benefit, life insurance policies can provide other benefits while the policyholder is still alive. Find out more.
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Six Steps to Starting a New Business
Have you thought about starting your own business? Here’s an overview of some important first steps in the entrepreneurial process.
July
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A Wealth of Information: How to Read a Mutual Fund Prospectus
Did you know that a mutual fund prospectus provides key details about the fund? This article offers an overview of information in a prospectus.
June
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What’s Your Retirement Dream Elevator Pitch?
How do you see your retirement? This article provides some guidelines to help you develop a well-defined retirement vision.
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Are You Ready to Cancel Your Cable TV?
Do streaming services make you contemplate cutting the cord? Read about some features, benefits, and limitations to consider before doing so.
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Where to Look for Lost and Forgotten Money
States hold unclaimed property for about one in 10 Americans. Here are some online resources that may help you find out if you’re one of them.
May
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Planning to Quit Your Job? What to Know Before You Go
Millions of U.S. workers voluntarily left their jobs in 2021. Here are some things to keep in mind if you’re considering quitting.
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Food Inflation: What’s Behind It and How to Cope
U.S. food prices were hit hard in 2021. This article includes seven tips to help consumers control their family’s grocery bills.