Newsletters

December

• HOT TOPIC: Consumer Nation: Can Confidence Drive the Economy?

  A look at what’s driving the high consumer confidence level and the importance of consumer spending to the broader economy.

• Competing Goals: Pay Off Student Loans or Save for Retirement?

  Some college grads pay off student loans at the expense of saving for the future. See steps that may help them do both.

• Low-Volatility Strategies for a Less Stressful Ride

  Some stocks and stock funds may help reduce the volatility in a portfolio.

• Know Your Mutual Funds

  Millions of Americans own mutual funds. This overview can help you review the mix of funds you own.

• Insurance Strategies: Giving Old Life Insurance a New Purpose

  A 1035 exchange may allow a permanent life policy to be traded for a more suitable insurance product.

• Weighing a Wider Range of Health Plan Options

  Association health plans may enable small businesses to save money, but how do AHPs compare to small-group health insurance?

November

• HOT TOPIC: Monetary Policy: Should Investors Fear the Fed?

  How the Federal Reserve Board’s actions influence interest rates, economic growth, and inflation.

• Is a Roth 401(k) Right for You?

  An overview of the potential benefits, limitations, and rules of Roth 401(k) accounts.

• Community Property Laws: Yours, Mine, and Ours

  Community property laws that apply in nine states and “equitable distribution” laws that apply in other states.

• Help with College: A Gift for Your Grandkids

  Helping a grandchild obtain a college degree could be life-changing for the student. Still, it’s important to consider how a gift could affect student aid and taxes.

• Health Savings Account: Funding an HSA Could Help You Prepare for Retirement

  In addition to setting aside pre-tax income to pay current and future medical expenses, an HSA could play an important role in your long-term retirement strategy.

• Reviewing Business Structure in Light of Tax Changes

  A flat 21% tax rate may seem like a good reason for a pass-through entity to convert to a C corporation, but there are other factors to consider.

September

• HOT TOPIC: Blockchain Buzz: Emerging Tech Offers Potential, Not Promises

  A glimpse into how blockchain might impact businesses, and a warning for investors to heed the risks associated with blockchain investments.

• Risk Tolerance Is About You, Not the Market

  An investor’s personal situation should be considered when assessing his or her risk tolerance.

• Insurance with Potential Cash Value

  Universal life and variable universal life insurance have risks and potential benefits, including a death benefit with a tax-advantaged savings element.

• Inflation Protection for Investment Dollars

  Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS) can help hedge a bond portfolio against a potential spike in inflation.

• A Map to Guide Your Family

  A letter of instruction could be just as important as a will to help heirs settle an estate and move forward with their lives.

• Family Limited Partnerships for Estate Planning Purposes

  A family limited partnership is a legal agreement that enables business owners and their heirs to address tax issues, business succession, and estate planning needs.

August

• ETFs on the Rise

  ETFs have some attractive features that set them apart from mutual funds, but there are also cost and risk factors to consider.

• An Affordable Insurance Solution

  A new term life insurance policy can be quite expensive as people age. Survivorship life insurance may be a more cost-effective solution.

• Oil Prices and the Economy

  The relationship between oil prices and GDP growth has become more complicated in recent years due to the expanded U.S. presence in the global oil market.

• Equity REITs and Rising Rates

  Fundamental factors that can affect the short- and longer-term performance of equity REITs, including taxation of REIT shares.

• Reward Workers and Fund Retirement with a Cash Balance Plan

  Cash balance plans can be a powerful tool for employee recruitment and retention, plus they have generous contribution limits that increase with age.

July

• Indexed Annuities: Potential Gain with Some Downside Protection

  Indexed annuities offer potential for gain when the market is rising while helping to protect principal during a downturn. But they are not appropriate for every investor.

• New Tax Law Expands 529 Savings Plans

  An overview of Section 529 savings plans, including their traditional use for college saving and the new rules for K-12 tuition.

• Good News, Bad News for Boomer Retirement

  Younger baby boomers may be facing a more challenging retirement landscape than older members of the generation, according a recent survey.

• Making Sense of Bond Behavior

  Some strategies to help fixed-income portfolios weather a period of interest rate uncertainty.

• Two Technology Trends to Help Power Growth

  Cloud computing functions could help small companies increase productivity with smaller up-front costs.