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.
September
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HOT TOPIC: Should You Worry About Market Volatility?
On August 5, 2024, the S&P 500 dropped 3% from its previous close but bounced back quickly. This article explains why investors would be wise to tune out the noise of market volatility.
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It’s Complicated: Inheriting IRAs and Retirement Plans
The SECURE Act of 2019 dramatically changed the rules governing how IRA and retirement plan assets are distributed to beneficiaries.
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Eight Great Investing Quotes
This article offers eight quotes from successful investors, economists, and other insightful thinkers that may help provide perspective and focus for an investing strategy.
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Thinking of Selling Your Home? Don’t Be Surprised by Capital Gains Taxes
This article explains the basics of capital gains taxes when selling a home.
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Just Your Average Millionaire
The average net worth of U.S. families surpassed $1 million for the first time in 2022, but wealth levels vary greatly by age, housing status, education, and income.
August
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HOT TOPIC: Real Estate Commission Changes Around the Corner
The National Association of Realtors is implementing new policies related to how real estate brokers are compensated. Here are some implications for buyers, sellers, and their agents.
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Watch for These Hazards on the Road to Retirement
The road to retirement is typically not a smooth ride. This article looks at five potential risks that can slow progress along the way.
July
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Should You Buy or Lease Your Next Vehicle?
Skyrocketing new vehicle costs and high interest rates could make leasing a cost-saving option. This article looks at the advantages and disadvantages of owning vs. leasing.
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Saving for College: 529 Plan vs. Roth IRA
529 plans and Roth IRAs can both be used to save for college. This article compares the features of these two saving options.
June
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HOT TOPIC: Real Estate Roundup: Feeling the Impact of Higher Rates
This article discusses why the values of U.S. commercial property and homes have performed differently and how lingering weakness in the real estate sector could affect the economy.
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Investor, Know Thyself: How Your Biases Can Affect Investment Decisions
While traditional economic models assume that people make rational decisions, most humans don’t think like robots. This article summarizes some common biases that can influence financial decisions.
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Do You Need to Adjust Your Tax Withholding?
After filing last year’s tax return, it may be a good time to adjust income tax withholding. This article explains how to estimate and adjust withholding.
May
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Housing Market Trends: Are They Helping or Hurting the Economy?
U.S. home values held steady in 2023, even as mortgage rates rose to the highest levels in a generation. What could the current state of the housing market mean for the broader U.S. economy?
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Where Will You Live as You Grow Older?
Many people would rather not think about the consequences of aging in general, much less that they might eventually need to rethink their living situation.
April
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Individual Bonds vs. Bond Funds: What’s the Difference?
Individual bonds and bond funds can both provide an income stream, but there are important differences. This article provides an overview of these two types of investments.
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What’s Required of the Executor of an Estate?
Being named as the executor of an estate is generally an honor but settling an estate can be a difficult and time-consuming job. This article provides an overview of typical executor responsibilities.
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Fixed Annuities: Retirement Income for Now or Later
Purchasing a fixed annuity shifts the risk for future investment returns to the insurance company and could help create a pension-like income stream for retirement.
March
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Key Retirement and Tax Numbers for 2024
This article presents the IRS’ cost-of-living adjustments for 2024 that affect contribution limits for retirement plans and various tax deduction, exclusion, exemption, and threshold amounts.
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Roth 401(k) News: Is It Time to Rethink How You Save for Retirement?
High-income participants will not be allowed to make pre-tax catch-up contributions to a traditional 401(k) or similar plan starting in 2026, but they will be able to contribute to a workplace Roth.
February
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HOT TOPIC: Tax Season News and Survival Tips
Taxpayers may want to be aware of important updates as they prepare to file their 2023 federal returns. This article includes information, filing tips, and last-minute opportunities for tax savings.
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Do You Have These Key Estate Planning Documents?
This article provides an overview of four estate planning documents that almost everyone should have: a durable power of attorney, a medical directive, a will, and a letter of instruction.
January
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Understanding Life Insurance
Life insurance can help replace much-needed income after the death of a provider. With the wide variety of policies available, it’s important to understand the basic types of coverage.
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Setting a Retirement Savings Goal
Only 51% of workers or their spouses have tried to estimate the savings they would need to live comfortably in retirement. This article offers a simple worksheet to help calculate a savings target.
December
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Much Ado About RMDs
This article provides an overview of the changes the SECURE 2.0 Act made and a brief explanation of how to calculate required minimum distributions from tax-advantaged retirement accounts.
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New Medicare Rules Tackle Prescription Drug Prices
The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 included provisions intended to lower prescription drug costs for Medicare enrollees and slow drug spending by the federal government.
November
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You’ve Received an Inheritance, Now What?
Receiving an inheritance might promote spending without planning, but it’s not wise to make hasty decisions. This article provides suggestions that could help manage an inheritance.
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Tax-Loss Harvesting Offers Chance at Silver Lining
Stock market downturns can be rough on a portfolio’s bottom line, but selling losing investments may offer the potential to reduce an investor’s tax liability.
October
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Time to Bulk Up Your Emergency Fund
A financial crisis can strike when least expected, so it’s important to have a sufficient emergency fund. This article offers some suggestions to help increase a fund before it’s needed.
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Four Key Objectives of a Sound Retirement Plan
A sound retirement plan should be based on personal circumstances, and no one strategy is suitable for everyone. This article looks at four goals that a retirement strategy should address.
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Enriching a Teen with a Roth IRA
A teen with a part-time job can contribute to a Roth IRA, which is a flexible way to accumulate funds for college, retirement, and other long-term needs.