Newsletters

Fourty-seven percent of American workers have saved less than $25,000 for retirement, and 24% have saved less than $1,000.¹
Source: Employee Benefit Research Institute, 2017

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.

• January

  HOT TOPIC: Revisiting the 4% Rule
  For years, the “4% rule” helped retirees make their savings last, but now a more aggressive withdrawal strategy might be the new norm.

  Five Tips to Regain Your Retirement Savings Focus in 2021
  This article presents five steps that could help focus and enhance a retirement savings strategy in 2021.

  Money Market Funds in a Low Rate Environment
  Did you know there still may be reasons to hold money market mutual funds despite low yields? Read this article to find out more.

  Prepare Your Finances for the Next Emergency
  The pandemic has underscored the importance of a well-stocked emergency fund. This article offers tips for building up a cash reserve.

  Gift vs. Inheritance: Consider the Tax Difference
  When deciding whether to gift assets now or transfer them to heirs at death, you need to understand step-up in basis and tax consequences.

  Take Advantage of Deductions for Business Investments
  A look at bonus depreciation and Section 179, plus CARES Act changes that may benefit companies that reconfigured spaces for safety reasons.

• December

  HOT TOPIC: How COVID-19 Has Changed Consumer Behavior and the Future of Retail
  This article looks at the “new normal,” its effect on consumer behavior and the retail industry, and what that could mean for the economy.

  Should You Pay Off Student Loans Early or Save More for Retirement?
  Wondering whether you should pay off student loan debt today or save for the future? Here are some considerations to help make the decision.

  Putting Your Nest Egg in Three Baskets
  Find out how understanding sequence-of-returns risk could help you develop a three-prong distribution strategy for retirement.

  Full House: Adult Children Coming Home
  If your adult children have returned to your once-empty nest, these tips might help promote a peaceful and productive living situation.

  Income Investors May Find Closed-End Funds on Sale
  Do you know the differences between open-end and closed-end funds? This article compares the two.

  Your Business: Could You Benefit from a Roth Conversion in 2020?
  This article focuses on the potential short- and long-term tax ramifications of a Roth IRA conversion.

• November

  Five Investment Tasks to Tackle by Year-End
  2020 market turbulence underscores the importance of reviewing an investment portfolio. These five steps could help keep it on track.

  Three Questions to Consider During Open Enrollment
  Making benefit elections for next year? This article covers three key areas that require careful consideration during open enrollment.

  Passive, Active, or Both?
  Passively managed index funds and actively managed funds can perform differently over different market cycles. Find out more about each.

  Your Estate: Have You Looked at These Legal Documents Lately?
  This article looks at documents that should be kept up to date, including wills, trusts, advance medical directives, and beneficiary forms.

  Four Steps to Rebuilding Your Business
  Small-business owners may need to think on their feet and visualize what a recovery might look like for their operations post COVID-19.

• May

  Keeping Cool: Investment Strategy vs. Reaction
  This article offers ideas to help investors focus on strategic decisions rather than react emotionally to the latest market news or movements.

  Social Security May Offer a Lifetime of Protection
  This article provides an overview of four times other than retirement when Social Security might affect you or your family.

  The Cost of Family Caregiving
  A look at the financial, emotional, and physical costs of family caregiving with some helpful suggestions for caregivers.

  Three Life Insurance Strategies for Small Businesses
  This article explores how life insurance might help small businesses attract and retain talent or fund buy-sell agreements.

  Telemedicine: The Virtual Doctor Will See You Now
  Many large employers offer telemedicine programs in their benefit packages. Do you know the potential advantages of telemedicine?

• April

  Setting a Retirement Savings Goal
  This article features a worksheet to help you estimate the savings you might need to generate your desired retirement income.

  Looking for Value with P/E Ratios
  Discover the basics of P/E ratios, with an emphasis on analyzing them in the appropriate context for making meaningful comparisons.

  Early Retirement and Your Tax-Deferred Savings
  Find out how the rules for early-distribution penalty exceptions differ for withdrawals from traditional IRAs and employer-sponsored plans.

  Living Benefits Can Help Counter Retirement Risks
  Optional riders that add living benefits to annuities might help retirees address two financial risks: outliving their savings and paying for long-term care.

  Don’t Let a Disaster Keep the Lights Off Forever
  As a small-business owner, do you know the types of coverages that may or may not be included in a standard business owner policy?

• March

  Stay-at-Home Spouse? Consider a Spousal IRA
  Stay-at-home spouses can fall behind in saving for retirement. This article explains how a spousal IRA can help keep retirement savings on track.

  Three Lessons from Retirees
  A survey of workers and retirees yielded three key findings that may prove helpful in planning for retirement. Find out more.

  Five Red Flags That Raise the Odds of an Audit
  Ever wonder why the IRS might take a closer look at a taxpayer’s return? This article discusses different types of audits and what might trigger one.

  Behavioral Biases That Can Lead to Costly Mistakes
  Learn about six blind spots that can lead to regrettable portfolio decisions (and how investors might avoid them).

  Classifying Workers: Know the Rules and Risks
  This article explores the complex web of federal and state tax and employment laws that determine how businesses must classify workers.

• February

  HOT TOPIC: The SECURE Act and Your Retirement Savings
  A discussion of the important provisions in the SECURE Act that could affect retirement, tax, and estate planning strategies.

  Three Generations of Retirement Strategies
  Millennials, Gen Xers, and baby boomers face different challenges in pursuing retirement goals. This article offers strategies to help address them.

  Do Target-Date Funds Hit the Bull’s-Eye for You?
  More than half of 401(k) participants invest in target-date funds, but are they right for everyone? This article provides an overview.

  Retirement Savings: Traditional, Roth, or Both?
  How does a traditional or Roth structure affect your IRA or employer-sponsored retirement plan? And what do their differences mean for older workers?

  Municipal Bonds
  Tax changes in the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act affect some investors more than others, with implications that spill into the municipal bond market.

  What Is Cyber Insurance, and Do You Need It?
  Cyber attacks and loss of data can be devastating, so businesses should be proactive about addressing this risk.