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.

• March

  HOT TOPIC: GameStop, Reddit, and Market Mania: What Happened?
  Learn the story behind the extreme volatility of “meme” stocks promoted through social media, including the risk for individual investors.

  Key Retirement and Tax Numbers for 2021
  IRS cost-of-living adjustments affect retirement plan contribution limits and certain tax considerations. Explore these 2021 adjustments.

  Are Value Stocks Poised for a Comeback?
  Do you know the differences between growth and value stocks? Find out why value stocks may hold appeal during the economic recovery.

  Home Sweet Home Equity
  Owning a home or having substantial equity may offer financial benefits in retirement. Discover five ways to use or increase home equity.

  Asset Protection: Make Sure Your Umbrella Is Big Enough
  While standard home and auto insurance may cover personal liability, a personal umbrella policy can help add an extra layer of protection.

  Is Your Home Office Also a Tax Shelter?
  This article explains which taxpayers are eligible for the home office deduction and describes the two methods used to calculate it.

• February

  HOT TOPIC: Pandemic Relief Measures and Your Tax Return
  This article discusses various tax issues stemming from the two tax relief bills passed in 2020 in response to the pandemic and how they may affect you.

  Sequence Risk: Preparing to Retire in a Down Market
  This article offers a strategy that may help address sequence risk — the danger of poor investment performance at the outset of retirement.

  Watch Out for These Financial Pitfalls in the New Year
  Financial opportunities and potential pitfalls can appear at any time. Here are common money mistakes to avoid at various stages of life.

  New Fed Policy Suggests Low Rates for the Long Term
  The Fed now seeks to control inflation through the benchmark federal funds rate. Find out what this means for investors and consumers.

  When You Can’t Speak for Yourself
  Discover how a living will and durable powers of attorney for health care and finances can help ensure your wishes are carried out.

  Big Data for Smaller Players
  Read how small businesses use software services to help streamline operations, understand customers, optimize websites, and find new markets.

• 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?